The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-09-04
MEMPHIS BIG FRAUDS.
THEIR DJsCOFERy LEADs 10 THE
MAS DOTNFALL.
story of tho Combine OF the County aud
State Oniciais With Illicit Liquor Dsal-
ors-S5, OOC 900 Lost TO the state.


| climax the long Ist cf ~ closures con
corning the non-coilection OF pryueg,
taxes The grand Judy's investigation ha.
extcuIcd over month. and has resulted
in tie discovery OF Joss 80 the State
county. and city treasures Of sums az
/ gcea,iu. iu the no.snborhood of }5.O0.oc
in tam years. and in the return of LIZ
/ indictments against persons ia all lines
Of business. including two public officials
The tnludcrhoit fell when state Comp
/ trollcr James Harris arrived with "a force
Of clerks entered upon an examination
/ OF The tax collectors books. going back
| ass Jar ass le... and expressed determine
! ton 90 make collection OF every cont
| that ls delinquent and is not barred by
the statute Ui limitations several thou
| sand persons iu this county have from
! time h. u~.r engaged Ina the sale Of li-
ouor without bcins compeliied, to pay
! privilege fr,-. until the claims held
AGAINST them boy tlc State have accumu-
lated t. considerable proportions. The
collection Ot All these moneys AZ this
| time Viii rlin many families. while the
! concentration Of such H. large lump sum
in the hands OF the state is expected TO
cause 10 serious embarrassment IN local
financial circles for tine Time. but the re-
suit already g. the humiliation OF the
hD.dcst political cabal that ever thriyed
20 the expense Of the public.
10 1853 there We're iu Memphis few
widows Oi Confederate soldiers who We're
permitted by the tax collector 10 sell
liquor iu quiet way without payment Of
city or state privilege dues, because
their necessities were great ana their
WliOWhOud commanded sympathy. These
women also carried ga "A grocery bust
ness, and other suburban grcccrs OBJ
serving that the addition Of IL keg of
beer and "a jag Or two % liquor added ma
icrdhy 10 their patronage began also
all ..s.N. N.Ha Hfsta Of
tOus.y. II the grocer Glanced 10 be
political supporter of the tax collector
his offence was Winked at. II an OppO-
ncnt. De was likely 90 De visited by a de-
ul.,ud for privilege fees. which ut that
time amounted TO so FOR the state. so
for the county. and So for the city. II
then behoOved the grocer who dspred 10
enter Inc hquor business TO establish
friendly relations with the tax collector.
and soon that official became the most
popular man in shelby county. At first
me llqqor business was carried on In
sccI u1ed apartments, but 10y degrees the
dealers became boldcr ana lately they
nave made no effort 10 conceal their illi
clt transactions, and the unlawful retail
lns OF liquor has been conducted in gOr-
scouSly furnished saloons Under such
conditions the liquor business became
quite profitable and popular so that the
present grand jury has located so liquor
SHOPS M Memphis. on one 10 every ~
PERSONS, white and cOlOred. OF these only
iN5 paid license for the current wear.
W ME II was notorious that this con-
Uu0n Of affairs existed. il has never
.'Hui now been possible for the public
- secure the slightest measure Of reform.
t"p years ago the conditions became
SO lhJolerahle that many leading citizens
oIti'ni%ei Law and Order" League.
anu petition WAS drafted addressed TO
Ine then Criminal Court Judge, julius j.
Du bose. asking that the law be enforced
dhu thdt saloons not possessing the
statutory license be closed up. This
F.rf
Fale 'HhIhbers by a committee headed by
tA-Judge q. w. Hcskcu, cX-Judae D. NJ
HIceI, ana other citizens not less dis
tingulshed. Judge Du Bose declined 10
hear the committee or to read the pc
uuOn, saying IL was au insult 10 him 10
intimate that the criminal laws were not
enforced, and that me- could not entertain
s1ch eN parte statements, particularly
when not on the bench. He concluded
his talk by ordering the committee from
ms presence. acceleratng their departure
NY physical assistance. This conduct on
the part of judge known 10 have con
doned infractions Of the privilege tax
laws aroused the better element Of the
people impeachment proceedings were
Instituted against Judge Du Bose before
the state legislature, and after < bitter
contest, and one OF the most sensational
trials that ever occurred before legisla-
tive body IN this country. On Bose was
stripped Of the ermine and forever de
barred from holding office In this state.
But this ala not bring about any i'm
u
collections IN Memphis. The trade moved
alOns unnolested. The Attorney General
for this county excused himself on the
sfonnd tha{ no witnesses OF
before him so that he could
institute prosecutions The County Court
clerk who is cN-ohi-to tax collector.
thought he had done mis- fun duty when
their taxes were due. Tho Criminal Court
judge pointed out that ne had no turisdic-
ton except upon preacntmenl OF the grand
Jury, and the grand juries from time 10
forward 70 give evidence upon which In
d.ctmonts could be based. This was prob
ably true, for no private citizen felt call
ed uuOn 10 work up the prosecution OF
During the last year this system as
sumed its most formidable proportions.
The Tax Collector. the Attorney General.
and the Criminal Court Judge We're up
for reelection. The Tax Collector did
not deem IL polite - make any effort 10
collect privilege taxes from any class of
business men. especially those whom he
had any reason % suppose would sup
port his candidacy for reelection; and as
scarcely any distress warrants were is
sued until after the election. II Is sup
posed be made 40 attempt 10 collect |
money except when 80 was handed 10 him |
over his counter
Tho exact amount OF money lost VIII |
not Doe known until the ComptrOlleTs audi !
TORS shall have completed their work on /
The books but IL g. estimated that there |
were zoo delinquent saloon keepers. each |
a. loss of SO for the year !
This would bring the aggregate from that |
source alone mp 10 $,3.UuJ for This year |
Ther.L other leakagcs. which make the /
WI loss from saloon men $4,000. In
/affosfiOu into losses iu other lines OF |
iade has not been AS thorough from
Ack Of time. bar u IS conservatlvely |
/urcd that the State. county, and city
lave lost 10000 this year. This sum is
thought to represent 20 fair average for
zach of the last ten years.
The influences that led 20 the develop
tocgf of this system also led 10 its down
.lu. The incumlcuts OF the county offices
we're defeated iu their contest for re
lection. the unlicensed liquor vote was
brown against them because II was
cared that as they had already held
,iIce a long time. they might having no
.ope OF further political preferment, and
therefore, not desiring the further support
If the liquor men, enter upon prosecution |
# the nicltmate business they had fos-
erred. The liquor men consequently
lccted new men % mn the Offices The
lection was held August 81. but the old
hcials 3D. not step out until Monday.
september 18th They had month IN
,hlcn t0 act The lrand jury was found
% Dee favorable 10 the enforcement Of the
tY That body WAS soon In possession
I ail necessary evidence. It's attention
as first directed 10 the liquor men, but
Dee further il delVei the more extensive
ccame its discoveries. and the facts were
)uud much more appalling IMAM they an
ipated when they started out. The pub
q was profoundly surprised when the
.sclosures were received. Persons In all
asses of lifs were brought within the
rag net and after LOO indictments were
,und the investigation rested with the
against County Court Clerk
uigey, the representative OF the State
ld county and License Inspector Joseph
-Lnra M. nLlN,s nilIcIll who has cnArEe