The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-07-19
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES PISTOL.
TOTING AND VIOLATING
LIQUOR LAWS.

| by a responsible editor upon the State
| judiciary is contained in the following
editorial in the Roanoke Chowan Times
of this week:
People of Northampton who wish to
report persons for running blind tigers
should report to Collector e. G. Duncan,
Raleigh, N. c., or Deputy Collector r. j.
Lewis, Littleton. N. C. Northampton is
now in Mr.. Lewis division. Reports
should also be made to Hon. w. E. Daniel.
State Solicitor, Weldon, N. G. So many
of our Superior Court judges viii not
punish persons for selling liquor without
license that our people are turning to
| the Federal courts for relief We believe
| the time will soon come when our Superior
Court judges will punish pistol toters
and violators of the liquor laws of the
State
This statement $50 many of our SUI
perior court judges will not punish per-
sons for selling liquor without license that
our people are turning to the Federal
courts for relief" is so astounding that
we would not reproduce it if it had not
| been made by one of the first editors in
the State We print it here to say that
| those judges, who have suspended judg-
ment ON the payment of costs in the
cases of violation of the liquor laws, may
see the impression which their lenieney
has made upon at least one good editor
and some good people in the county Of
Northampton. We never expected to live
to see the day when even one good man
should say that "our people are turning
statement that gives us pause.
1t is undeniably true that punishment
for violating liquor laws and for toting
pistols has not been administered effec.
lively in North Carolina The failure to
do so must be primarily laid at the door
of the whole people, for public sentiment
has not been behind these laws as it
should have been. In almost every case
In court, the offenders have had the best
men in their counties to go to the judge
and the solicitor and plead that the severe
punishment of the offender ought not to
be meted out. Sometimes, after a con
scientious judge has been influenced by
the strong representations of good men
to suspend judgment upon payment OF
COSTS" those very same good citizens have
been known to criticize the Judge for not
stopping the offences by imposing severe
penaltes No hard AMI fast rule can ne
laid down t. govern every case and
judges have often been misled by listen
ing to the pleas of leading citizens who
were anxious enough to help tear down
the law as TO their particular friends and
tEen really enough to saddle all the re
sponsibility upon judges who felt safe in
listening TO their representations.
Latterly events, cruel and terrible, have
created new and strong public senti-
ment in favor of imposing the penalties
provided by law against violating whiskey
laws and toting pistols. Private citizens
see and feel their responsibility. Public
officials more than ever see that the
only thing to do is to crush out these
things by imposing severe penalties.
The people of North Carolina are not
blood thirsty, but they are aroused as
never before to the conviction that pres
ent conditions might, to some extent at
least, have been averUed if the laws
against pistol toting and liquor-selling had
been enforced strictly. They have come
to the point where, instead of urging
judges to be oyer-lenient, they are de-
handing that judges shall in all cases
impose heavy penalties when these two
laws, as well as other laws, are violated.
They never wish again to see any judge
permit men guilty of these offenses let
off with the record Judgment suspended
is done, just so long will the people de-
spise the laws against pistol toting and
illegally selling whiskey.
With reference TO the illegal sale of L.
suor everybody knows that it is exceed
ingly difficult to obtain proof to secure
conviction. Unless public sentiment is be-
hind prohibition laws and demands en-
forcement, officials cannot stamp out vio-
lations, though they can do much more
than they have been doing. The passage
of the Watts Act makes the enforcement
Of laws against illegal selling more sweep
ing and therefore the more difficult of en-.
forcement The people are looking to the
courts, both State and Federal, to do their
duty in enforcing these laws, and they
will uphold their hands in so doing.
The New Orleans Times Democrat of O
recent date has story of Southern
judge who broke up the pistol totng
habit in his district. 1t is commended To
the prayerful consideration of every SUI
perior Court Judge in North Carolina.