The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-18
CIGARETTE SELLERS HELD.
FIVE WILL ANSWER CHARGES RE-
FORE THE GRAND JURY.

Grand Jury VIII Investigate the
Cases Monday Evidence Before
Magistrate Naughtin Revealed the
Fact That the Cigarette Habit Is
Prevalent Among the Boys From
the Lowest Grade of the Grammar
schools Through the High school.
The preliminary hearings in the cases of
the Greek and Italian fruit dealers, charg-
ed with the illegal sale of cigarettes 20
minors, were held at the Office of Justice
of the Peace Naughun yesterday after
noon Five of the men were turned over
to the Superior Court, and three were dis
missed.
During the hearing the magistrates Of
fee was crowded and blocked with howl
ing mob of schoolboys, who took the Whoie
affair as a joke, and were determined to
get all of the fun possible out of 1t. Above
the clack of their voices those OF
the magistrate. the prisoner under eN-
animation and the witnesses, were scarce
" distinguishable. The members of this
noisy crowd were the witnesses to the
alleged sale of cigarettes 20 minors, some
of them the boys to whom the pests had
been sold Their testimony against five
of the men arrested was sufficiently con-
elusive 10 warrant turning them over to
the Superior Court but was not strong
enough to fix the crime against three,
who were released.
The warrants under which the arrests
had been made were sworn out by County
Detective Henry Wetherhorn. acting
doubtless under the instructions and IN
the interest of the solicitor general. Some
Of the boys manifested a decided unwlf-
Unguess 10 say that they had bought Gig
arettes themselves, though they mad no
compunction in stating that they had VIII
messed the sale 10 other boys of their ac-
uuaintance. They seemed to have an ap-
prehension that the law worked both ways
and that the buyer. il he were under age,
was In equally as bad plight as the sell
err This apprehension had the effect OF
rendering their testimony a triie indefinite
and in all probability secured the release
of those of the dealers who were given
their liberty.
The men who were turned over to the
Superior Court were Thomas Kourla, X.
Horowitz. Piano Andepa, Antonio Nasile,
and Marco Funcih Those given their ho-
ertN were ArGufGG AdItuds DiuNNU AAdJtNA
ks and Andrew Gasperinch. The men
turned over to the higher court will prob
ably be indicted by the grand jury next
Monday, when that body meets, and their
cases will receive consideration.
The solicitor general is in thorough ac-
cord with the school authorities of the
county as to the wisdom and necessity OF
breaking up the cigarette habit among the
pupils of the schools and Is determined to
e flas. lar
against the sale OF the weeds TO minors
will serve to accomplish this end.
Inquiries made by Morning News re-
porter among the children who were the
witnesses In the preliminary hearings elic-
tied state of fact~ that Is almost incred-
ible and that demands urgently some
strong remedial action. The boys
say that one of their num-
Der who does not smoke olga
rettes is the exception and that most of
them from eight years of age up indulge
In the habit. OF course with some of the
boys the indulgence is only occasional, but
with others and more especially with those
who have become a trihe older the habit
Is almost confirmed and makes itself per-
fectly visible In the mental, moral aud
physical injury it has wrought among the
boys. BY one skilled in detecting the ef-
feots of the disease, for disease Il is, the
out. His cheeks. sallow complexion, de-
fective memory and sometimes equally
defective moral sense mark him as one
whom nicotine has claimed az her own
These evil effects are being wrought
among the youth of the city, through the
use OF cigarettes daily, and the number of
those who are addicted to the habit be-
comes greater with the ease and impunity
with which the law is violated The testi-
he
dealers are in the practice of breaking the
packages Of cigarettes and thus enabling
the children to exchange their pennies
when they had not enough money to pur-
chase a fun package, for the noxious
weeds. This convenience the boys have not
been slow to take advantage of and in
consequence the dealers have done a thriv-
ing business among them.
The prospect that Superintendent Ash
more and the school authorities have con-
fronting them is not inviting nor are the
chances Of success as a result of their eff
forts encouraging. The habit of cigarette
smoking among the boys extends from the
lowest grade in the grammar schools
through the High School and is constantly
growing. It's eradication Is a problem that
may well demand the serious attention and
the most earnest thought of those to whom
the education of the youth of the CITY Is
then encountered are so many and involved
as 20 leave its solution stil a matter OF
doubt. II is probable that the cigarettes
VIII be procured by those boys who de-
sire to use them, even if the law against
the sale 70 minors were strictly enforced
and implicitly obeyed. The boys would still
devise some scheme by which they will be
able 10 obtain the cigarettes. and If they
wanted them they would get them
However, this may be Superintendent
Ashmore and Solicitor General Osborne
are united in the belief that the enforce.
ment OF the law is the first step in the So
luton Of the problem and the Jaw there
fore will be strictly and impartiaHy en-.
forced. IL Is hoped that In this manner the
principal point of attraction that induces
the laws infraction, its profits. win he
wiped out and that in the future the deal.
ers will desist from the practice. and the
boys will BIZ forced 70 make their MIR.
chases, if they succeed in making them
az all, through the medium of an agent.
Free show.
A free exhibition of the wonderful MOVIE,