The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-10-08
CLEAN UP CHARLESTON,
LAW AND ORDER LEAGUE TAKES
CASES TO THE GRAND JURY.
Detectives Have Gathered Great
Quantity of Evidence, Between
Four Hundred and Five Hundred
Cases Being Prepared.

News and Courier, Oct. 4.
What the Law and Order League
has been doing since it's formation was
told last night to an audience which
filled the German Artillery Hall to
overflOwing. The League announced
that it was now ready to do as it had
long desired to do and come out into
the open to fight, and announced fur
ther that during the few months last
past, their detectives had gathered
evidence to the extent that between
400 and 500 cases of violation of the
law are to be placed in the hands Of
the grand jury of Charleston county
as soon asd possible.
The meeting was an enthusiastic
one. 1t was featured by the announce
ments made by the Rev. Walter
Mitchell, of such a nature as the
above; by an eloquent address by w.
p. Stacy, Esq, of Wilmington. who
told Of the fight in that city; by an
address, brief, but full Of import, by
the Rt. Rev. William A. Guerry, and
by the ready response which the men
in the hall made to the appeal of
Treasurer j. b. Reeves, Jr., for funds.
The audience included quite
number Of ladies, who appeared to be
keenly interested in the proceedings.
1t Outnumbered the chairs, which the
committee had provided in the large
hall and some people stood through
out the evening. Among those who
sat on the platform were prominent
men in every walk Of life in the city,
nearly all the clergy being present.
The Rev. Walter Mitchell presided.
The Rev. Alexander Sprunt opened
the exercises with a prayer.
Mr.. Mitchell then presented a brief,
concise statement of the activities of
the Law and Order League and ex-
planned away some Of the public mys-
teries OF the few months last past
He said the organization had reached
that grateful point in it's work when
II could at least come out into the
open to do it's fighting. The reasdii
the Law and Order League conducted
it's preliminary work so quietly Has
because the leaders learned how much
ammunition had been wasted in other
cities by letting the enemy see the
plans too soon. This secret method
had been very distateful to the lead
ers. but it had been deemed necessary
to success. ~
In order to cover up the real efforts
Of the League against law-breakers.
he said, the League had had the
"searchlights" printed. These bulle-
tins were printed to draw the fire of
the enemy. There had grown to be
feeling Of relief among the lawless
since they thought that the League
was going to expend all it's efforts in
this publicity work, and they knew
that this publicity work would never
be enough. This VS. just what the
League desired them to believe. Now
the point has been reached where the
real work Of the League can be de-
scribed.
While the searchlights were hold
ing the attention of the enemy, so to
speak, in one part of the field, the
League had detectives at work in the
city. Since April / these detectives
have been here and SO secretely have
they worked, it is said, that only a
mere handful Of the members Of the
League know their identity today.
They have gone into all the lawless
places Of the city and got evidence
and the result of their work Is that
there are now between 400 and 500
cases against alleged law-breaEers to
be placed before the present grand
jury. And in these cases, said Mr.
Mitchell, the evidence is so strong
that no grand jury can afford not to
indict the men. Mr.. Mitchell said
that Solicitor Peurifoy had done ev-
erything he could to further these
plans Of the League. The solicitor,
he said, at great risk to his health
had stayed here in order to take
charge personally of the cases and
and put them in shape for the grand
jury, and that at a time when his
health gave him the best Of excuse
for not performing his duty had he
not desired to do so. He said So
licitOr PeurifOy deserved for this the
communication OF every good citizen,
and Mr.. Peurifoy was strongly ap-
plauded. Unknown to most who were
there, the solicitor was in the hall at
the time.