Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1909-09-30
PURE FOOD LAW.

PURE FOOD LAW.
Inspector Stshl, of the pure food di
vision of the State Agricultural Depart
meot. wss 10 The city recently and dis
covered tia the law requiring the label
Ing of oleomsrgsriue when offered fol
sale. which went into effect on Septem
Der LIT, is being violated by at least two
erocers ia this city. He referred tht
case to Commemorative Attorney Brent,
who a. once investigated the matter and
found the statement 80 made by Mr.
Stshl to be correct He then called on
the dealers In question and informed
them that they we're violating the la"
aud were anenable to its provisions. The
dealers pro;es'e ed their Innocence OF any
intent of violating suy Law and stated
that while they were selling oIeomsrga'
rine and had applied for government
license they did DOT know that any state
law on the subject was on the statute
books. Mr.. Brent, satisfied with the
statement of the Alexsndrians, wrote to
the dairy aud food commissioner stating
the facts in the case and asking instruc'
tions aud received the following:
Commonwealth Of Virginia,
Dairy and Food Division, 7
Dept of Agriculture and Immigration }
Richmond, Sept. 20, 1909.
Hon S G. Brent, Commonwealth At
toruey. Alexandra, Va.
Dear Sir: We beg to acknowledge re-
ceipt of your esteemed favor OF the 2S!h
instant 10 regard to the violations to
Section 1S99.B of the code Of Virginia,
reported to you by this department. We
mote YOUR comment 1t does seem
hardship to prosecute these parties II
they we're entirely ignorant of the re-
ouiremeuts of the law, and we believe
In very man instances that this plea OF
ignorance is perfectly honest one. The
parties, however, would in all prooa'
bility be better known to you than to US
aud we think it is proper that you
should be the Judge Of what action
should be taken. In this connection,
we desire to ssy to you that We have re-
uorted parties all over the common
wealth for like violations and We have
not been advised that action has as yet
been brought against any Of them. We
have no special information that would
tend 10 convince us that the parties re-
ported we're acting with the knowledge
of the inhibition of the law. Any course
vou NAV determine upon 10 connection
with this matter will be entirely accept
able to this department.
Yours very truly,
BENZ. L. PURCELL.
II will be seen By the above that the
stste authorities were active In seeing
that the laws are carried ont and Mt.
Brent stated todsy that while he would
not prosecute The cases just reported that
hereafter auy violatOrs OF the law would
be dealt with according to its provisions.
TIE VERSION OF THE POLICE
Chief Goods desires 10 make a reply
10 the communication in yesterdays Ga
zstte concerning the arrest Of young
man of this city on suspicion OF taking
iewelry from a residence on upper Prince
street. The chief says the disappear
ance of the jewelry was reported to the
police and that while investigating the
an after they learned that two young men
who had been engaged in painting had
had access to the house, and that when
it was announced that the articles we're
missing one OF the young men suddenly
left the premises. The other remained
end when he learned OF the supposed
eheit he insisted upon being searched.
His companion later returned and sub
s,ouently left again. Suspicion, there
fore. Was directed towards him, aud DE
was taken in custody. He was escorted
IN the station house snd allowed to sit in
tbs office for some time, and was later
taken upstairs and placed In what is
known - the detention room, not 10 q
cell As soon as it was sscertained that
the iewelry hsG been found the young man
was released. Chief G )ods further states
that while the young man protested his
innocence. the latter said the circum-
stsntial evidence MAS against him from
the fact that he left the house suddenly
after the supposed theft bad been an
nouneed.