Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1901-12-19

tnat we publish below and which
explains itself. Dir. CamaIier in
forms as that he will at once takethe
proper steps and see that the law is
indicated and the people protected.
To this end he has referred the let
ter 20 the proper Naval authorities
and trusts that the Department will
take prolnpt action. Judge Crane
writes:
CALIFORNIA MD.,.
Dec. II. 1901.
Hon b. Harris CasaaTier,
!Ssate's Attorney, -. Mary's County.
Mr. DEAR SIR My attention has
been called 10 gross and fragrant VII
olations Of the Sunday law by mer-
chants and saloon keepers in the
neighborhoOd of Milestone Land
ing, in this county.
There is a u. S. Torpedo boat now,
and has been for several weeks, ly-
ing at Solomon : Island. Patuxent
River, Calvert county, which is a
local option county, and, not being
able 10 procure liquor there, a mum
Der of men from this boat make it a
practice on every Sunday, / am told,
10 visit the saloons or stores where
liquor is sold on this sideof the riv-
er, and that these same saloons and
stores are kept open 10 them and
others day and night, TO the great
inconvenienceand annoyance OF our
citizens passing and repassing these
places.
As | have intimated the men from
this boat, on these occasions, are be-
coming a nuisance and terror TO
the law abiding people OF the neigh
borhood, often going armed and in
gangs, on these otherwise peaceful
Sabbath days, from store To store
drinking and carousing until they
become unable to take care of them
selves, often falling by the roadside
and making it necessary for gentle
men, on their way to and from
church, with their families to stop
their carriages aud drag drunken
men from the road and. in some
cases, when in this condition, they
have entered private residences,
where there were only ladies and
children, who became greatly alarm
ed, not at any improperly commit
ted by them, other than the unlaw-
full and unwarranted entry into their
homes in their drunken condition
and rendering them most uncomfor-
table.
/ shall be glad if you will, at
once, as the prosecuting officer of
the county, take steps to have the
violators of the Sunday law appre-
hended and held to bail for their ap-
pearance at the next term OF our
Court and, If necessary, will call
a special term of the Court, with the
view of having these offenders, not
only punished but having their IL
censes suppressed.
Our people must and shall be pro-
tected from such annoyances and
lawlessness if there is power in the
Court TO accomplish il.
AT the same time, understanding
that the Torpedo Boat, to which |
have alluded, is to remain in our
waters during the Winter, / would
suggest that you call the attention
Of the commanding officer of the
Boat to the conduct of his men, and
II necessary report the facts to the
Secretaryof the Navy, or the proper
official, if he be not the proper Off
cial.
Only short while ago, / was in
formed, one of the men ON the boat
was killed by companion, while
shooting at targets on Sunday, and
while the death of the man was, |
learn, the result of an accident, that
accident would probably never have
occurred, but that the man holding
the gun was stepped in liquor OBJ
tanned on our side of the river in
violation of law.
1t would be well, | think, to di-
rect the sheriff, or his deputy in
the neighborhood in question, to
visit the neighborhood on Sundays
and arrest all men, whether citizens
of the county or not, found drunk
or disorderly on the public roads or
highways and take them before some
Justice of the Peace to be dealt with
according to law.
| leave this matter in your hands.
knowing full well that it will receive
your prompt and careful attention.
Very. truly yours,
j. PARRAN CRANE.