Daily Republican., 1878-11-19

in four cases, to which he plem guilty.
out OF nine cases in which true bills
were found, and N. II. Ryan vas fined
$50 each in two cases, to which Le
plead guilty. The reports do not tell
us how many true bills were found
against Duggan and Ryan, but from
the tenor of the reports, there is no
reason to doubt that number Of other
cases were nolie prosecuted, by the pay
ment of costs. In the case of the two
last named it will BE- noticed that they
are fined each 500, just what license
would have cost them ba1 il been
granted them, and We may set down
the costs in the case as an Offset to The
expense Of attending Court and getting
II license. Taking this view Of the
case, the advantage, in pecuniary
point of view. is altogether on the side
of those who do not take out license.
They nave no worry about going al ound
hunting up signers, advertising in the
newspapers and then perhaps have the
modification Of being refused license.
We would not intimate that ther. was
any collusion or design in this mod" Of
dealing out justice, but it must be very
comforting to those who sell without H.
cense to know that they will only he
lined anyhow the amount they would
lad to have paid for license.
We cannot for the life of us see why
,aerenhach should have been made an
exception, and fined in four cases. He
must have been doI Bile offender. Now
then, will these fines b- collected
There is a wsll-grounded suspicion that
a great many OF the fines imposed are
never paid-indeed we think we are
quite sure of that, for many of those
convicted hav. nothing to pay fines
with, and there being no bonded secu-
rites at his back, as ther. should be, |
here is nothing left for the sheriff to do
nut put them in Jail few days and then
let them 60 and commit the violations
over again. We believe it is a part OF
the sentence that party convicted
shall be committed to the custody of
the sheriff until the fines imposed are
paid. A liberal Interpretation OF this
sentence can only be construed to mean
time enough to get the money and pay
the fines, say day or two, certainly
not more than eight or ten, AMI at the
furthest extreme for those convicted
now, not beyond the adjournment of
the Court.
The law for the punishment of such
otfrnces carries with it no Imprisonment
clause, 80 that there really is no pun
i'hment for offenders except iiuing them
about the same amount they would
ave had to pay for license had they
rppli-d for one. 1t is altogether a ques-
tion of option with convicted person
whether he pays his fine or not, provi-
ded he has no property upon which
levy can be- made. II business is good
at home and the profits at the bar large,
1t may be to his interest to pay his fire
and hurry up business little by in:
creasing his sales in order to make up
what he thinks has been dishonesty
filched from him. If it will not pay to
pay the fine imposed or if he has not
the money to pay it with, all he has to
do is to submit to the enjoyment Of a
short stay in the county mansion. the
county footing the bill. This short i'm
prisOnmeRt is no part Of the sentence of
lhc toult, anu tnfTrlOTt bHtTt IL no
disgrace in it. 1t is merely optional
with the Sheriff whether he is incarcer-
ated at all, as he is only committed to
his custody until the fines are paid, and
that officer can put him in Jail few
days if lie desires, or he can take secur-
ity for the payment of the fine and let
the prisoner go. All he has to do is to
ascertain whether his prisoner has any
effects out Of which he can make the
fine and il none are found there il an
md of it and the violators 60 without
1t would be- interesting
to know how many Of the persons con
'icted for the violation of the liquor
aw pay their fines and how much the
state gains after all the expenses and
'osts are paid. This would be informa
ion that would be of some use to the
people and We do hope that Mr.. Sprin-
ger, the Clerk of the Peace, will allow
that much Of the county's business to
b" published, that the pecple might
see for themselves whether the present
liquor laws have been success or
allure. As protection to the morals
+ the community, We want no proof of
,hrr failure, but we would like to see
row stands the account financially.
How many and who of all that have
'nen convicted in the last November
and May courts have paid the fines i'm
1osed upon them, and how much effort
las been made to collect those fines and
now long the Dartjes not navipo THAR