Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-29
PETERS NONCOMM|TTAL
ON RIGHT TO STOCK Up"
Law Makes Possession OF Extra
Amount Evidence OF In
tent Ia Sell.
BUYERS NOT UNDULY ALARMED
Weight OF Legal Opinion Supports
Belief That Act Does Not Limit
Amount Of Liquor Held for Per-
Sonal Use.

Will the thousands of citizens who
participated in yesterdays enormous
bar-room liquidation. atHi stocked up
against the period OF drought to come.
be liable to prosecution as law break
crs:
The prohibition law answers this
question in languages. which. while an.
parently clear. has been the subject
of differing interpretations. Section 65
says:
The possession by any person. of any
arden, spirits. ut any place other than
his home. except as provided in this
act. and the possession in his home
of more than one gallon OF distilled
liquor. ono gallon of vino or three
gallons of beer. or other malt liquor al
any one time. shall, in any proceedin;
or prosecution under this act. bc prlm;,
sesSes such distilled liquors. wine and
malt liquor for the purpose of sale"
Section 81 says: Nothing in this ;rt
shall prevent one. in his own hom,
from having and there giving to an
other. ardent spirits. when the quan-
tity of such spirits shall not exceed
the quantity allowed by this act TO he
kept i'll his home"
The law at the outset provides So
we're penalties for the sale OF intoNi-
cants. Section % makes the possession
of liquor i'll ones home in excess of
the quantity allowed by the net priua
facic evidence of the intent to sell.
COMMISSIONER PETERS
ASKED FOR STATEMENT
In order to secure II hard and fast
definition OF these provisions for the
purpose OF establishing the status ot
the person who has laid in n heavy
stock of liquors for his own use. Pro-
hihition Commissioner Peters was YES
tcrday asked by The Times Dispatch
ior his construction OF the sections
quoted
The language is unmistakable.' re-
piied Mr.. Peters. "tnquestionably. III.
person who shall have in his possession
a, home. a greater quantity of spirits
than IL allowed by the act Will H.
prina tacie guilty of intending to sell
tnHt liquor. Hrima facie means on it's
hrSt face-a, first blush. am not
prepared TO say whether or not such :.
person would be guilty on the second
face The law does not intend to tal,-
away persons right To prove that he
Is not guilty of the charge that is made
against him"
Can YOU make a definite statemen,
as 10 whether or not person who
mas stocked up' in anticipation Of The,
dry period VIII he guilty of VIOLATING,
IN" prohibition law. if he has nun
chased the liquor FOR his own per-
Sonal use he was asked
EORCE:MENT or LAW
VI TO LOCAL. OFFICERS
81 cannot add anything 10 what
have said, replied Mr.. Peters The
enforcement OF the prohibition Law IL
primarily matter for the local Off
Gers. and they will he expected TO see
that IL is enforced 10 the letter.
eel itf
belief is general that no reputable per-
son who has laid in at his home a
stock Of liquor that is larger than the
amount named in the act. will be mo-
Tested If he has purchased the liquor
ior his own use. In the event OF n
prosecution arising fro..l his having on
hhnd an excess quantity of\intoX nts.
the burden Of proof will be on the