The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-01-10
COURT CAUTIONS
THE CONSTABLES
Orders Them to Enforce
the Liquor Laws
NOT ONE OF THE 2s REPORTED
ANY LICENSE LAW VIOLA
TIONS-SLOT MACHINES MUST


GO.
When you see people on the
streets intoxicated, Sunday nights, il
means somebody has violated the
liquor laws. 1t ought not to be
necessary for County Detective to
do the duty of the ConstabIes."
Admonishing the County Seats
Constable Policeman Levi De
Groat in particular, and the twenty
eight township and borough con-
stables in general, that it was his
and their duty to see that there were
no violations of the liquor laws in
their respective districts, Judge
Alonzo T. Searle soundly lectured
them at the opening session of Janu-
ary term of court Monday afternoon,
following their appearance and SOL
emn oatn that all was we'll in the
shire.
1t is the custom for each con-
stable, when his name is called, to go
forward to the desk of the Clerk of
the Courts, hand him his written re-
turns for the three months pre-
ceding, and subscribe to the follow
ing solemn oath:
You do swear that you will true
answers make to all such questions
as shall be asked you by the Court
touching this your return, so help
you God!"
This procedure was followed Mon
day afternoon. Everything looked
well. 1t was time to call the list of
grand jurors. Looking up from the
return of Honesdale's constable,
Judge Searle sprung a mild sensa-
tion by questioning Constable De
Groat as follows:
Mr.. De Groat you have been Con-
stable since January -"
Yes, Your Honor"
How many places in Honesdale
have you visited?'
only two or three"
Have you noticed any slot ma
chimes in any of the places you visit
ed?
mo, Your Honor!"
Between now and the next term
Of Court" continued the Judge,
you will visit all the places, and
see that they are closed at 12
o'clock. / would also say this: If
there are any slot machines in ho-
tells or saloons you will report them
to me. You say in your report that
there are no violations to your
knowledge. If there are violations
it is your duty to know them We
desire you to see that the Laws are
obeyed. See that the hotels are
closed at II o'clock at night and the
patrons out OF the place.
IF you hear of liquor being sold
to persons of known Incorporate
habits, to minors, or on Sundays; if
you hear of any violations of the
Law it is your duty to investigate
them. When you see people intoxi-
Gated on the streets Sunday nights
it means somebody has violated the
liquor laws"
Making his remarks general, Judge
Searle addressed all the constables
as follows:
Your duties are to see that there
are no violations of the law. You
ought to get a copy of the Fish and
Game Laws. It's the constables'
duty to report any violation of the
law"
Constable C.. d. Henderson, of
Lebanon township, came forward at
this juncture, and wanted to know
what the duties OF constable were,
and whether they were supposed to
act as Fish and Game Wardens.
"A constable is not a Fish and
Game Warden" answered the Court.
Il think you have all been reap
pointed Fire Wardens. You can
make prosecutions for violations of
fish or game laws.
Il simply wish to call the atten-
tion OF the constables to this matter.
Sometimes the Constables get care
less. Keepers OF hotels and restaur-
ants get careless and need to be
looked after carefully"
Constable Henderson again came
forward and asked the Court what
jurisdiction Constables had in cases
where the fish and game laws were
violated.
II am not going to counsel you"
replied Judge Searle you have
the same authority to arrest in vio-
lations of the fish and game laws,
as in other violations of the Law"
Constable John r. Muraine, OF
Buckingham township, also reported
some violations of the game laws.
Constable S. b. Carey, of Sterling
township, in his quarterly returns,
reported hole in one of the county
bridges. The Court questioned him
about the matter. In reply he said
the supervisor notified him OF the
trouble, Sunday.
'See that your report is handed TO
the County Commissioners" said the
Court. "A hole in a bridge ought
not to be left go. 1t ought to be
fixed at once. The supervisors ought
to fix that at once. An accident
might happen before the Commits
sioners got there to fix It, never
yet knew the time when the Com
missioners wouldn't reimburse him"
Your Honor" explained Con-
stable Cary, lit being State bridge,
he didn't know"
YES" concluded the Judge, "the
County has charge of them"
The constables were discharged by
the Judge. This simple entry of the
episode appears on the minutes OF
the Court of Common Pleas;
Now. to wit. January 6, 1912.
Court met pursuant to adjournment,