The Savannah morning news., 1901-09-26
WILL HUNT THE TIGERS.
Chief Boyle of Charleston Promises
to Begin His Campaign Soon.


Charleston, S. c., Sept. 25.-The long
talked of and much discussed breach
between the police department of
Charleston and the blind tigers of the
city has not yet occurred. The conflict
between the two, which is inevitable,
is being looked forward to with the
greatest possible interest by all per-
sons concerned. Under the ordinance
which the City Council of Charleston
recently adopted at the instance of the
State Board of Dispensary Directors,
the fullest power was given to the mu-
nicipal authorities to make an earnest
effort to suppress the Illicit traffic in
LIQUOR here. No one in Charleston
doubts the entire good faith in which
the city fathers here acted, nor has
anyone a suspicion that there is any
disinclination on the part of Chief OF
Police Boyle and his assistants to en-
force the new law.
The conditions which have obtained,
however, have been of the most intri-
cate and complicated nature, and Capt.
Boyle has repeatedly announced that
in consequence of this fact, he Is forced
to move with the utmost elaboration
and caution. When seen by the Morn
ing News representative to-day he as
sured him that the warfare on the
blind tigers would be delayed but a
few days longer, and that when it did
really begin the friends of the dis
pensary in the uttermost parts OF
South Carolina would have no cause
for complaint regarding the vigor and
energy with which it would be con-
Quoted. 1t might be remark
ed in this connection that when
the entire work of attempting to sup
press the Illicit traffic in liquor
here was delegated to the state con-
stabulary, that organization made
great Juror and furry for day or so,
and that after that there was not any
appreciate difference in the traffic
from what it had been previously. 1t
makes no difference whether the au-
thorities who attempt to suppress blind
tigers are municipal or state as far as
results are concerned.
Persons who live in smaller cities and
elsewhere in South Carolina have no
conception of the difficulties which con-
front the officers in their efforts to
carry out the dispensary law itself, or
any local legislation which may con-
template the enforcement of its provi-
sions. There can be no question of the
fact that there are a vast number of
blind tigers here; their facilities for
importing contraband goods and for
concealing them after they have been
landed on Charleston's soil are too nu-
merous to mention. They have collect
ed about themselves a great number of
followers and assistants whose con-
slant effort is to aid their principals in
every way in their power in avoiding
the consequences of their evil-doings.
The police and the constables have this
army of opponents of the law to deal
with, and even if they are so fortunate
as to collect practically convincing evil
dence against the men whom they wish
to prosecute. they are then met with
the additional obstacle of juries, grand
and petty. who are opposed to melting
out punishment under the -dispensary
law, except when the evidence is damn
ing beyond the very peradventure of a
doubt.
However all of this may be, Chief of
Police Boyle is not discouraged over
the very difficult task that has been set
him, and he promises within the next
few days to begin campaign against
the tigers and their associates which
viii make the town far too hot to hold,
at least, portion of theit" number.