Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-07-31
QUE LlQUoR BAILIBF.
He Explains the why and where
fore of Certain Things.

Thomas M. 0gle, by the grace OF the
superior court liquor bsiliff for the city
Of Wilmington, stepped into the GAZETTE
AND JOURNAL office Thursday to explain the
shortcomings OF the following card, which
be said was fair sample Of many which
he is receiving
D reported last week has received no atten-
ton and it remains to be seen whether shall
write to Judge Houston. D. sells all day
Sunday and does not try to hide. Mrs. T,
in Browntown, sells steady without license
Is it ignorance or bribery that Is the cause Of
your negligence? Hire a man to try and buy
liquor Sunday at D-'s. Beware!
The names, suppressed above, are
spelled ont in the original, but the writer
has not signed his own name or any
other.
"Well, what have you to say about it3'
The bailif replied that as to tine
Browntown woman he would 60 out aud
look at her shop and If he found that she
was selling liquor without license he
would put stop to 1t. But what he
complained OF was that people would
send him anonymous communications and
expect him to aot on them. Why do they
not state explicitly what information they
can furnish and append their names and
address Then he could 20 to see
them and confer with them about bring.
ing the violators OF the law TO Justice.
People who have such complaints to make
need not be afraid Of his giving them
away let them come out fairly and
openly and "there is no man who will do
more to have the law enforced than |
will,n he said.
"Now this man wants me to hire man
to try and buy liquor at that place on
Sunday" he continued. "Does he sup
pose that I'm going to do that 2 What
does he take me for 7 l am au officer
employed to enforce the law, not to con-
spire at Its violation, as would be doing
II followed his advice. II he will tell
me who he is will 90 and see him, and
II he eau furnish me with the names Of
any responsible witnesses who have
bought liquor there on Sunday, l will
have the party hauled up. won't ask
doesn't want to and he needn't be afraid
to trust me with his address,"
II was lsuggested by the GAZETTE
representative that the liquor bailif
could station himself quietly in the
neighborhood of the place complained OF
and observe the people who resorted
thither on Sunday and thus provide
himself with witnesses; to which he re-
piled that he might spend two or three
Sundays Watching one place and after all
have nothing to show for 1t, while dozens
Of others in other sections OF the city
might be taking advantage Of his absence
to sell freely.
"The main use Of the liquor bailiff,"
he said, ''ia to act as q deterrent. He
cannot stop the sale OF liquor on Sum
days; have no doubt that liquor can be
had in nine-tenths OF the hotels and
saloons of the city from so.and-so's (men-
tioning leading hotel keepei) down and
they will mot allow me to 60 aud sit down
In their barrooms and watch to see
whether they are violating the law or
not; but the knowledge that / am about
and may drop in upon them at any
moment makes them careful not to com
init aaRrsnt violations OF the law, and
that it seems to me the chief benefit Of
the office. You cannot altogether stop
the sale of liquor on Sunday, but you can
keep II within certain bounds and the
knowledge that there is a man around
whose business 1t is to look after viola
tors Of the law has that effect"