The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-02-02

nIclGuS influence OF ms Dcllancf
on the Lower Element of Both
Whites and NcgroeS-OfiicerS that
Are Susceptible to Blindness and
stand In"
The citizens who comprise the
Grand Jury are E. R. Bernstein,
foreman, w. C. Ayers, B. C. Gray,
j. NJ. Mays Jr, NJ. A. WATSON. c. G..
Hartman, H. H. Ballinger, E. NJ.
Hoyer, D. X. Lotion, H. 4. Sumrell,
John A. Keel, w. H. Murray.
The Grand Jury Report.
To the Honorable T. Fletcher Bell,
Judge of the First Judicial District:
We, your Grand Jury, respectfully
submit for your consideration the
following report:
We have examined 148 cases and
found 10i true bills; ignored 81
cases, and continued for further ev-
idence 10 cases. We would respect
fully suggest that grand juries be
called to meet more frequently, for
under the present system of meet
ing about four times annually,
when information is filed with the
district attorney, ere the grand jury
convenes witnesses are spirited
away and often the informant eXpe-
riences a change of feeling and al
though he or she may be victim OF
The person against whom charges
are preferred, it appears that they
have compromised or adjusted the
affairs and in such instances their
testimony is of naught.
The long intervals OF grand jury
session thus enables INSIDERS to de-
feat the purposes Of justice by dis
suasion, perversion or coercion
with great difficulty have your jury
succeeded in wrestling the truth
from some recaIcitrant witnesses
who endeavored to forget or fabri-
cate,
The Evil Influence Of the Blind
Tiger.
Violations of law other than pro-
hibition and gaming seems to be
confined to the lower element OF
both white and negro races, result
ing principally from the evil influ-
ence of blind tiger whiskey among
the rough neck class in our oil and
manufacturing regions, and we note
the same effect on the town and
country negro, who appears to pro-
cure whiskey very readily.
Our Investigations disclosed thai
the "open saloon" despite our laws
to the contrary, still exists In
Shreveport and even in the towns
of Vivian, Oil City and Moorings-
port. Bootlegging is prevalent in the
vicinities of Hosston, Rodessa, Mira
Ida, Belcher and Spring Ridge.
| In Shreveport we find that thu
real owners of places where intoxi-
eating liquors are sold and craps
games and other gambling conduct
ed, have stool pigeons in whose
hands these places are licensed anC
supposedly operated. This enables
the real proprietor to escape pun
ishment and grow rich while defy
ing our laws, and the poor unfor-
tunate who for pittance consents
to run the risk of arrest and detec-
ton receives the sentence another
merits.
Under the ordinance permitting
near beer to be sold, the true article
is dispensed, but in most instances
without cap or label to distinguish
same, and while many witnesses
testified that they believed the bev-
efage bought by them to be the beer
prohibited from sale, yet were I'M
| willing to affirm positively thereto
1t appears that the thirsty call fo1
white, black or cold bottle in or.
dering their respective brands o
beer. Act t78 Of 1912, which license.
near-beer, your jury believes from
| the information before US, was
| great mistake if the prohibition Law
is to be enforced. We believe tn,
passing of this act was great vie
tory for blind tigerism.
We find many saloons conducteC
in the rear Of small grocery store
and fruit stands, the legitimate bus
mess being but subterfuge.
The Wide Open Saloon.
There are a number of saloons OF
the second floors of many bushes
buildings in this city, particular
on Texas street, and without excep
ton, in such places our inyestiga
tons showed craps games were ais
in operation.
This game, which had its origi
/ and i'll effect for long time amon
our negro population, is now ram
/ pant in this city and running our flu