The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1886-07-16
A GA RID

The attack upon the civil officers of this county
by hey. e. ID. Finney from his pulpit in Bel Air,
on July Attn, for their alleged dereliction in en-
forcing the local option law is characterized by
violence of language and is too grave in its nature
He says:
what are our civil officers for? OF what use
are they, beyond their name, and the expense to
make no arrests for violations of the law? Should
not all such officers who in this manner refuse to
enforce the law, be arrested and punished them
selvesH Yes. they should. Surely they should
not be allowed to escape summary Justice. Such
fragrant violation of their sworn and lawful du-
ties is disgracetnl. and puts stigma on their
characters which can never be removed.
This selling of intoxicating drinks contrary to
law n our town and county could readily be stop
and who would enforce the law"
1t is not enough for Mr.. Finney to utter this
from his pulpit; He has published, caused it
TO be pubished, for general perusal. Characters
and regulations are assaed reckessy and mer-
cilessly in this manner, by him, and it is always
easy for such aspersions to be lightly made and
to find willing listeners in every community.
First, as to the charge that the officers of tn Q
law Ut this means all the oficers,) refuse TO en-
force the local option law, one of such officers
emphatically deny the assertion. AS much and as
persistent effort has been made to bring voators
of the local option law to punishment as vioators
of any other law. For my own official Conduct in
these cases let any citizen refer for information
to any foreman of any Grand Jury convened
since 1857. the date of the adoption of the law,
particularly TO those of the grand juries of the
past year also to the able and impartial counsel
employed 10 assist tne prosecution in these cases,
l will also say that prior and up to this time there
has never been any conversation between any of
them and myself in reference TO the particular
subject matter of this card.
Again, and upon my own authority. / emphati-
cally assure my fellow CITIZENSHIP. Finneys die
tum to the contrary Notwithstanding that no
violator of any law has been knowingly suffered
by me to escape Justice and when he asserts, if
he means it for myself, that in such matters |
ought ITO be arrested and punished and mot be
allowed to escape summary punishment" simple
justice and self-respect require that the SANDER
GUS accusation be denied. 1t is false.
What has Mr.. Finney ever done ito uphold
Them, (the officers of the law In their efforts to
enforce this law? What practical legal action has
he ever suggested To my knowledge, none.
One other remark and have done. Do not
suppose for moment that such attacks will
ever influence my official action in these or
any other cases. Most directly and unequivoea-
ly do say to the citizens of Hartford county that
so long as am in office, the local option law shall
be enforced to the utmost of my power. If ind-
Vidual cases occur in which offenders escape ar
rest, they have occurred unavoidably. so far as
am concerned. | only ask any and every good
citizen to furnish the requisite information and
citizen can also give legal information to Justice
of the Peace, anywhere in the county, whose
duty will be to issue his warrant and either try
and determine the or hold the offender in
court. No line of demarcation has been, nor in
my Judgment, should be drawn between this
class OF cases and any other nfractions of the
law. Surely, oany fair and candid mind, IL needs
only to be stated in order to be proved, that so
long as this law is upon the statute books, it is
the duty of every good citizen, in common with
the courts, to see that it is enforced With clear
conscience can make the assertion that have
never failed to prosecute these or any other
cases, to the extent of my ability.
am obliged to be brief or much more could be
said GEORGE Y. MAYNADIER,
States Attorney for Hartford County