The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1916-09-29

selves. The combine plotted and
hoped to clean up from 100000 to
$4,000, 900 by violating law that had
been supported by most of them
through their local representatives in
the Legislature. 1t should be recalled
in this connection that both members
of the Legislature who have been
caught in the Attorney Generals raid
were warm supporters of Alabama's
prohibition law. one of them being a
floor leader of the Prohibition forces
Liquor Stored Everywhere.
Every vacant business house in the
little town was rented, and a small
stock of dry goods or groceries in
in charge of a trusted employe. Liquor
was stored in the rear portions of the
houses, and in cellars and garrets. 1t
was hidden from view by partitions
that seemed to have been constructed
to shut off their view of bedrooms;
vices. Stables and barns were Sc
cured for the same purpose. House
boats on the river were loaded to the
guards with liquor. 1t was sunk in
the river as we'll and dragged out by
raiding officers with boathooks. Ii
there was an old hotel in town that
did not make money, its revenues
were enhanced by storing liquor.
Having filled every available foot
of space above ground, the combine
employed men to dig tunnels and
make sub-cellars under their build
ings. These were filled with liquor
More than $4,000 worth of liquors
was found in one of these subter
ranean caverns.
Mayor and Judge Involved.
The mayor of the town owned some
vacant storehouses in which quaint
ties of liquor were found and confis
Gated. A probate judge was caught III
The same kind of business. Prohibi
and controlled others in which much
liquor was found. The raiders, with
out any previous announcement, paiC
visit to the sheriff, who resides tel
miles away from Girard. TheI
searched his premises and fount
enough liquor to astonish them. The
sheriff offered a plea that this liquo
had been seized by himself and depu
ties in making raids. When asked Il
point out when and where he had eve
raided a place on the hunt for contra
band liquor, he could not answer t,
the satisfaction of the law agents
His liquor was hauled away to Girart
and deposited to the credit of the AT
torney General. Impeachment pre-
ceedings against the sheriff hav
been instituted.
Local police authorities resented tn
interference in their business by tn
law agents of the Attorney General
office. Frequent dangerous clashes OF
Cured The situation became S
strained between the conflicting civ
authorities that Governor Henderso
ordered out state troops, sent them t
Girard and proclaimed martial law 70
the community 1t is under MARTA
law today.
Girard Center of Ring.
That the Girard enterprise is a par
of a tremendous lawless system. wit
its arms extending into more than
| dozen rural counties of Alabama. til
purpose of the system being to max
profit of millions in the unlawfl
| flo in
! tionists and municipal county official
t Is not doubted by many men who hay
: informed themselves On the subjec
r To make this point palmer and nor
I convincing, it may be worth while
revert to the conditions that prevaile
in the state Immediately prior to II
enactment of the statewide prohit
4 ton law. The question had been su
= mitted to the voters of the state, ar
e by a majority approximately 30,0'
S they expressed preference for Il
= local option principle then in fore
:, This referendum was taken as fin
e decision of the question.
e Some time after the Legislature b;
assembled, however, there sprang !
l. a demand for a prohibition bill. \
) body seemed TO know from whence
Q came, but a dozen or more rural lie
S islators were most insistent for &
e legislation. One OF the members fro
e Russell county. the county in viii
e the town OF Girard is situated. W
D. loud in support OF the movement.
= esoouspd The cauSe parly and becar
J. one OF the leaders Of the prohibit
a forces This Is the same man up
d whose premises much liquor W
d found during the Girard raids. T
k various communities throughout
IL state that Joined in this movement
Ie overthrow the will Of the people, a
ID now under suspicion, some OF the
sr under surveillance of the Attorn
D. Generals law agents.