Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1871-11-17
WHAT THE PEOPLE SAY.

SELLING LIQUOR TO MINORS.
MIR. EDITOR, SIR,-At May term Of Court
| returned to the Grand Jury, through the
States Attorney, the names Of ten minors who
had lre quently seen on our streets in state
of intoxi caton-the most of whom were the
sons of widowed mothers and OF various ages
from about fourteen years TO twenty years oil
age. On the evidence produced from the above
named witness before the Grand Jury TWO
of our hotel keepers were indicted, the result
of which one was brought into Court and paid
in fines and costs one bundled and thirty odd
dollars: while the other, have been told, had
eighteen indictments found against HIM, 10
which l was informed that he plead guilty
on two and the remaining ones were TO be
carried over until next term ofCourt Within
a month past have been informed that there
is not scratch of a pen appearing on the
record of the Court against the party who had
the eighteen indictments found against him.
Now, what l want TO find out IS why one
party must be prosecuted to the full extent oil
the law, while another can 60 almost lree.
The party who paid the full amount oil hnes
md costs, l think if either was to be let off,
was the one who should be dealt lenenuy
with as it was his first offence while the
other party has been before the Court at
other times for like offences, and who, II any
one, was to be made to pay the penalty Tor
violation of law he should have been the
one, as he has held out inducements for said
minors to frequent his house by having il pro-
yided with a bagatelle table, cards, domlnoes
and boxing gloves, and has had room htted
up for sparring all of which could have been
proved by the same witness which were before
the Grand Jury which information gave TO
the States Attorney in person.
The result of such proceeding by our law
officers is that any person who may be on our
streets of Il Saturday evening cannot possibly
avoid seeing numerous boys of all ages from
twelve to twenty years of age in a state OF in
toxicAt.on. Our good citizens seem to nave
given the matter up in despair, as they all say
when talking about the matter, there is no use
in doing anything in regard to IL as the
parties after the evidence has been presented
10 Court arc generally let of free.
Whv IL g. sa9 ls u tnat Gus l~7y ot1cers
arc aiifiiid OF tier popularity, g. N'oid sucn a
possibility arise that any of thein gel PAID a
pecuniary COMPENSATION ! do not pretend to
saw that it is any of the above only ask the
question, "Why, when the laws are violated,
that the penalties cannot be oniorcedF'
could glye the next Court an equal amount OF
evidence at the coming term, but 10 not leel
like adding 10 our already heavy tax ourthened
community an additional amount ol taxes lo
pay in the shape of witness ices, mIage, &c >
and drag people away from their daily occu'
nation when It does not amount 10 anything
In regard to the curing Of The evil. 1t wai
moi in any spirit of malice that j returned
the parties as when they were in other buSl
ness. had dealings with both Of them, anC
ifthey will keep their public houses in ac
cordance with the laws Of Delaware Their
never will be any occasion for them to be re
turned to Court. The parties know whei
they sell to minors that they are violating IN
law. and can offer no excuse why they should
not pay the penalty for such violations. d
think In our Courts exact justice should b
dealt out 10 persons who are proved to b
equally guilty Of violations Of law
If Justice cannot be had in our Courts, as
humble citizen of the State of Delaware, al
in favor OF their abolishmeut 50 as to get n
of the expense. 1t is about time that th
people of this country were looking alter tho'
affairs that directly interest them Cor II sue
gigantic swindling as are every day bTougl
10 light, such as the Tammany in New Yor
the Scott in South Carolina, the Hodge in u
Paymaster's Department, City Treasurer
PHILADELPHIA and the numberlCss swindl
and deialcations in our u 5. Treasury al
internal Revenue Departments, and Win
President dispensing his patronage for preser
of pecuniary value that are bestowed up'
him, and law officers allowing yiolators ol Ia
20 free, for l will not say for wha) In
will some day find that we are bankru
nation and that Republican form OF Cover
ment is a failure.
Being only an humble citizen Of Delawa
thought it best to attack such evils as appI
in our own immediate neighborhood, a
have taken this means, with your conse
through the columns OF your paper to Drl
the facts heretofore stated TO the attention
such persons as have the power to RENE
the evil complained OF.
Respectfully yours,
WM. DEAN
Newark. Del. Nov. ts, 1871.