The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1893-05-12

EDITOR REGISTER: viii il take more space
than you can spare to give q few points regard
ing the prohibitory law, and gambling dcns.
Give also the required duty of the County At
torney and Sheriff, regarding the cleaning VI
tached if they do not as officers of the county
prosecute the law where duty demands il?
INQUIRER.
The prohibitory law, as is generally
known, forbids the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors of any kind by any person
not authorized by law to make such
sales. The giving away of liquor, or
any shift or devise to evade the law,
is made equally unlawful as the act
ual sale and is punished by the same
penalty. Fines and costs assessed
against convicted party are lien
upon any real estate he may own,
and also against the premises in
which the sale was made. The law
Furnishes the owner of a club room
where liquor is kept for drinking pur-
poses, or any person who aids or
abets the unlawful sale, equally with
the one who actually handles the liq-
uor Action for violation of the law
may be brought before any justice of
the peace and tried by jury of 6
men. The duties of the sheriff are
the same as in any other criminal
case, namely: to serve whatever
writs and warrants may be issued.
1t is the duty of the county attorney,
when informed "by an officer or other
person" of any violation of the law, to
diligently inquire into the matter,
and if he finds facts that warrant
prosecution, it is his duty to commence
such action. If he fails or refuses to
perform this duty, he may be remov-
ed from office or may be superseded
by an assistant appointed by the
AttOrney-General.
The law against gaming and gam
bling devices, is very clear and ex-
plicit, providing severe penalties
against any one who shall "set up or
keep" any gambling device whatever,
or who shall keep place or room
for the purpose of playing any game
of cards for money or property" or
shall allow any person or persons
to play such game of chance in any
room under his charge or control.
This brief summary is probably as
much as Enquirer" desires. 1t is
law is all right. All that is needed is
IlS cIlOECculcHt. Anu IL StelllS pTOpcI
to say here that the enforcement of
these, or any other. laws does not de-
pend solely upon the officers. True,
if the sheriff or any other police Off
Ger of the county, township or city,
has personal knowledge of the viola
ton of the prohi bitory law, it is his
duty to bring it to the knowledge of
the county attorney, and failure to do
so may be punished with heavy pen
alties. But none of these officers is
required to act upon mere rumor. AS
for the county attorney. he may have
personal knowledge of the violation
of the law, and yet not be required by
any obligation further than that
which rests upon every citizen, to
take steps TO punish it. It is the duty
of every good citizen to aid in the en-
forcement of the laws. We would
suggest to Enquirer" therefore, that
if he has knowledge of the violation
of any law, he make complaint to the
attorney. We have no doubt
that Mr.. Campbell will do his duty
promptly and effectively if evidence is
brought to him that would warrant a
expectation of conviction.