The Parisian. (Paris, Tenn.) 1907-1962, 1915-04-16
WRITES LETTER WHILE
IN MAYF|ELD JAIL
To the Citizens of Mayfeld and
the County of Graves:

AS am going TO leave In a
very short time for Eddyville to
serve a sentence for one year for
a crime committed when beastly
drunk, q crime for which no one
has lost a cent but me. | have
been confined three months in
the Jail of this county, away
from as pure and true a wife as
ever lived; besides two darling
innocent children who must bear
this burden, for which they can
in no way be responsible.
Who is responsible? You will,
no doubt say | alone. But think
for one momeut and see what
part of the responsibility rests
on each and every citizen of this
town, especially the Christians.
If you will look up statistics
from the various criminal institu-
tions of the United States you
will find that in almost every
case whiskey is directly or indi-
rectly responsible. You will say,
oh, that Is only an excuse. |
an drink it or let it alone"
How many souls are in hell to.
lay or in the penitentiaries OF
his country who have used that
very expression? Do you know,
FOR every man who can drink or
leave it alone, there are mum
bers of men who cannot when it
is sold on almost every street
crossing in your city? AS | am
writing this | can call by name
.Dout thirty persons, who have
been engaged in this illicit bust
ness some of them for years.
Who is to blame for this? Are
we-the unfortunate victims =
alone to blame? Or does society
owe US some little consideration
Had the human race been able to
resist temptation there would
have been no jails. prisons or
crimes. But such was not the
case. Then do you feel because
you have so far been able to pass
the many dangerous points in
life, that you have done your du.
ty? | say not. Every man and
woman in this city are response
BILE for the welfare of others.
The laws of the different
states require that the many rail
roads operating therein provide
danger signs at their crossings
to warn the public of their dan.
ger. The outbreak of the foot
and mouth disease among the
cattle recently caused a quaran
tine to be raised all over the
United States to prote C
tect the people from loss. Ano
yet the people are worshipping
God in churches that cost thous.
ands of dollars while their chill.
dren are buying whiskey on the
street corners not four blocks
away, when the people of this
county have repeatedly voted
that this should not be done.
Who is to blame? Are you 60
ing to hide behind the county
and city officials? No.man would
do that but a coward, as no off
cial of this county Can do any
good unless given the support of
the people whom he serves.
And | believe we have some Off
Gals in this county who are try
ing to do their duty, though,
sorry to say, they are in the mi
nority.
Will the Christian people of
this cfunty and city allow this
shame to blot the fair name of
your county forever Your boy
may be the next to follow me.
And God forbid that another
mothers son of Graves county
shall ever bring the disgrace to
father, mother, brothers, sisters,
wife and children that / have
brought to mine. And remem-
Der, because you are Christian
and have the strength to resist
the temptations of life, you are