Litchfield enquirer., 1867-08-22
GEO. A. HICKOX, EDITOR.
"Temperance Reform.

The Ltchfield Enquirer is evidently dissatisfied because the Legislature did not licence the rum traffic, and concludes lengthy editorial with a stab at those who are endeavoring to suppress the miserable business. We should like to have the Enquirer inform Us where the liabilities under tue present ld,o, to which he refers, can be found Where does he find authority for asserting that "every buyer of intoxicating liquor is liable to prosecution equally with the seller?' The legal editor of the Enquirer, assisted by his friend Graves, would receive the thanks of hundreds of rumsellers, and their money too, if he would prove his statements. Here they arc e:
 We wish to add few words regarding legal li- abilities under the present law which do not seem to be generally understood. Every buyer of in- toxicatng liquor, matter for what use, is liable to prosecution equally with tho seller"
 And then the editor of the Enquirer discourses of Blackstone but fails to quote anything from that celebrated jurist. We do not belong to the legal fraternity, does the Litchfeld editor, but we aver that the buyer is not "equaly liable' un- der our "present statute."-&ate Temperance Journal
 The above is an excellent instance of the temper in which tho ,Stcae Temperance Jour- adl carries on it's discussions with those who doubt the legality and expediency of it's detective system. Those who read our former article know that we did not advocate license law or repeal of the Maine law. The "stab' was an express ion of our opinion that the Rev. s. H. Platt and his detectives are legally liable with those whom they have induced to sell liquor, since the crimes in question have undoubtedly been committed ct Mci' so!jci- tdtion.
 With the matter of ma0tires we do not propose to deal, since the real point at is- sue is purely law question. In answer ing the gentleman's call for " authorities, '' we have not felt it necessary to ask tho as- sistance of our friend Graves" nor is the prospect of thanks or of pecuniary reward so imminent as to induce us to spend a great deal of time in the examination of reports; yet we take pleasure in offering cess
 "A man may be principal in an offence in two degrees. principal in the first degree is he that and in the second degree he is, who is present aiding and abetting tho fact to be done." Bl Comm. 34.
 "And if tho statute makes tho thing done misdemeanor persons who procure it to be done though not present, are considered as, in contem plation of law, actually doing it." 1 Bish. ol Grim. Law, Sec. 1855.
 As instances, we find that person encouraging another to commit suicide has been held guilty O murder Regina vs. Alison, 8. Darlington ani Payne, AIS. 13 Pic, 35G.
 And in Q note in 1 Russell on Crimes, 34 we find the following case cited:
 "One who invites others to commit an assault and battery, is guilty, and may be punished principal, if that offence be actually committed although he did not otherwise participate in it. State vs Limburne, Brevard, 397
 There can be no doubt, either, that tho paHIe solicitation, or attempt to commit {
 n>xmisdemeanor in itself