The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-11-01
WHOLESALE LIQUOR LICENSE REVOKED Four Oaks Distilling Com pany Ordered Closed J. MARX, PRESIDENT Excise Board Claim They Have Evi- dence That Firm Sold Liquor
 to Blind Tiger Op-
 orators
J. MARX, PRESIDENT

The license as wholesale liquor dealer in this city issued to the Four Oaks Distilling company was revoked Jefferson county Evidence, 1t was announced, proving to the commits sioners that the defendant company sold liquor to blind tigers was the charge upon which the Judgment of the commission was based.
 A letter was written to the company, signed by Chairman ". c. Agee, noti- flying the president, Julius Marx, that the license was revoked last night at o'clock and that only six days would be given the company to dispose of the stocks on hand.
 The commissioners announced that the evidence introduced indicated that an employe, servant or member of the firm transgfessed the law and commits sion rules, but although the violation was on the part of a subordinate such would not be taken as a valid excuse for the offense.
 The letter of MT. Agee follows:
 october 31, 1911 MT. Julius Marx, President, Four Oaks
 Distilling company, City.
 Dear Sir-In the hearing of your case before this commission it has been found that you are guilty of gross vio- lations of the law, and of rules laid down by this commission. You are also guilty of gross ignorance of the law, too preposterous to comprehend.
 cd The revocation of which is not pun ishment within the meaning of the con- stitution, but because by violations of the law you have shown that you are not proper person to hold lincese.
 Tn this hearing you have acknowl- edged to gross violations of the law, and only undertake to excuse yourself for a part of them by laying the blame at the door of another member and employe of your firm, The violation of the law which forfeits a license does not mean necessarily a personal viola tion by the certificate holder and head of the firm or corporation, but also in- cludes a violation by an agent in the course of his duty.
 While the system of regulation of in- toxicatng liquors grants the licensee the of conducting his business an agent, 1t also imposes on the licensee the affirmative duty to see to 1t that every regulation is obeyed by his a gents, as well as himself, and such licensee is answerable for the acts of his agents though he is absent from his place of business and had instructed such agents not to make forbidden sales.
 Tt Is the ruling of this commission that your doors be closed at o'clock p. m. today. and you will not be allowed to make further sales after that hour. Six days will be granted in which to dispose of stock now on hand to licensed dealers in Jefferson county, or goods may be shipped out of the state, such disposition to be made under supervision of this con- mission. Yours very truly.
 "W. C. AGEE, Chairman Excise Commission of Jeffer-
 son County
 It was announced by MT. Agee, with Commissioners Sydenham Moore and Billie" Wilkinson concurring. that the revocation of the Four Oaks license was the beginning of drastic enforcement ot the commission rules. He said that wherever sufficient evidence was intro dnced, immediate action would follow
 The Four Oaks case is the first of serious nature that has been before the commissioners.