Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1890-08-18
A i,D-

AS an explanation is necessary :or obtruairg
my private business ef-lrs upon the public
make it to the extent Of saying tnat although PR
vae matter, the action OF the Cour5 in the cas- of
{ a'mes 6 Kraft hiss put e stigma upon me which
l. ~ Il gentle III n, don't propose to rest under II
silence particularly The injury was iltl.ctnd
b.trsrily and urju.tly. st the July term of The
Court III consequence OF the refus+l 10 huInliate
mygcf by signing an cath, not authorised dy idw,
oCr license has bsen taken away or 3Udays aud our
business, i:h has VA bGeu known as one of
the most eminently respectable, has bsen closed
TO prove The Inconsistency OF the court it i, only
necessary TO cay that the writer OF this during the
pril term Ct the Court VIZ ted upon The judge
enter protest against the granting of bar III
license to house OF ll-fame stating th,t no sucn
license had been granted to houses OF such charac
ter since one Eiche berger WAS killed In such
licensed place about fifteen years ago that it was
an Insult 10 every roSpoc. BILE man III the business,
and if the Judge did not consider the pacs con-
venicn' ore or the party applying Il III ore, no
ought To use his discretionary power and refuse TO
grant license. His Honor informed me he would
be glad to refuse said license, hut required me- or
some one else, 10 appear in pub &c Court and enter
protest. This, OF course, refused 10 do, and the
license Was granted. But circumstances certain
do alter cssos, for when tho Court got really TO
prosecute the liquor de lors for violating the
day law it did take notca Of complaints lodge
with it privately and did net require the COM
painant to swear out warrant or appear in pub.
lie Court. rl .ss-.=.---5
After the grand jury indie ed fourteen liquor
dealers, of them intended to stand trial, bnt
vera induced to plead guilty, the Court stating
that in case any of them should attompt to escaps
punishment by legal t,chnicsities il would lie
worse for them. The Court was, therefore, pre-
Judging those ;ecs to SUCH an extent as to border
on a denial of trial by jury, and rerrorzed the
liquor dealers by giving notca that il tn y fought
their cases upon the rulea of law and evidences
ath roifir haua right tn and OF.
tempted to interpose deieace, Troy would be moro
severely punished. ~ .si.---t .'ail
That the action of the Court wal arbitrary il
proved by the fact that only liquor dealers were
punished for violating the SUNDAY law and other
offenders left unmolested boa des, it WIS well
known that nearly all the liquor dealers had vio-
lated said law Why did the Court then not con-
tiuue with its obnox Gus drsg net and summon
citizehs untal offenders were indicted
The order of the Court suspending license for
four weeks is, rs the Court is willing TO admit Geg
al and this illegal order is enforced By threat To
revoke the licenses entirely. II was afterwsrd re
ended upon tho CONDITION Of taking humiiist-
IL oath never to violate said law again; and if
this principle should hold good with liquor deal
ers why not apply ii to al citizens and make them
swear not TO violate Any laws, and then abolish
tho Cour,? sNFH
The result Of those proce ediugs is that decent
house is CLOSED and house of Ill fame is
kept open, and if thfsi is travcsty upon jus.
lice, what is il ? b. ...- ,--s-7..Ii
The writer of this has again and again becn ad-
vissd not to publish sny card, as tho Court might
retalate by punishing him for contemp OF or By St
tempting to .stroy his business but the Judge,
as public servant and officer (or he is not our
master or tyrant), is liable to criticism, and for
one am not willing TO be deferred from asserting
my rights as a citizen regardless Of consequences
l consider that the Court committed SERIOUS err
ror, thereby doing me a gross injustice and it
ought BIO willing TO correct it as far as lies with
in its power. LOUIS kRArFT.