Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-12-23
FOR a 4pRv TOWN. IN FACT.

people OF Martinsburg were never sur
prised when an officer with detach-
ment of men rode TIP in front OF a
place of business and made raid on
the stores OF merchandise, or entered
a house and connscated all the pro-
visions in sight, but the people OF
Greater Martinsburg were hardly pre-
pared for the raid made Saturday
night by force of constables, depu-
ties and policemen, led by the prose
cutting attorney Of Berkeley couaty.
Never probably, since war times
mas such a sensational stunt been
gu1led off in the old town. For a
time the streets were packed with
men and women standing in almost
open-mouthed wonder at the things
being done by the officers. The raid,
and its developments. has been the
talk of the town ever since and prom
ises to be the chief topic of gossip
until the arrival of Santa Claus when
the gossip will turn TO other things.
The good people of Martnsburg
have been alive to the fact for some
time that liquor was being sold in
some of the restaurants illegally. 1t
was a well known fact that several
of the former proprietors of saloons
and others had government license
for the sale of intoxicants and this
scanned to he sufficient evidence to
some that they were violating the
state laws.
Some time since more or less
prominent place was raided after com
plant had been lodged with the
prosecuting attorney by a prominent
citizen. This was the beginning of
eampaicn for the determination of the
sale of Intoxicating liquors in Mar
tinsburg.
The joint forces of the several or
ganizations fighting the sale of liquor
IN Maptinsburg, and working for a
cleaner and more moral city brought
such pressure to bear on the prose
cutting attorney that he was constrain-
ed to accede to their demands and at
least make an effort to clean out the
-ulaces which had for some time born
a reputation for carrying on an lille
.al business.
The time selected for the aid was
rost opportune as preparation had
evidently been made for a lively
Christmas trade in wet goods The
story of the raid and what it accom-
nlished is told in the news columns
All PARTIES found guilty VIII OF
course be held for court but what
6nal disposition will be made OF the
cases remains to be seen. On several
occasions in the past, similar cases,
although under different circumstan-
COS have been before grand juries
hut from some flaw in the indictment,
or on some trivial technicality they
have failed to result in trial of the
parties held.
Past experience along the liAe OF
prosecutions for the illegal sale OF
LIQUOR is the cause OF considerable
doubt as to whether or not the pres
ent cases will result in the meteing
cut of any greater punishment than
mas been imposed heretofore.
The present charges, however, have
been brought about by the people VINO
made the issue of a dry town, and as
majority of the voters Of Martins
burg favored no license TO say
nothing Of the hundreds of women
whose sympathy was with these vo-
ters. It is safe to presume that more
than half the people OF Martinsburg
will be interested in seeing that the
full penalty Of the law is enforced in
the present instances.
The prosecuting attorney will have
the backing and assistance of the var
ious organizations which have brought
about the fight for dry town, and in
his prosecution of the cases will have
the fullest sympathy OF the com
munity in the discharge of his duty
There will be no criticism OF the Off
Ger who puts forth his best effort to
fulfill the oath which he swore when
he assumed the position OF prosecut-
ing attorney for the people OF this
county.