The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-01-21
ssume their official duties. The Gov.

assume their official duties. The Gov
ernor fs authorized to employ consta-
b'"s and three State detectives whose
espe c'al duty it is to enforce the law.
haVo employed on an average about
: hly constablcs during my term OF
Office and ono State detective and they
: have been Jealous and faithful in their
Efforts to suppress the illicit ira f1ic and
[ am satisfied, and l am sure the people
! OF the State are, at tho results obtain
ed.
During the past year Gfty.five regu-
+ lar commissioned constablts including
the two chief State cOnstabies havc
been regularly employed. The State
, is divided MO- two divisions known as
the upper" and the "lowcr" The
upper division is in charge OF Chief
FAINT and tho lower in charge Of Chief
lIOlley. Tho salaries and expense, in
clutinT ono detective and the clerk in
my Ollicc, amounted to SIT, ,72G OF.
ThirLy-one constablcs arc assigned to
tho upper and twenty-f0ur to the
lower division. The upper division
has been much harder to handle by
reason Of tho proximity Of North Car
olina aud the mountain distillories.
The amount Of whiskey and brandy
seized in tho upper division for the
past year WAS 3,345 gallons, ninety
burrels of beor, S,O7G gallons of cidcr
and beer in bottles, twelve vehicles
and sixteen head OF mules and horses,
and ten illicit distilleries were DESTROY
ed. In tho lower division thorc were
seized and c0nGScnted 6,090 gallons OF
whiskcy, wine and brandy, thirty nine
barrels of beer, twenty-five hundred
and tifty.l gallons Of beer and cider
in kegs, three vehicles and four head
of mules and horses, one illicit distil-
lcry was destroyed. Tho resistance to
! ~ n W n n ,f L,
tics adjoining the North Carolina line
and in tho county Of Charleston has
been most stubborn. In the remaining
counties OF the State Il healthy condi-
tlon exists aud the citizens arc almost
unanimous in support Of the law, and
| am glad to report that the law is
beipg better enforced throughout the
State at largo as is shown by The scales
Of tho dispensaries and the number OF
convictions OF Illicit dealers in tho
State and municipal courts.
The violations reported to my Office
show largo decrease and the daily
reports of the constables show q bctter
state OF feeling throughout tie State
at large. In tho counties of OcOnec,
Grcenville and Chesterfield Cilliculties
have been had with traders coming
from North Carolina. These dcspera-
does invariably go armed to the teeth
with determination to resist the
l officers to the extent Of losing their
ives ii necessary. In Oconcc Il das-
/ tardly attempt was made to assassi-
nate the coustables almost at the doors
OF tho court house aud they narrowly
escaped with their lives. The good
people Of the county became indig-
. nant and an honest attempt has been
made to bring these offenders to jus.
) ticc. In two Instances the constable
have been compelled to shoot down
these desperadoes, and although fully
Justified and acquitted by the courts
: of the land of any wrong, they have
been bounded down by tho newspapers
opposed to this law and branded a.
common murderers. The only way tc
deal with such ctfenders is to let them
know that the law will be enforced
even If 1T be necessary to take lheil
3 lives.
We have been greatly embarrassed
by the decision OF the United State:
Is Court which allows the Importation O
whiskcy for personal use. The mat
d ter Is now before the United States Su
~ preme Court and if our position is sus
!. tanned there will be little trouble il
> putting an end TO the illicit traffic.
" One OF the best evidences of the de
i crease in the cit traffic is the de
: crease in the number Of licenses issuet
- by the United States internal revcnu,
d D''' ''t,e"O'
d f"r the year ending June 81, 1896
@ thefc were issued TO parties outside q
!, 0iSpens a''ies SO !lcenses and one Whole
N sale license included. OF these 10
: we're taken out in the city Of Charles
I ION. tor tne same period ending Jun
a 81, 1919, 20 licenses were taken out
O vi TINS number lOi were taken out il
9. the cl'y Q! Charleston, showing de
d crease ol 40 III thf: State and an in
d GIeas: Cr ot 'hlr'y three ia the city o
= .har.eston. For the year ending Jun.
&c ~, -, lherc nave been issued SO ia,
T. 80 H.!c.l uca!ers i" licenses OF which
= ~ were laEen out ior Charleston
d aN'hs 'NcH' !o3r "hp!csaic license
:: - o':a.:r7 IL !i.sl cl|y. FOr the sam'
!, p*'.H. -: f'H'.rD' !:ar Were arc %J
:, -.':' ~ :" i...c.s r"a ere. l1' ~ whjct
& ""': taHHh r>I - ~" E,tT 81 Ctar."e
e wa. - WI. Eh~: ~: 800: VA ~" IA