The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1902-10-10
The Hartford County Liquor Cases.
NJ ESSRS EWING Bros,
EDITORS MIDLAND JOURNAL,

EDITORS MIDLAND JOURNAL,
MY Dear .SfrS Your request at
hand concerning the law enforcement
cases in Hartford county. In reply would
say that the Anti-Saloon League has done
a great deal of law enforcement work
the state this summer, and
through the medium of our agents, we
have secured evidence in nearly $50 cases
ofthe violation of the liquor and gam-
bling laws Something over SO of these
cases have already been brought to the
attention of the grand juries, So of them
to be specific, and indictments have been
returned in every case. Other cases are
yet to be reported when the grand juries
shall convene.
1t may be interesting to say that already
II case have been tried and we have won
10 of them, the fines aggregating $s75 90,
while two of the men have gone out of
the business. This FULLY answers the
charge of certain papers in Cecil county
that liquor laws cannot be enforced.
In many of these cases we have used a
detective, Mr.. Louis Wien, who has had
an experience of many years. In Hartford
county, the grand jury returned 6S indict-
ments, part of them for violating the
local option laws, part for violating the
gambling laws, and some for violating
the Sunday liquor laws at Havre de
Grace. This last fact should be urged
against the contention of certain people
that local option laws are harder to en-
force than license laws. The first of these
cases came to trial at Bel Air on Septem-
Der 29, and was license case from Havre
de Grace in which there was charge of
selling liquor on Sunday. If the failure
10 secure a conviction III that case was an
argument against any kind of legislation,
it was against license law and not a
local option law.
Before the first case came to trial. we
heard numerous rumors that the defense
would attempt to break down the char
acter of the prosecuting witness. We
were satisfied with our knowledge of him,
and selected the case of Mr.. Fisher as
test case to get the case of defense Much
to the surprise of every one, two of the
detectives of the Baltimore City Police
force were present and lent their aid to
the defense by the fimsiest sort of tes-
timony, which we knew had no founda-
ton. Desiring however to do everything
squarely, AMI not desiring to ask convic-
ton if there was any basis of truth in
their charges, the prosecution simply sub
United the case without argument, with
the result Of an acquttial.
Immediately we set to work by the
most searching investigation to determine
the truth or falsity of the charges made
by these Baltimore policemen. Suffice it
to say that after thorough investigation,
including five days spent III New York,
we find the charges absolutely without
foundation, and that Mr.. Wien has clear
record. We go into the cases again to-
morrow Tuesday believing absolutely in
the justice of our cases, aud.that we have
a clear basis for our prosecution. What
the result will be, no one can fortell of
course, as no one can tell what a jury
will do. But we have absolute faith in
the standing and honesty of Mr.. Wien in
all his business dealings. 1t was my
privilege to investigate thoroughly i'll
New York, and l found that there was no
record against him, that he had been EN- j.
ployed by many of the business men and
attorneys of the City. who were thor
oughly satisfied with his work, and that
he had heen witness i'll cases where his
evidence had secured convictions.
Not only are we to proceed with the
cases, but we have taken up the matter
with the Police board as to what right
men have who are paid to help enforce
the laws, TO be used by the defense in
cases where men are indicted by the
grand jury for violating the laws. This
will be pushed with vigor.
Let me say in conclusion that the rec
ords everywhere show that where the
good citizens put forth vigorous efforts to
support the officers in enforcing law, the
laws are enforced. Let not the good
people of Cecil be misled into supposing
that local option laws cannot be enforced.
The record does not support such belief.
1t is shown however that license laws are
violated as openly and constantly as
other laws. In Cecil county, speakeasies
exist now, a condition which would be
pointed to with horror as the terrible
results of local option if license did not
prevail Let the people vote the saloon
out, and let them go heartily in move
ment like the Anti-Saloon League to see
that the law is enforced.
Very cordially yours,
S. +. NICHOLSON.
Baltimore, Md,
October 9th, 1902.