The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-10-27
rHE NAY OF THE rRASsGREssoR,
Mrs Matilda De LudOIf Convicted OF
Selling LIquorin Violation Of the
s Prohsbitory Law

Selling L1quorin Violation Of the
PrOhibitOry Law.
The evidence in the case of the State
of Kansas VS.. Mrs. Matilda De Ludolf,
charged with selling liquor in violation
of law, was completed before Esquire
Bachelor Friday afternoon, and the
jury which retired about O'Clock,
afler being out a little over half an hour
returned verdict of guilty. The testi-
mony in the case pointed SO unmistaka-
bly, to the guilt of the defendant that any
other finding would have been at vari-
ance with all established rules of juris-
prudence and an open violation of
the instructions of the court.
II is not, however an uneom-
mon thing for juries in
liquor cases to SO construe the evidence
as to give the defendants the benefit of
doubts that would never be considered
in proceedings instituted for the viola
ton of any other statute, and it is en-
couraging to know that the men whose
sworn duty it was to well and truly try
the cause wherein the state of Kansas
was plaintiff and Mrs. De Ludolf was
defendant. were true to the sacred trust
imposed by their solemn oaths.
| The failure to secure convictions in
several cases tried some weeks ago un-
der the prohibitory act had emboldened
the whiskyites to measure that was
1 viewed with growing alarm by the law
abiding people of Emporia, and the
power of the liquor traffic to cor
rupt the consciences of those whom
it was daily bringing within
range of its damning influence
admonished the friends of temperance
in this city that the insolent defiance
of the men who have persistently disre-
garded every restriction imposed upon
their disreputable business, had reached
point beyond which it could not pass
without overriding all established au-
thority and openly hooking the guardi-
ans of the public peace. The conviction
of Mrs. DeLudolf is the result of an
earnest effort to enforce measure
which has the endorsement of large
4 majority of the people of the state, and
we hope that the vantage ground
gained by this victory Will be occupied
with the best possible effect in following
up the good work so auspiciously begun.
There is no reason why handful OF
men engaged in a calling whose Grimm
al character compels it TO seek the pro.
lection of screens and drives it to the
| ru;Ity caaIno,OD ne 6orly rOO,no ahouII
be permitted to ply their infamous avo
cation, in a community where the senti
ment of the people is overwhelmingly
opposed to the dissemination of the
moral lepFosy of which the tippling
shop is the fountain head. The better
and consequently the more Influential
element of society is solidly arrayet
against this evil, and it cannot only
make IFS power felt in teaching actua
transgressors that popular sentimen
cannot be defed with impuniiy but i
, can likewise reprimand those wht
sympathize with and give comfort to tn,
, avowed enemies of morality and virtue
in manner which they cannot fail Il
correctly interpret.
The means are in the hands of the al
: vocates of sobriety and order in Empori
to suppress the monstrous traffic whicl
' secures the financial aggrandlzemen
: of few sordid Shylocks at the price o
!. mems souls and women's tears. The,
have been effectually employed in tn
case which resulted in another triumph
for the temperance cause yesterday. LIE
e the crusade against the great foster
parent of vice in all Its destestable form
D be prosecuted with untiring zeal unit
E every gin-slinger in Emporia will b
!. forced to run up his shutters and clos
n his doors