The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-10-11
Forged Signatures to Petitions for
Liquor License.
snrsox Co. MS. sent. g, 1852.

sfMFsoN Co. Mss, Sept ., 1882
EDIToEs CLARION: Tie temperance men
of Simpson county want to know if a Ii
cense to retail liquor granted on petitions
where a large number Of names were forged
in order TO get naajority OF legal voters
within the beat, are valid. Suppose the
grand jury investigate and fRd half or 4
third of the names forged, will nos licenses
granted under such fraud be null and void ?
We would ike TO have the Attorney Cen
erals decision through the columns Of the
CLARION, if possible; If not, Col. Nagent's
or some other distinguished man Of Law.
Respectfully, Temperance Nan.
EDrroRs CLARION: The answer to
Temperance Mau's" inquiry IS patent.
Section 1903, of the Code of 1880. prohibits
the issuance of 4 license 70 retail viHsus or
spifituons liquors, unless tie aprl can't
shall first produce petition for the Issuance
of sucis license, and recommending The ssid
applicant e Be Of good reputation alnt sober
and s,sitcble person to recetue saeA AceA5e,
which petition shall be signed by i majority
OF the legal voters resident iu The sHperYis-
or's district where such liquors are intended
to be sold !" or If the liquors are intended
rated city or towr, then by a majority OF
the legal voters resident therein. Besides
this, all such petitions must lay over for one
month.
These statutory requirements are indis
pensabIe, and if they are not lit
orally complied with the license grant
ed is absolutely void and the deal
er liable to be indicted Houses case,
II Miss, 737. 1t needs no argument to es-
tablish the proposition that forged sigma
lures 10 a petition are no signatures On |
the contrary, the party who forges such |
signatures is himself guilty of criminal |
oasnsc. All persons who are retailing Ii |
luors under fraudulent licenses obtained in |
the manner suggested by Temperance Man"
ought to be prosecuted. If the petitions
for license to retail liquors do not in terms
the applicant to be "of good
reputation aud a sober and suitable person
ID receive such license" or if the petitions
10 rot lay over one moAth the license based
non them is void.
II the temperance men and women in
his State would avail themselves of the
privileges now allowed by law and be indus
rious about getting up counter petitions"
o be filed with the boards of supervisors, or
he mayors Of ou- towns, and would take
he trouble to be present when the matter
# granting licenses to retail liquors
5 considered, / feel sure that the
ause of temperance could be large
Y promoted. The present laws are OBJ
ectionable only because Of the facility af-
orded for forging names to petitions, where
ersons are disposed to take that course,
nd the indisposition on the part of many !
pposed to the traffic to disoblige dealers by
lIinor thar rag to oatifi0., |
be issuance OF licenses. 1t now requires /!
he signatures-genuine signatures-of. !
Majority Of the legal voters resident in each !
lpervisor' district, or Incorporated town, to !
-arrant the retail vending of intoxicating ..
quors and would be glad to see a gem
raj movement all over the State towards !
,curing counter petitions. | hope have q
answered your correspondent fully. !
W L. NI-GENT