The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-04-29
Statement Published in Expon-
ent Erroneous Accordingto
Prosecuting Attorney.
Editors Telegram:

Editors Telegram:
There has been some discussion BY
the papers and some intimation that
rumors are going with reference to
the improper disposition Of liquors
which are siezed by the officers Of
the state in the enforcement Of the
liquor laws. In order that the public
may know what disposition Is made
OF these liquors, make the follow
ing public statement, with reference
to the same. sf
1t is the custom that when any per-
son is arrested for violating the LIQUOR
laws. to seize any liquors In his DOS
session at the time. II he Is given a
preliminary hearing and Is released,
his liquors are returned to him at the
time. II he is held for the grand jury,
his liquors are placed in one Of two
large cells in the basement Of the
county Jail. These cells have special
locks on them. The keys to the same
are in the possession Of J. a. Tenney.
deputy state commissioner Of prohi-
bition. and Laco Wolfe, the jailer.
Where there is but one or two pints
| oSAASAt sAAo SsAA0 10 A6pl IL tu6 0u1Ce
Of the prosecuting attorney.
Section II, Of the prohibition law,
in part provided that upon conviction
of selling, offering, storing or exposing
for sale. such liquors unlawfully, the
liquors found upon said premises shall
at once be publicly destroyed by some
responsible person to be appointed by
the court"
II the conviction is had before JUS
tice Of the peace. he designates some
responsible person to publicly destroy
the liquor; II the conviction Is in the
criminal court, the Judge of the court
appoints some responsible person to
publicly destroy the same. The records
Of the Justices and the records OF the
criminal court show the orders of the
court and names OF the persons ap-
pointed by the court, to publicly des-
troy conf1scated liquors. ,
There Is another class Of LIQUORS,
which are seized very frequently, to
which no person claims ownership.
This class includes that which has
been shipped as cup grease, salad oil,
lard. etc., or shipped in trunks as
baggage. When interstate shipments
Of liquors are made and they are not
properly labeled and shipped as such,
such shipments are In VOCATION Of the
federal laws. and in several instances
some OF these seizures are taken over
by the federal officers. For the want
OF better name. we designate all the
liquors that are seized, to which there
Is no claim or ownership, "contraband
liquors." When they are seized
they are stored in the same place in
the basement OF the jail. We hold
them for a period Of time. awaiting
Developments. When there seems to
be no further necessity OF holding
them longer, We have them destroyed
They are destroyed under my direc-
ton publicly and In the presence Of
two or three responsible citizens.
Liquors are never destroyed secretly,
but are always destroyed publicly.
There is now In the basement Of the
Jail. approximately $500 pints Of IL
auor. Considerable of this is held
awaiting disposition by the officers
of the United States government, 4as
above suggested. A portion Of the
same Is held, awaiting tho results Of
indictments. There are approximate.
ly 1927 pints Of what we call "con-
traband liquor" which will be pub.
licly destroyed IN the presence Of two
or three responsible citisena In the
next day or two. Just as soon as Mr.
Tenney can ann time to destroy It
An article appeared In the E1pon-
ent a few mornings ago. which spoke
OF 4 900 pints of whiskey having been
confscated recently by the order Of
Judge Robinson.
The word recently should NOT
have been used In this statement, This
estimate Of 1000 pints was presum.
ably made by the one giving II. to In
clude all the liquors that have been
iconfiscated In Harrison county. since
the state went dry. could not say
that this amount ID absolutely accu-
rate. but perhaps is'approximately 10,