The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1899-06-16

The appalling tragedy which TOOK
place in Bel Air, last Saturday even
ing, in which two men 10 It tlAir lives,
anything that has occurred in the
county for many years. Happily such
occurrences are rare in civilized conf
nunities in lime of peace, and have
their counterpart only in the grim and
deadly conflict of war. To what extent
the public is itself responsible for this
sacrifice of human life, is u question
which arises in every thoughtful mind.
1t is obvious that over-indulgence in
intoxicating liquor is at The bottom of
this awful tragedy. 1t is probable that
HAYS, if he had not been maddened by
drink, would not have been disorderly,
his arrest would not have been neces-
sary and both men would have been
alive today. At the coroner's inquest
strenuous effort was made by States
Attorney Preston to ascertain where
one of the witnesses, Il friend of Hays,
who admitted that Hays and himself
were both intoxicated, had obtained
liquor. Mr.. Preston's efforts were only
partially successful, but in conse,
| quence thereof warrants were issued
on Monday for the arrest of two colored
men, charged with violating the pro
hibition law.
| There are many who believe that il
no liquor had been sold in Bel Air, the
fatal affair would not have taken
place. Possibly, under such circum,
stances, it would not But the fact
remains that it has not been possible
to establish such circumstances. Pre-.
aibition does not prohibit. Why is il
that this law, placed upon the statute
books by the Legislature, and subse,
quently endorsed by majority vote
of the people of the county, cannot be
enforced In our opinion it is simply
because the moral sentiment of the
community does not heartily support
the officers of the law in their efforts
to bring offenders to justice. Grand
Juries indict, a capable and fearless
States Attorney endeavors to convict
i'll every case in which the evidence
calls for conviction, the Judge admin
listers his Office, as he is in duty bound,
impartially, that no innocent person
should suff.r and no guilty one escape
but after all, petit juries seem inclined
to give the accused, in local option
cases, more than the benefit of legal
doubt, and the result is that nearly
every offender goes scot free.
The officers of the aw-being them
selves amenable to law-are powerless
when the people of the community,
filling the jury box and witness stand,
are recreant to their duty. Thus, { q
we have indicated, the failure to en-,
force the law rests more upon the
| people themselves than upon the
courts.
No allegations are made that the
| laws forbidding murder, arson or lar
ceny are not executed. The moral
| sense of the community condemns
these things and sustains the officers
and courts in their efforts to protect
| the people. When the same feeling
becomes existent with regard to pro-
hibition it will also be enforced. The
advocates of prohibition, of course,
ardently desire to see the la " enforced,
and this desire is shared by every good,
law-abiding citizen, whether he favors
prohibition as a means of preveptin.
drunkenness or not. 1t is to be regret.
ted that the earnest advocates of pro-
hibltion and those who do not believe
that prohibitory laws can ever be
made to absolutely prohibit the sale of
liquor, will not work together. to pro-
mote the good cause which both have
| at heart. Neither seems willing to
yield any point. The prohibitionist
bases his opinion on moral grounds,
and the others upon what seems to
them practical means of lessening an
| evil which experience has shown can
not be entirely eradicated. Men who
are addicted to the liquor habit will
procure the poison that ruins them, by
fair means or foul, whether it be sold
near 1T hand or must be procured from
a distance.
Another matter is brought to the at
tention of those concerned in the
public safety, by the unfortunate
affair of Saturday night. This is, that
persons who are found with concealed
weapons should be severely punished
No man except an officer of the law
should DC permitted to carry pistol.
If Hays bad been unarmed it is not at
all likely either he or the officer would
have been killed. There would have
been no necessity for the officer to
draw his weapon in making the arrest,
justice would have been done and the
valuable life of brave and efficient
officer would have been spared.