The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-13
NO CIGARETTES FOR MINORS.
GRAND JURY INDICTS SEVERAL
PROMINENT DEALERS.

A Recent Trag cdy Brought the Mat
ter to the Grand Jury's Attention.
Charlie VIOssapRuIos Could Not
Give BOnd-SevernI Prominent Rum
Street Druggists Indicted for Sell
ing Cigarettes to MinOrs-Many
Youthful Witnesses before That
Body.
The enforcement of the law against the
sale of cigarettes to minors is compare
lively a new thing in Chatham county.
There Is such a law on the statute books,
passed four or five years ago, but hereto
fore, it seems, little attention has been
paid to it,
The grand jury yesterday indicted some
Of the most prominent firms in Savannah
for the sale of cigarettes to minors. There
was a large number Of boys before that
body yesterday, and upon inquiry it was
found that they had been summoned On
account of the fact that certain places had
been in the habit of selling cigarettes TO
minors whenever they called for them.
The action of the grand jury was aimed
principally al some of the fruit stands
which do an extensive business in cigar
cites and go TO the extent of breaking a
package to sell two for one cent Indeed
1t has been stated that some Of the small
boys have been allowed to run accounts at
these stands, and pay their bills when they
get a little money from their parents. Most
of the money, it is said, goes for cigar
cites.
The grand jury took the matter up of its
own motion yesterday. tt seems to have
grown out OF recent tragedy in which
young boy was accidentally shot by one
OF his playmates and from the effects of
which ne died. Il was learned from this
occurrence that the boys had been in the
habit of going into some of these places
and buying cigarettes. In some instances
the dealers would not sell the cigarettes
directly TO the boys, but they would per-
init them to leave a five cent piece on the
counter, and then go to the show case and
take out a package Of cigarettes for them
selves. which was, of course, equivalent
TO q sale.
As stated, some of the most prominent
firms in the city were given the benefit of
the investigation. Three true bills were
found against Charlie NlOssapaulos, the
Greek who keeps the fruit stand at Bull
street and Gordon street lane. His place
has been a sort of a corner grocery for
young boys living in that neighborhood,
and it Is said many of them have secured
cigarettes there. Nlossapaulos was arrest
ed last night, and as he was not able to
give bond, was put in jail He will prob
ably arrange his bond to-day.
Three true bills on the same charge were
also found against Mr.. Walter D. Jones,
of Jones' pharmacy on Bun street and
Perry street lane. The other indictments
on this charge were against Messrs. J. NJ.
Solomons, J. A. Mays, Anthony Fernan-
dez and J. M Adams.
1t appears that the names of all of these
parties came out in the investiga ton be-
fore the grand jury. The boys and there
were some fifteen or twenty of them sum-
moned as witnesses, were all asked where
they had bought cigarettes, and as a re-
suit special presentments were returned
against the parties named.
All of the parties have been served with
copies of the indictments and requested to
furnish bonds, which will be done. The Of
Tense of selling cigarettes to minors Is a
misdemeanor under state law of five or
six years standing. An effort was made by
the Legislature TO prohibit the sale of Gig
arettes in the state altogether, and the law
prohibiting their sale to minors was a
sort of compromise measure
The indictments or special presentments
We're quite a surprise TO the parties in
Volved II may be said that none of them
were expecting it, and a defense will no
doubt be made in all the cases.
Few will believe that reputable druggists
and dealers have any desire to violate the
law In this way, though they may have
done so Internationally. There are some
cases, however. where the law has no
doubt been fiagranuy violated, and an in-
vestgation viii no doubt have good re-
suits.
One of the gentlemen indicted said yes
terday that the service of the Indictment
upon him was the biggest surprise he has
had In a long time There might have been
cases where boys big enough to be of age
had bought cigarettes, he said, but far
from violating the law he had refused
many boys who came in to purchase cigar
cites.