Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1909-05-26
Annual Crop From the Seeds of
Strong Drink

Annual Crop From the Seeds o
Strong Drink
KERR's CREEK. May "a, 1909
EDITOR GAZETTE: On May 8
1909, two scenee were enacted in the
beautiful Courthouse at Lexing
ton. The Circuit Court was in
sessIon, specia! grand jury hao
been surnoned to indict the prin.
cipsls on two different charges OF
murder. The accused persons
with their relatives, friends and
witnesses, were all present.
All these people had come from
one particular section of the coun-
ty, and where liquor has been
made and cold from time imme-
mortal. To a stranger most Of
these people had a peculiar ap
pearance, and il the human face
can be taken az an index TO hu
man character, they showed that
they were in possession of traits
of character, that had been trans
nitted from generation to genera
tioe.
Before the judge adjourned the
grand jury and gave leave to the
witnesses to disperss, another
scene was thrown upon the canvass,
and this was the assembling of the
town and county people to witness
the unwilling Of the pictures of
the men who had figured in the
councils of the county. State and
nation.
The two scenes were being en-
acted at one and the same time IT.
the same room of the same build
ing, snd If every effort known to
human ingenuity had been used to
make the two scenes differ, they
could net have presented q greater
contrast; and still, the people of
Irish Creek are just as much u
product Of the civilization OF
Rockbridge county as any other
elass Of persons can claim to be.
The county Of Rockbridge has
again had to pass through two
long drawn out murder trials in
which bad morals and liquor have
largely figured. We had this
cane sad spectacle in all it's de-
formities presented to US one year
ago.
Three years ago we had another
of these murder trials that wound
up in hanging bee. In that trial
the poor unfortunate youth on the
confessed his guilt and
told how that he had become ar
outlaw and murderer; he told that
when but lad he had been made
drunk on liquor that was made
and sold in Rockbridge county
under the sanction and protection
Of the law; he told that his father s
before him was an habitual drunk.
,rd and had often boasted to him .
md his other sons OF his accoup-
ishmeDts In this respect.
In the trial that was held s
rear ago the fact was developed o
hat the convicted man had been p
N inmate In his youth Of an old 0
learby stillhouse, where he had II
'egun life as a labOrer and that g
within the walls OF that Gle still tt
Iouse was where he first earned NJ
is reputation as bad character Il
hat wound up in his receiving ic
he longest sentence Of imprison-
,ent known to the law of Virginia
OF perpetrating a dsstardly muir. g
err.
Bragg has been convicted AND G
he sentence of the law has fallen til
s surely and almost "a swiftly as
,e guillotine upon the guilty nan. la
ut will this prevent further crime r,
u like naturep Are we not eb-
,lutely certain as long as liquor is as
ade under the license Of the law o.
nc moonshined over the country,
have arspetition Of these mur- rel
,r trIale? ins
The people Of Rockbridge have Nj
tied liquor to be a public nuis- &C,
Ice, and by their votes have con tel
'mned the manufacture and sale
what has caused and what 10 Wis
using so much sorrow, trouble Vii
ID expense to the comfy. I
At last. Mr.. Editor, if this il eli
gal manufacture and sale Of liq- rel
II is kept up in our county, may wo
, not expect annually to reap the 4
Dp Of Wilchers, McCormicks end inc
aggsl MORE ANON. pal