St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1910-06-04
JUDGE PAW DEVILERS
SALUTATORY CHARGE
Continued from first page)

JurleS the right TO make such rule
and regulations for the sale or TIL
prohibition Of the sale ofintoxicatin,
liquors, as they may deem advisable
and to grant or withhold licenses fror
drinking houses and shops within III
limits Of the city, parish, ward Of
parish, town or village, as the ma
jority of the legal voters of any city
parish, ward Of a parish, town o
village may determine by ballot a
elections duly called and held for
such purpose.
In pursuance of this last Section
of our statutes, the Police Jury d
this parish passed an ordinance sub.
hitting the question of the sale Of
prohibition Of the sale Of Intoxicat,
ing liquors, to the legal voters OF
this parish at an election called fol
and held on the 5th day of April,
1908, at which election an over
whelming majority Of the legal voters
Of this parish voted against the Ii
censing of the sale of intoxicating
liquors in this parish. and the law be-
came effective January LIST, 1909.
This law has been violated with
impunity; Blind Tigers" have -four
ished throughout the parish Of st.
Landry. am glad to say that they
have seen their best days; the law
must and will be respected. They
will not be permitted to flourish in
this parish any longer, if you, the
executive officers of this parish, the
District Attorney and myself do our
full duty in the premises, with proper
regard for that large majority of the
legal voters whose ballots have de-
cided the question. 1t is now the
law Of the land, and whether you are
fer or against prohibition cuts no
figure; your oaths require and T charge.
you to specially examine into offenses.
of this character, and to indict all
persons guilty of the violation Of this
law; and I assure you that whoever
violates it, under proper proof sub
mitted at trial, this Court will never
fail to do its full duty.
1t is only the fear of the rock pile
or term in the parish Jail that will
deter these v~iolators of The law, and
the promise | make is to give them
the full penalty Of the law.
/ have already charged you your
regarding any crime or offense
that may be known to you or of
you may be informed. | now
you that willful neglect on
the part Of any officer to perform a
legal duty is an indictable ofense,
nonfeasance in Office. 1t must
be evident to you that as
an official body the Grand Jury is In
q measure the master of the situa-
tion to the extent Of enforcing a per
Of legal duties or indicting
who offend in this respect.
And right here | want to empha-
size the fact that it is the duty of
the Judge, District Attorney, Sheriff
and all his deputies, the Justices of
Peace and Ward Constables, to
all known violations of the
law, to apprehend the guilty parties,
and to adopt every available lawful
means to prevent commission of a
threatened crime or ofense. This is
true because these officers are at all
times the c~onservators Of the peace.
and under the statutes imposing this
upon them it is immaterial whether
offense committed or threatened
$ a violation Of the liquor law or a
homicide.
The officer who understands bis
luties and respects his oath of Office
will be governed in one case as in the
and the officer who neglects
lis duty in either case is guilty Of
lo~nfeasance. (R. S. 872).
z. The statutes Of the State make
7 my duty to specially charge you
'elative to the violation Of the fol-
laws:
/. Carrying concealed weapons,
.ueh as pistols, b~owie-knives. dirks,
.azors, or any other dangerous weap-
N. This law does not apply to sher-
and their deputies, constables.
and city marshals, when
B the actual discharge Of their off
ial duties.
2. The last Legislature passed
he law known as the Concubinage
aw, the present Legislature has made
he necessary amendment to reach
i %yiolators. It is a very good law;
! has for its purpose the preserva-
and purity of the Caucasian
ace; all violators should be prose-
uted.
3. Act Ne. 80 of 1908 makes it
misdemeanor u ohstruct any drain
ge, canal or other public or private !
A. Act No, IL Of 1908, makes ii
misiem aaitor iaf any person 70 ap- !
ear on railway trains, at p]ici.irs,
arhrcues, chillfrn's day services.
unday School celebrations, church !
s%rvices, literary socirties, or any !
lbllc gathering Ii This State. in IN J
k.s -. I