St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1909-10-16
%oPELoUsAs. SATURDAY, OCTOBER l6, 1909.
JUDGE 'NEILL L
Frs POWERFUL CHARGE
Deals With Blind Tigers, Mescegination Law, And
Even to the Game Commission--FuI
Text OF the Charge.

the administration OF Judge Perrault
and his distinguished predecessors,
Judge Lewis, Judge Dupre and Judge
Estilette, you must acknowledge that
to their administrations and to the
good work of their grand juries is due
the present supremacy of your laws.
As . matter Of history, we know
that many years ago there were men
Of violence in st. Landry, while today
the advance in civilization has been
such that there arenone whowiH dareto
lay the fattering JUNCTION to their soul
that they are above the law.
The administration of justice may
easily be brought into derision and
contempt by certain crimes and mis-
demeanors going unpublished or unno-
ticed by the authorities. Such an IN
jury is Of far graver import than any
consequence that can result directly
from the ofense itself. It is the
court, the grand and petit iuries, the
district attorney, the sheriff and the
Judge who suffer from these ofenses
Of emission, for, il the offenders 20
unpublished, these officials are con
nected With them, in the public mind,
as accessories after the fact.
The maxim which has been ascribed
to President Grant, that the best
way to get rid Of an unpopular law
is to enforce it. is in some respects
an unworthy one, because the law
must be enforced, for no better req
son than that the oaths Of it's officers
require it.
There is a section Of the revised
statutes which requires the District
Judges throughout this state to
charge every grand jury upon every
law affecting the sale Of Intoxicating
In a prohibition parish, like this,
is hardly necessary TO charge q
Grand Jury upon any of the liquor
except the law which forbids
the selling, or soliciting or seeking or
receiving orders for the sale Of spirit
or Intoxicating liquors in a pro-
hibition parish, and the law which
the sale of intoxicants with
out a license.
Although / am a comparative
stranger in this parish, | have been
5old-and in fact we all know that It
generally eharged-that there
have been numerous violations of the
prohibition law, since the people, IF
st. Landry voted in favor of prohibi-
ion, and since the last session of the
Grand Jury.
1t is my purpose-and | have no
loubt it will be your purpose as the
sworn officers Of this court-to en-
the prohibition laws the same
is every other law upon the statute
AS long as st. Landry remains a
prohibition parish, you and | and the
,ther officials Of this Court cannot be
in our sentiments, into pro-
libitionists and 8nti-prohibitionists
lis public officials, we must either be
,rohibitionists or we are lawless, on
his subject. Those whose duty it is
% interpret and enforce the laws
divide the laws into odious
avs snd laws entitled to favor.
Z have no doubt that some Of you
vera anti-prohibitionists before your
0caI option election, and that you
yere conscientious in your convic-
ions upon this question. / respect
very mans honest personal or pri-
ate opinion upon all such questions
IS this; bat as public officers you and
must all disregard our private or
jersonal opinions Of what the law
ught TO b and be governed by the
aw as il reaAy is. You may have
during the campaign that
does not prohibit; but
ince the people of this parish have
answered that argument by voting
or prohibition, it viii not be prohi-
ition which viii not prohibit, but it
rill be the laches, the indifference
nd the non-fsasance of the Grand
ury-ana the ether public officials
4 this parish-if snything-Which
Till not prohibit.
There was an Act passed by the
ut session Of. the Legislature which
lakes it easy for Grand Juries to
nd ont who are running blind tigers,
r violating the prohibition law By
cling intoxicating liquors ia prohi
ition parishes or districts. This sta
ute provides that the State may OBJ
ain q Certificate from the internal
Collector, showing what
'ederal Licenses have been issued
or she sale Of Intoxicating liquors in
prohibition parish or district; and
he Law further provides that the
Of the Internal Revenue
,ollector, showing to whom al Inter-
Revenue License has been issued,
ball be PRTMA FACIE evidence Of
he persons guilt.
1T 10 not my purpose TO Cause dis
and trouble in the Parish Of
/. Landry; but ] an SURE that every
ig~ht-thinking person expects me CO
leanesnaed On paae alrhtl