The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1909-04-18
GRAND JURY REPORT
THOROUGH INQUIRY INTO VIO4
LATIONS OF LAW.
A NOTABLE STATEMENT


and Oil City Excepted-Of the lot
Bills Returned 50 Are Against Sellers
Of Intoxicating Liquors.
The Grand Jury submitted its report
to Judge Murff Friday afternom as fol
lows:
Shreveport, La, April I6, 1ooo.-Hon
4. J. Murff. Judge of the First District
Court. Shreveport, La: We, your Grand
Jury. beg leave to make the following
report. We have examined I43 cases
found 100 true bills, ignored 20 cases
and continued for further evidence eight
cases.
In our Investigations we have been
confronted with the different classes of
crimes that are ordinarilS brought be-
fore grand juries. We are glad to say
that there seems to have been some de-
crease in the number of cases of ordi-
nary crimes, such as larceny, carrying
concealed weapons. shooting and cutting
scrapes and kindred crimes since the
last session Of the Grand Jury. We find
by comparison with "the records of pre-
vious grand juries that there have been
fewer violations of the above named
class ol crimes than has been the case
during the past few years.
Had it not been for the great number
of witnesses whom we examined in the
matter Of the violation Of the prohibition
laws, the time required for this session
of the Grand Jury would have been not
more than one-third of the time that
has been actually consumed.
NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS.
Referring to the violations Of the pro-
hibitfen law, we find that the parish as
a whole has been practically observing
the law with two notable exceptions,
namely, Shreveport and Oil City We
have had no serious complaint from any
other portion of the parish.
Referring to Oil City, our i1lvest;ga-
tons disclose the fact, that whereas there
has been much boot-legging carried on
at, that place, yet it is by no means as
much as it was few months ago. We
feel that the action of the last Grand
Jury and the courts have had good ef-
feet on the conditions prevailing there.
However, the conditions are by nc
neanssperfect at that place, yet we feel
that it is now sufficiently in hand-with
some Of the chronic violators in Jail and
others gone to parts unknown--and that
the persistent violation of this law may
be absolutely broken up if the officers
placed there will make an energetic and
active warfare on this class of undesir-
able citizens. Good fruit was borne by
the petition which was presented signed
by number of citizens of the Oil City
community, a number of thes signers
were examined by the Grand Jury with
good results.
BOLD, ACTIVE, PERSISTENT.
As to Shreveport. The law is new IN
Shreveport and i is passing through the
same experience that other communities
have gone through with and that is a
contest between those who insist in con-
tinuing the old order Of things the law
to the contrary Notwithstanding and
the changed condition of affairs brought
about by the enactment of new laws.
The violation ofsthe prohibition law in
Shreveport has been bold, active ant
persistent. 1t is contest between the
authorities whose duty it is to enforcs
the law and those who have determined
that it shall not be enforced. We have
erdeavored to place before the court
evidence of these violations and VIZ
earnestly hope that this matter may b
dealt with quickly and in no uncertain
manner We have no other class of per.
sons who will persistently violate thu
law and then attempt to hide behint
popular sympathy. They APPARENTLY viii
not admit that this is the law and thai
the law must be enforced but seem t
stand behind the idea mistaken or 9th
erwise- that it is an unpopular law ant
therefore vii not be enforced. We car
not see why this class Of violators
should be given immunity nor why the,
should not Be dealt with As any othel
class Of violators.
EVIDENCE OF VIOLATIONS.
In evidence Of our strenuous efforts t.
bring to justice this class Of violator.
and in further evidence Of the continnet
violations, We have returned 50 bills o
indictments for violations Of the prohi
bition laws.
We have visited the jail and find it i
good s4nitary condition and the prison
lers well treated and fed
n rneSr1nesf1n the Grand Ifarv ,wiehes