The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-30
H0P[WElL DESTROYS
STOCK OF WET GOODS
Three thousand Dollars Worth of
Accumulated Booze Executed"
By Chief Cotten's Men.
ORDERED BY COMMISSIONER
Dozen More Gases VIII Be eBfore
Hopcweh Grand jury Next Week
and Probe May Follow Continued
Failure to Indict.

While a ciamoring crowd of curious,
thirsty spectators looked on the
strange performance. several thou
sand dollars worth of whiskey, beer,
gin and other ardent spirits flowed
down the hinocks and through the
gullies about the magic city of Hope
wen all day yesterday, due to an
order from the prohibition commits
sioner that contraband liquor stored in
the station house of the Powder City
be destroyed at once. Since the build
ing up of Hopewell about $4,000 worth
OF intoxicants has been accumulated
at police headquarters as the result of
the raiding OF many Illicit liquor
houses and while some of the
goods Is being preserved as evidence
to be used against those arrested for
selling 1t, about two-thirds of 1t was
ordered destroyed yesterday.
When news that the condemnation
proceedings were about to be carried
out spread through the hedges and
byways OF the city that sprung up in
a night, many opponents of the flow
Ing bowl and the sparkling glass pre-
sented themselves in a great body to
witness the passing Of the crazy
juice" When the officers appeared on
an open space behind the station
house. armed with axes, hatchets and
other implements of destruction. the
proverbial sigh emanated from the
and when the first barrel of
booze was rolled into the arena, they
pressed closer, silently. with set, faces
and compressed lips. 1t is said that
sounded from the head of the whis-
key barrel, echoing with dull
thud," cries of pity burst from the
crowd. and many tear-dimmed eyes
turned away. unwilling TO witness the
pitiful sight. Men rolled on the
ground. 1t Is said. In an attempt to
gather up from the dust some of the
precious fluid that was being soaked
into Mother Earth. But the plead
ings were all in vain, the hearts OF
the executioners were as stone. All
day the battle ragged. and when dark
ness at last fell about the scene the
task was not completed, The game
was called for the day, and while a
over the death cell" preparations
were made for destroying the remain
der of the liquor today.
Ready to Take Decisive Action.
Commissioner Peters stated last
night that the situation at Hopeyeell
had given the authorities much trout
BILE, and that decisive action Is gong
to be taken without delay The sale
of liquor has never been licensed in
but in spite of this, ardent
spirits have been continually sold
there, before and since the granting
Of the Hopewell charter Last week
1t was known that 1000 quarts of
liquor was secreted In Prince George
County, but before officers could reach
the hiding place the liquor was re-
moved. Chief OF Police Gotten has
been unable to locate the stuff. and
has abandoned the search.
A few weeks ago ten violators of
the prohibition law were sent by Po-
lice Justice J. N. England to the
grand jury. but this body failed to
indict. This same thing has hap
pened once before, Il Is said. when
Governor Stuart caused twenty-eight
cases to come before the grand Jury
warrants have been issued for
alleged vtolators of the prohibition
laws. to come before the grand jury
the first week in December. If no
action ia taken in these cases, 1t is
certain that an investigation will fol-
low, to determine why tho laws can
n OF be enforced In Hopewell