Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-08-30
From the Georgia Journal.

CEONu ulo sooihois
We have been requested by the Com.
mittee of Temperance Reform, to publish
the following:
JACKSON, Butts Co., l2th June. 1889.
D-ar Sir Your favor ofthe 4th instant,
requesting me TO give you Information as
to the influence of the retail system in the
production ofcrime, is now before me, and
/ hasten to answer it. | now regret that /
have not kept some written memorandum,
showing a brief outline Of the evidence de-
livered in Court on the trial Of the many
criminal causes It has been my duty to pro
secute, within the last four years and halt,
in this Circuit, SO as to exhibit an exact s'a.
t,s,ical account of the causes which have
induced the perpetration of crime in each
and every case. The details would no
doubt as,onish all who have not investiga-
ted the subject, and who have not been
much conversant with our Courts ofJustlce.
| can however inform you, that most OF the
leading incidents connected with almost
every trial, have been indehbly and painfully
impressed on my memory, SO as TO deiy
foree,fulness. hazard nothing in stating
to YOU, that Of the offences against our
criminal laws, usually committed 10 the heat
of passion, such as murder, manslaughter'
biting, gouging, stabbing. assaults with IN
tent to murder, assaults and batteries' riots
and affrays, at least nine. .tenths may be
traced directly to grog-shops.
To the bes. Of my recollection and have
endeavored to tax it 10 the utmost, not a
single conviction has taken place TOR illicit
Intercourse with slaves. or for q violation
of the Sabbath day, except where the retail
er himself has been the criminal and no
case of a conviction for the disturbance oil
religions congregations, except where the
accused was either drunk or drinking none
except retailers have been convicted OF
keeping gaming houses, and no one has
been convicted Of gaming atany olher place
than those occupied by retailers and what
may appear still more strange, IN seventeen
convictions TO the Penitentiary for stealing,
in which have been the prosecuting officer,
a majority ofthe crimes are clearly charga'
bic to drunkenness. For example: puor w.,
of RESPECTABLE connections, IN State oi
beastIy inloxication, at grog.shop In Pike
county, attempted to entice away slave.
was convicted for larceny, and ended his
life in the Pcnitentiary. Cafes, johnson
and Corley, severaliy convicted OF larceny
at Bibb Superior Court were all under the
influence of liquor at the time of the com.
mission of their crimes ; two Of them, Gates
and Corley, are still 10 the PenI'en'iary :;
Johnson, Oh professions of peni ence, recei.
we'd pardon, returned to the city OF Macon,
was detected in gambling with negro, at
place where spirits were retailed, received
severe Aogging for his conduct, and fled
The country.
forbear TO 60 further into detail. as to
names and circumstances connected with
the other cases, under the apprehension OF
the feelings ofrela,ions and friends.
many of whom are highly respectable. But
why does liquor create or encourage dis
position to steal? / answer, it dethrones
reason and lays its victims open TO the in.
roads of every dishonest temptation which
he may have experienced when sober. II
destroys all his moral powers OF resisting
his evil inclinations and propensities. And
!, may be well remarked, it also impairs his
yigilunce and skill in avoiding detection
creates incapacity to contrive plans of es.
hence drunken rogues are in
common way, easily detected.
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