The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1908-06-20
/ WRONG POLICY AND A RACE MEN.

Liz A6du6I puDllSuGS tUuay
timely protest against The propos-
ed disposition of the Panzica
blind tiger case and similar ones.
The writer of this communication,
whose name the editor is at liber-
ty to publish, if need be, is one of
this city's most influential and
thoughtful men, and what he says
may therefore be regarded as
something more than idle or
trifing comment.
F! In this connection The Leader
wants to take occasion. ON its own
motion, to emphasize briefly two
thoughts. One cf these is the
readiness and haste with which so
many of our Brookhaven people
who count themselves good citi-
zens church members, prohibit
tlonists and what not-lend
themselves to any effort to dis
courage our officials and juries
from enforcing the criminal laws
by signing petitions and using
their influence to have verdicts
and judgments of the courts set
aside as a7trifing thing, after con-
victions, with much expense and
effort, have been rightly secured.
How can policemen, constables,
sheriffs, jurors and courts be ex-
pected to stand firm and do their
duty when people who are con-
sldered the best citizens of COM
munity are so ready to have the
efforts of these officials brought to
naught, and the enforcement of
the law against criminals convert
ed into farce unworthy of re-
spect or serious consideration by
the criminal classg 1t is high
time for a change, decided
change, unless the bars are to be
thrown down to criminals to do as
they please and officers and courts
simply maintained, regardless of
expense, as SO much harmless
machinery.
fortunately Judge Wilkinson
and some others in authority will
not do all they are petitioned to
do in the way of tightening or
setting aside penalties for people
who sign petitions or exercise
their influence on behalf of Grim
inals without due thought; but, to
say the least, they must be very
greatly discouraged and weakened
in the discharge of their official
duties by such appeals.
1t would be hard for the State
to ever make out stronger case
against blind tiger than it did
in this Panzica case. Being
strongly suspected of unlawful
retailing, two members of the
grand jury, with the knowledge
of the district attorney and their
fellow ]urymen, went to his place
while the grand jury was sitting
and purchased Intoxicating drinks
and reported the fact, and on this
evidence he was indicted. The
trial jury had this same evidence,
and on it, they did their sworn
duty and promptly convicted him.
The second thing The Leader
wishes to call public attention to
in this connection is the steady
and increasing influx of Italian or
Dago population in this city, and
the equally noticeable criminal
tendency of many of these people.
The Leader by no means desires
or intends to indict the whole
Italian colony here as criminals
and Undesirable citizens" for
some of them have conducted
themselves as good, law abiding
people, against whom there has
never been any cause for COM
plant, so far as we know; but the
proportion of tough customer"
among them is undoubtedly on the
increase, and they are beginning
to figure in our courts and police
circles more frequently in pro-
portion to their number than any
other class of our population.
This fact, coupled with the Black
Hand'' and the frequent reports
in the daily papers of foul assas-
sinations and other grave crimes
by this particular class of Italians
in New Orleans and elsewhere in
the country, should serve as an
admonition to the American cit
izens Of Brookhaven and Lincoln
county to be on their guard and
at least not be over considerate
and discriminating in favor Of
members OF the Italian colony in
the enforcement of our criminal
statutes.
Er,.~I ;,.ck;<,s, 4 Ioexoo fss