The Semi-weekly leader. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1905-1941, 1910-09-24
State Of Mississippi.
Lincoln County.

Ol The 14Ju OIeLT1GL.
We, the Grand Jury having been
empaneIled, sworn and charged to
inquire in and for Lincoln county,
beg leave to make this, our final
report.
We have been in session 15 days,
have examined 315 witnesses, have
reported so true bills. have ignored
80 cases, have referred five cases to
the Justices Of the Peace.
We have diligently inquired into
all violations of the law broug hit to
our attention. and acted on same
honestly and to the best of our
ability. While it is true that we
have been in session for a little
longer period of time at this term
of the Court than usual, but taking
into consideration that we have not
had Grand Jury in this county for
year, we do not consider that the
time spent was geater than was
absolutely necessary.
BLIND TIGERS AND FAITHLESS
POLICE OFFICERS.
We find from investigation and
it is our opinion that crime of a
graver nature is on the decrease in
this county, but we find that mis-
demeanors are still very prevalent.
We find that the sale of intoxi-
eating liquors still holds its usual
lead in the misdemeanors. We
think that there is no sort of ex-
cuse for SO many people to be en-
gagged in the nefarious practice of
selling Intoxicating liquor and so
few being brought to justice. We
appeal to the law-abiding people
of the county to take notice what
blind tigers are costing the people.
There are many people, many of
whom are negroes, who are engage
ed in this business and live higher
and dress better than the men who
work. From our investigation we
are of the opinion that at least
seventy-tive per cent of the crimes
committed can be traced to the
illegal sale of whisky and beer. In
this connection we desire to say,
that in our opinion. the officers of
the law, who are charged with the
duty of looking up and locating
these blind tigers are not doing
their whole duty as~they should to
stamp out this evil. We find from
our Investigation and it is our
opinion that the city OF Brookhaven
is badly infected with blind tigers.
that whisky and beer are being
sold apparently without any fear
whatever of the law, that this
netarious practice is not only a dis
grace to the city Of Brookhave2,
but is menace to the whole coun-
ty. and is an imposition on the
law-abidiDg citizens and taxpayers
of the county. It does seem to US
that the police force, with the as
sistance of the Constable and Sher-
iff. could locate more of these blind
tigers and do more than they are
doing to stop their operation. In
this connection we especially con-
demn the police force of Brook
haven and give it as our deliberate
opinion that, with a few excep-
tions. the officers have been wink
ing at the violations of the Prohi-
bition law and the blind tigers
seem to understand that they have
nothing to fear from a great num-
ber of these officers. This is a
deplorable condition of affairs, and
while we know this is putting it
strong, yet we feel that as citizens
of Lincoln county. that we are do
ing our duty in calling the public's
attention to just what is going on
in Brookhaven.
We have indicted a great num-
Der of blind tigers and feel that
we could have indicted many times
the number we have if we could
have had the active support of the
police force. In this connection
we desire to call the attention of
the public to the fact that in our
investigation of the unlawful sale
of liquor, it is our opinion that
many persons have come before US,
and many times they we're white
people, and have deliberately sworn
falsely in order to protect some
miserable person engaged in this
unlawful practice. We appeal to
the officers of the law and also the
Iaw-abiding citizens to rise up in
their might and do their duty In
assisting to stop the unlawful sale.
of liquor and save the county thous-
ands Of dollars. and also protect the
young men of the county against
many crimes which can be traced
directly to the unlawful sale of
liquor. We have said this much
to the public that they might be-
gin to think what the blind tiger
is costing us. not only IN crime and
in shame and blood. but also in
dollars and cents.
COUNTY JAIL.
r