The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1872-09-26

lFTOm the UeuLkCut AelluuS u ooPsSAaoeA N"l
The petty annoyances on the part OF the
United States officials toward dealers In tobac-
co are still in progress, and almost daily we
hear of one or another heavily fined for doing
what cannot be fairly construed to have been
a violation of the spirit'of the law. Now 1t is
an empty cigar box, innocently given away
by a dealer, for which he Is fined thirty OF
forty dollars. Now It is one thing and tnen
another, The tobacconlsts must pay, ana tne
United States officials pocket Inc green9schs,
The greatest oppression, however, 10 in Ine
construction Of the law law IL Ie a saTs sncb tn1 tobacco ShasS y,
mnst be sold only from the original box; ano
he of1clals mere interpret this to mean that
n any one takes q piece Of tobacco out OF the
hoy. sells half or quarter of 1t, as ID commonly
done. and then puts the re nalnder back ID
the box, he Is liable to q fine. NO one, tnere-
fore, who sells tobacco at all can escape these
fines.
An when the officers stand In need of money
thew 90 to any tobacconist, 1t makes no odds
he is, and charge him with violation of
the revenue laws; and, as the dealer knows
that he can nave no Justice In court, or, even
If he should, he would still have to pay heavy
fees to counsel, he generally pays az once
whatever 10 asked of him. The regular reVe-
nue. officer here Is OF the opinion that these
Industrious officials transcend their duties; has
saId thiI To us frequently, and declared himself
ready to protect ;ne' accused In court as far
as NAV lie in bis power. But all this has done
no good. The evil still continues; and no
dealer In tobacco ID secure from being lined
any day In The week.: 1000.
Thus Mr.. j. q. Thfele was dragged before
Commissioner Porteous q few days ago,
CHARGED with having sold chewing tobacco not
taken from the original box. AS Mr.. Thiele
knew The two detectives Zone white and one
black who bought the tobacco, and as be was
moreover familiar with the law, he of course
eaye them the tobacco directly from the box,
and has three witnesses who saw him do 30:
When he came before the commissioner and
the two informers swore hat Mr.. Thieie had
sold tobacco not from the original box, q Ola
jopne arose between the commissioner and
MI. Thiele. somewhat as follows:
ThIele, i, Must I tell the truth here
Porteous. or course. You have sworn to
tell the truth, and nothing but the truth.
Thlele. Thea I have to say that the TWO In
formers have told o lie.
Porteous. You must not use such language
in court else you will 60 to jail;
Porteous. Then you should say that sou
did not sell the tobacco.
Theile. Very well. Now suppose that
should prefer not to stand suit, what would l
Porteous, (very afiable.) I can tell yon very
easily, as I have just given hr. Ramon his Dill
of costs upon q similar charge. His was
S36 so. Yours will be 81 so less; and l am
ready to receive the money.
Thiele. Not quite 30 fast. could have COM
promised for ten dollars With one OF these To-
formers II I had been at home.
Tnformar. ahall quo yon for libel.
Thiele. Yeu may sue If you IKE. l nave
who heard you say before my door
to your fellow-Informer, 'Let ue 60 In again
and offer to drop the matter for tan dollars"
Intormer. I demand this mans arrest.
Porteous. II you want to bring suit for libel
you must go 10 the State Court. BE cannot
be arrested here.
AS MT. Thiele was not willing to c0mpro-
mise, he had to give ball for his appearances at
the next term of the United Suites Court.
Now, should he gain bis suit, which ID BY no
means certain, he would have to pay not less
than ffty dollars In counsel fees; and 1t Is for
this reason that most, II not all, pay at once,
as soon as they are accused. The tobacco
nIsts should form an association and collect
funds, 30 that, when any of their members are
accused, they may engage the best lawyers
and bring tho matter regularly before q Judge
Of competent Jurisdiction, and to Washing.
ton, that this petty persecution may De a. 1881
brought to an end. This case OF Mr.. Inlele
should be thoroughly followed up, and other to-
bacconIsts ought 70 assist him In defraying the
expenses OF suit, as 1t is for the interest OF all.
And II It is found that these inf0rmers engage
in false swearing they should be auled up for
perjury, and an example be made OF them, 30
that others similarly inclined may be made to
know that they incur some risk In inVentlng
Idle charges against p%eaceable and law-abid-
Ing citizens.