The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-09-17


firmed by the Supreme Court, then
we shall have no Dispensary until an
other election is held, and it is voted
in 1t has been my observation since
the Dispensary has been voted out
that there has been no effort made
to enforce the prohibition law, ex-
cept by the officers. 1t is almost i'm
possible for officers to catch blind
tigers. as the officers are known, and
cannot purchase liquor. themselves,
and it is very hard to get evidence
from others. l believe If the pro-
hibitionists and all good citizens,
whether for or against the dispen-
sary, would determine to stop the
illegal sale of alcoholic liquors and
beverages within Sumter County, and
especially within the City of Sumter
they could to large extent, stamp
1t out From my experience, since I
have been Mayor, we have practical
ly received no assistance from anyone
to help us enforce the prohibition
law. We have been doing what we
could with the officers, and special
detectives from time to time. There
has been a great deal said on the
streets and elsewhere about the clubs
violating the prohibition law. Whe-
ther this be true or not, l do not
know of my own knowledge, but i
have heard it stated that the clubs
will order whiskey, beer. etc., and
keep Ii in the lockers, and sell their
members books of tickets, each tick
ct emitting the member to so much
whiskey or beer. If this be true, and
even il the ,whisitcy, Is furnished .,i3
the members at actual cost, still, in
my opinion, this violates the law
have heard it stated, however, that
the whiskey is sold in this way at
profit; in other words, if the club pays
four dollars a gallon for whiskey, it
sells the tickets on the basis of five
dollars per gallon, and the difference
goes to maintain the club. If this be
true, it is undoubtedly violation of
the law.
Section SIS of the Criminal Code of
19A2 provides as follows
All places where persons are per-
mittcd to resort for the purpose of
drinking alcoholic liquors or beverages
arc hereby declared nuisances, and
the keeper or manager of such places,
upon conviction, shall be punished as
provided in Section S11.
Section S11 of the same volume,
provides the punishment for offences
against the liquor laws, which is
fine of not less than one hundred dol
lars nor more than five hundred dol
lars, or Imprisonment at hard labor
Tor period of not less than three
months, nor for more than one year,
and for the second or subsequent Of
fence, q greater punishment.
Section $50 of the same Code is al
SO on this subject, and provides:
Every person who shall, directly or
indirectly, keep or maintain by him
self, or by associating or combining
with Others, or shall in any manner
assist, or abet in keeping or maintain
ing any club room, or other place
i'm which any alcoholic liquors or
beverages are received or kept for
unlawful use, barter or sale as
beverage, or for distribution or .livis-
ion among the members Of any club
or association by any means whatev..
er, and every person who shall re-
ceive barter, sell, assist or abet an
other in receiving, bartering or SELL
ing any alcoholic liquors or beverages
so received or kept, shall he deemed
guilty Of Il misdemeanor, and, upon
conviction thereof, shall be punish
ed by fine of not less than one hum
dred dollars, nor more than five hun
dred dollars or by Imprisonment for
Il term of not less than three months
nor more than twelve months.
And the following section, S2D
provides
1t shall be unlawful for any club,
company, association, or corporation,
or any chartered company now in
existence, or hereafter to be incorpor-
ated for social literary or other pur-
poses within this state, to buy, sell.
keep for sale, exchange. barter, any
liquor, wine, beer bitters, or other in
toNicating spirits for any purpose
whatever, either to members or to
other persons, any member or mem
bcrs, knowingly belonging To any clnh.
company, association, or corporation
which receives and dispenses intoxi- |