The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1903-07-21
SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES PISTOL
TOrING AND VIOLATING
LIQUOR laws.

by a responsible editor upon the State
editorial iii the Roanoke-Chowan Times
OF this week:
People OF Northampton who wish to
report persons for running blind tiger
should report to Collector f. @. Duncan.
Raleigh. n. a., or Deputy Collector r. ].
Lewis, Littleton, y. G. Northampton j.
now in Mr.. Lewis division. Reports
should also be made to Hon. W. f. Daniel.
State Solicitor, Weldon, y. c.. So many
of our Superior Court judges viii not
punish persons for selling liquor without
license that our people are turning 70
the Federal courts for relief. We believe
the time Will soon come when our Superior
Court judges viii punish pistol toters
and violators OF the liquor laws OF the
state"
This statement 80 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 1t had not
been made by one of the first editors IN
Tie Dtdlt. we y II = - say lId
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 VIII. Oh their leniency
and some good people n 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
to the Federal courts for relief 1t Is
a 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 90 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 me1
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
penalties, No hard AMI fast rule can re
laid down t. govern every case and
Judges have often been misled by listen
ing to the pleas of leading citizens" who
We're anxious enough to help tear down
the law as to their particular friends and
then really enough to saddle all the re
sponsibility upon judges who felt safe IN
listening 80 their representations.
Latterly events, cruel and terrible, have
created a new and strong public sentl
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 tn,
only thing to do Is to crush out these
things by imposing severe penalties.
The people OF North Carolina are no,
blood thirsty, but they are aroused d.
never before TO the conviction that pres
ent conditions might, to some extent al
least, have been averUed If the laws
against pistol toting and liquorselling had
been enforced strictly. They have como
to the point where, instead of urgine
judges to be over-lenlent, they are de
handing tina Judges shall in all cast
impose heavy penalties when these tvs
laws. as well as other laws, are violated
They never wish again to see any judge
permit men guilty OF these oflenses lei
off with the record Judgment suspended
upon payment of costs" As long as thai
is done. just so long viii the people de
spise the laws against pistol toting ant
illegally selling whiskey.