The Arizona copper camp., 1915-09-11
RICHARDSON'S Letter
ON PROHIBITION CASES

We have for some time been con-
cerned in a story to the effect that
a shipment of liquor had been re-
ceived at Florence and no prosecution
of the offender had been undertaken
by our friend H. G. Richardson the
county attorney. Our interest was
increased when a second yarn was
told us to the effect that the liquor
was consigned to one of The officials
at the state prison or in any event
was delivered there. We asked last
week and the week before for an ex-
PLANTATION as to why the prosecution
how it happened that whiskey should
find it's way to the state prison. The
explanation comes in a letter from
Mr.. Richardson. We never had any
doubt but that Rich knew what he
was doing all the time. We wanted,
however, to give him an opportunity
to explain to our many readers ex
actly what the situation was They
wanted to know Here is the ex-
PLANTATION:
Florence, Ariz., Sept. Sth.
To the Editor of the Arizona Copper
Camp.
Sir: Am mighty pleased to note
your editorial of Sept. Srd, under the
caption Why No Explanations" and
l hasten to give you the wanted ex-
planation of just why" a certain al
legged bootlegging case at Florence
was not prosecuted to the laws full
est extent.
In your news item of August 27 en-
titled why the Delay?" you made
an assertion to the following effect,
and l will quote you: I'VE have
noted with some surprise the delay
which has already occurred in bring
ing to justice the person at Florence
who openly violated the prohibition
law by HAVING SHIPPED TO HIM
A JUG OF WHISKEY." Now, my
dear Copper Camp, if you or your
news informant can give your county
attorney evidence to the effect that
the person in question HAD this jug
of WHISKEY SHIPPED IN TO HIM,
then the state has a good case and
a prosecution will begin Immediately.
In order to set you Alright and to let
you know that the offices of the sher-
iff and county attorney are wholly in
accord with a strict enforcement of
give you in somewhat detail the facts
involved in the case in question.
Some time ago a box arrived at the
express office in Florence addressed
to one M. A Romero, and the agent
not knowing any person in Florence
by that name surmised that the box
was intended for one of the numer-
Gus prisoners at the state prison. The
box was taken to the prison, and
when it was opened by one of the
guards it was found to contain
good sized jug of old Bourbon that
made some of the interested specta
tors smack their lips in anticipatory
delight. Superintendent Simms i'm
mediately notified me on the phone
that he had some Of the forbidden
fruit in his possession, and the box
and contents were subsequently turn
ed over to the sheriffs office. Soon
thereafter the express agent made a
demand onus for the box, claiming
that a barber in Florence had pre-
sented bill of lading for same, and
on such demand we could not legally
hold same from the express company,
since there was no evidence to. the
effect that this barber HAD HAD
THIS JUG OF WHISKEY SHIPPED
IN TO HIM. To prove violation
Of that part of the prohibition amend
ment relating to shipping into the
state of whiskey, it devolved upon
the state to prove beyond a reason
able doubt that this barber HAD
SENT to Los Angeles and AR
RANGED to have this WHISKEY
SHIPPED IN TO HIM.
Sheriff Hall and myself are GER
tainly anxious to prosecute all Of
tenders of the prohibition laws but
from your articles it would appear
that we had not even prosecuted one
case in this instance, when there has
been some seven prosecutions to date