La Junta tribune., 1914-01-31
MORE BoorLEGGERs FREED.
Ray Decker, Convicted BDOtleGkcr,
Turned Loose ON Petition Of
Prominent Citizens.

Ray Decker, who was convicted
OF bootlegging in Judge wilkins
court on January 7th, and who was
fined 500 and given sentence of
ten days In jail. made pauper's af-
fidavit In the district court last We'd
nesday morning and was ordered re-
leased from custody by Judge Essex.
This is the third convicted bootleg
ger that has been turned loose by or
der OF the district court during the
past two months on the ground of
being poor person and unable to
pay the fine imposed. 1t is extreme
ly unfortunate that bootleggers are
such poor persons" Decker was In
Jail for twenty-one days-servinE his
ten day sentence and eleven days OF
his fine ut the rate of 81 per day.
Decker was released from jail on
the presentation OF a petition In open
court, which in words and cogno-
mems reads thusly:
La Junta. Colo. Jan. 90. 1914.
To Whom II May Concern:
We. the undersigned citizens OF
La Junta. Colo. and vicinity. re-
spectfully request that Ray Decker.
who was sentenced to ten days In jail
and fined 500, be released. He has
already served more than his jail
sentence and this request Is made on
account of his family needing his
immediate attention. or public as
sistance will be absolutely neces-
sary.
Signed l.. +. Thiets. Bias Mar
tine. NJ. Padiila, \. W. Miller. Louis
Oiena. Il. Hannah. NJ. l.. Busdan. n.
X Scan. II. Winsgrad. j. Holiing
berry. l.. $. Kelly. Il. G. Erickson.
l.. W Taylor. J. johnson. a. Ferris,
NJ Skyles. u. Garnsey. NJ Goodman.
Il. u. Ludden. J. u. Poe. =. $. Hyde.
G. Goodman. r. {. Todd, c. l.. Fish
er. T.. II. Vanscoy. J. W. Sherman. N.
A. Day. J. G. Brennaman. r. l.. Ma
drid, w. X. Chown. D. ~. Mills. J.
c. Mills. J. N. Russell. j. N. Chris
tine. w. l.. Brosius. John Harding.
william Chutkow. W. II. McSpad.
den. q. S. Thompson.
One OF the signers OF the petition
is u convicted bootieggcr who is nov
out on bond on IN appeal 10 the
county court. and of course there Is
no occasion for surprise on this ac-
count II would be quite natural for
bootle.ger who is out OF Jail on
bond to keep a little feeling In his
heart for a bootiegger who Was not
so fortunate. A fellow feeling, you
know. Is apt To make us wondrous
kind
This community has declared very
emphaticaliy for "a dry town. and the
Tribune is OF the opinion that the
majority should rule. Such petit
tons as this. signed by a very iusig-
nificant minority. SO far as numbers
are concerned. makes farce OF the
local option law. and places IA major
ity OF the people OF this community
In very ridiculous and uneyiable
position.
The Tribune viii never be able TO
keep little feeling In its heart
for n bootlcggcr. The Tribune h1s
neither respect. sympathy or couHi-
Grafton OF any kind whntsoeycr ior
the bootlegger tribe. 4 booursfcr
Is deliberate. sneaking. malice
aforcthought yiolator OF the laW. aHd
his sole purpose aud chief aim ul lis
existence is to make fcW plliry
dollars by clandestinc method Ilc
has u holy horror of being found out.
aud this proves that In his own heart
he knows II h. as contemptiblc rs
most decent people believe him To
be. Ia the futur" the only thlnE To
do II Ia xiv. the booil.ggers The Il
tr.mc penalty of the law IA jail sen-
t.pces. forget all about the IN"
clause. and let Il go ut that The ex-
ircme Jail sentence viii be sufficient
TO hold most of them for awhile any
way.
q. !. \. tO Is. OG l.. =. Installation.
The local lodge Of q. |. A. to II. Of
l.. u. Installed their new Officers on
Wednesday evening 1t Moose Hall.
A Eoodly number Of the membess
were present and \ very plcassat
evening WAS spent. The fOIloNtnR