Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1888-05-04


The following official presentment bv
the Grand Jury Of Kings County, N. Y,
handed up to the Court Of Sessions, is q
most striking arraignment of the rum power
not only in Brooklyn but throughout the
land.
PREsENrMENT.
The Grand Jury of the County Of Kings
IN session assembled during the March
term OF the Court of Sessions do hereby
most respectfully make the following pre-
sentiment to the said court, praying the
court to submit, through the proper chan
mel, to the Legislature Of this State, now in
session, the following preamble and reso-
luton for their honorable consideration and
action.
WHEREAS, In the discharge of our duties as
sirand Jurors, during the court term Of March,
1885, the great majority of criminal cases
brought before us have either been directly
or indirectly the result OF the use of intoxicst-
ing drink; and
WHEREAS, The number Of licensed LIQUOR
SALOONS III the city Of Brooklyn has increased
10 such an Alarming extent that in many por-
lions of our city as many as twenty or more
saloons may be found in single city block
dealin. out intoxicants to men and women
aud making them largely the disturbers of
and
WHEREAS, Our county penitentiary and
lunatc asylums and almshouses are being
overcrow4ed with the subjects of crime, Of
the use of strong drink and our local crimi-
nal courts are being burdened with trials
brought about largely through the use of such
drink; and
!, WHEREAS, The Commissioners of Excise In
tho city Of Brookly, by virtue Of legislation
relative to the sale Of intoxicating liquors
in cities of this State containing over 36O, 900
inhabitants have been granted we'll nigh
supreme power in giving licenses to sell
Intoxicating drinks in such localities and
WHEREAS, The granting of such large
looms are So indefinitely multiplied az to
become discomfort, an annoyance. and .
positive damage to the lives and property Of
the law-abiding citizenship Of our large city;
and
WHEREAS, The great burden of taxation up
oD our city and county ct large is yearly in
creasins, aud such burden of taxation is
drink in the fruitful production Of crime, lu-
macy, and poverty, and thus the necessary in
crease of judicial authority and law-enforc-
irg officers, for the arrest and trial of the
hordes of lntimidated offenders against the
lava; therefore
Rcsolved, That we, the grand jury. of the
county of Kings, do respectfully and humbly
pray our Legislature, now in session, to so
amend the excise laws now in operation in tho
city of Brooklyn that the licensing power Of
tho Commissioners OF Excise be 50 curtailed
and restricted rs to allow one saloon to def
mite number Of inhabitants or to def mite
limit Of distance; or to the enactment Of
whatever measure or measures your honora-
BILE body may decide, whereby the public
vending of intoxicating drink may be cur
t,iled in our city, and thus the public good
be largely advanced in the protection Of the
lives, homes and property Of our citizens from
the assaults and thefts of intoxicated per-
sons; in the decrease Of burdensome taxa
ton, and in the needed relief Of the burdens
Of our criminal courts.
All Of which is respectfully submitted.
PETER ]. NEEFUs,
Foreman of Grand Jury