Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-03-04
MORE MAIL ROUTE INDICTMENTS
THE GREAT WALKING MATCH


IHE GREAT WALKING MATCH.
HAZAEL's WONDERFUL SCORE.
TOWN ATTACKED BY INDIANS.
REPORT OF THE GRAND JURY.
Some Important Recommendations.
REFORM IN THR NATTER OF KIQUoR IIcENsES-AN
INCREASED POLICE FORCE NECESSARY - POLICE
COURT EvnS-THE LAW AS TO BURGLARY AND
THREE-CARD MONTH MEN, ETC
The grand jury at the close of their labors to-
day submitted to Judge Cox, of the Criminal Court,
the following report:
70 the Honorable, the Supreme Ct,trt OF the Dis
f''ict Of Columbia, Holding q Criminal Term:
The grand jury selected for the December term
1881 has the honor respectfully to represent that
It's attention having been called to certain great
evils growing out OF violations OF the liquor laws
SO called, It OF its own notion undertook an jnves-
tlgatfon OF the subject and to that end Carefully
examined many witnesses. The grand Jury find
that large number OF persons in this District are,
ana have been for years plSt, carrying on the re-
tail liquor buineSS without having procured the
requisite lcense-thus to the injury Of the finan-
cal interests OF the District-to the prejudice OF
good morals and to the detrtment Of honest deal
erS.
1t further finds that of those who have procured
tne requisite licenses a large number perSiStently
Disregard the regulations which aim TO compel the,
transaction OF such business In such manner as to
produce the least possible injury to The cOm,nuni-
ty. These persons ignore the requirements as to
closing their houses at midnight; they sell to MI
nors and they sell on Sundays The grand Jury
mas from these premises come to the conclusion
that the existing laws upon this subject are not
properly enforced; that offenders against The
statutes are not promptly and effactuaiy brought
10 punishment and that the laws themselves are
open To criticism, as not affordng adequate mea Ms
Tor the detection and punishment OF offences Of
this character
Among the causes which lead to the failure to
compel observance or Laws and regulations, as de-
duced from testimony are: 1. The difficulty Of
obtaining Information which Shall precede arrest
1or violation OF law. 2 The facility with which
appeals are obtained and the delsy IN trying said
appeais-which delay Involves difficulty tn retain
ing witnesses for the prosecution. 3. The indiS-
position OF the members OF the police force TO make
arrests on account OF the great and prolonged per-
sona1 inconvenience to which they would be SUBJ
Jected In attending upon the cases in the Police
and Appellate Courts
The grand jury is Of opinion that large mea-
sure OF injury is chargeable directly to the delay
IN Issuing licenses Applications Tor such should
De passed upon--srantng or reject1ng-cert .inly
not later than thirty days after the expiration OF
Inc license year, and no one should, after that
date, viz: November 30th be permitted TO carry
on the liquor business without license. AS now
administered an application IS submitted gene
rally some time after the expiration OF the license
year, ana pending action upon that application
the applicant proceeds to conduct business as
though regularly licensed and the fact OF his APP
plication having been filed Is a bar to punish
ment. Several cases have come to the know ledge
OF Inc grand jury wherein applications were re-
Jected-the deposits remaining in the treasury of
the District, and the parties continued in the
prosecution OF the retail liquor business through
out theyear without icenseS-and at the end of the
year received a return or said deposits.
= The grand jury Is OF opinion that large amount
OF injury is chargeable to the facility with which
slgners Gas required by law to accompany appiica-
ton3 are manufactured. It has come to the
knowiedge of the jury that in many cases where
a e Is experienced In procuring the sigma
thn frrA; Ic, ~
pi0yes OF the applicants have been temporarily
colonlzed for the purpose, and where the signa-
lures OF owners are difficult to obtain, temporary
transfers OF property-often In absurd narrOwness
OF 1rontage-have been brought into reauisitlon,
TO the plain evadlng OF the spirit and intent OF
law.
The grand jury finds that large amount of in
Jury Is chargeable to tie holders OF wholesale
liquor licenses, who pay therefor sa5 per annl!n
Whilst the retailer pays Si00 per annun Such
persons q. e., the wholesale dealers) are amenable
TO none OF tue police regulations which apply to
evidence before this jury that q large proportion
OF holders OF wholesale licenses sell habitu lily by
the glass or drink; and this TACT, taken In connec-
ZION With the immunities above referred to as en-
)oyed by this Glass; viii explain the great desire
experienced by this jury to utilize all means in en-
ieayorng to correct 80 glaring ali evil.
The grand jury Is OF opinion that IL large amount
OF injury Is chargeible TO The facilities found for
dispoSlng OF stolen property TO dealers In second
halld wares, which facilities are OF themselves
powerful incentives to the commission OF petty
and annoying larcenles. In the opinion OF the
jury, some restraining measures should be en-
acted whereby such facilities may be restricted by
compelling the dealers to limit their purch ases to
persons known to them to De the owners or agents
for sale.
In the opinion of the grand jury the penalty pro-
weed ny statute for the punishment o: burglary is
not Sulclently severe to deter evil-dfSpuSed per-
sons from the commission OF that crime TIE
Jury finds that such offenders frequently, II not
are therby prepared to take life If detected In their
crime, or II their escape is INSTRUCTED.
IL In tls opinion OF the grand jury much evil fol-
Rows the presence in this community OF a large
class OF Migrants or persons known to be without
visible means OF support. prominent among
which may be named the "Three-card monte men,
bunko men, etc., and 1t Is respectfully suggested
that some more stringent measures be devised for
the removal, incarceration or other punishment OF
nails and known to the police to be such. but
Their arrest and punishment is attended with 50
much difficulty that the attempts Of the well-Gis-
posed police officers are frustrated.
In the opinion OF the grand Jury the present
system or administering justice by means OF the
donS, and it is respectfully suggested that some
means be devised whereby the evils complained Of
may be II NEEDED or greatly aileyated.$ Under the
lice is inconVenlent, expensive and lacking In that
celebrity OF punishment Tor crime which Is best
calculated to subserye the public interests Among
the evils complained OF may be mentoned: L. The
disqualification OF the police force by requiring
prolonged attendance Of officers upon court there
by unjustly curtailing their hours Of leisure or
their periods or duty. 2 The unnecessarily ex-
tended association, whilst awaiting trial, OF the
innocent with the gui!ty-the youthful with the
hardened criminal
The grand jury respectfully submits the follow
Ing Spetifl: recommendations as, in their opinion,
calculated to assist in the correction OF some OF
the evils heretofore pointed out
RECOMMEND ATOMS.
l. The board for the consideration OF applca-
tons for licenses to sell liquor by its should
consist OF three persons, each Independent OF and
not in the employ of the District Commissioners,
these persons to be appointed annually by the
judge holding the June term OF the Criminal Court.
and their acton upon any application to be final
All such applications should be filed With said
board on or before October OF each year. and
should be definitely passed upon before the end of
the succeeding month, viz: November 30.
3. The cost OF licenses for wholesale and retail
dealers should be uniform.
4. Wholesale dealers should be subject to the
same police regulations as retail dealers
5. The exhibition OF stock and fixtures Of liquors
and glasses or the paraphernalia OF the liuuor
business, should constitute prima facie evidence Of
sale.
g. The penalty for conducting the liquor business
without license should be: First-For the trst
onence, fine as at present. Second-For the sec
ond offence, fine and imprisonment, and the Of
fender to be- for period Of five years disqualified