The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-07-25
CALLS ON CORONER
To ARREST SHERIFF
superintendent of Dry Federation
Asks That One Company Official
Take Another Into Custody.

Chicago, Ill, July 24.-Philip Var
row. superintendent of the dry Chica-
go federation made written demand
upon Coroner Peter Hoffman that he
arrest Sheriff John Z. Traeger ''for
neglecting his duty by falling to en-
force the Sunday closing laws"
Mr.. Yarrow made his demand in an
open letter addressed TO the coroner's
office in the county building, which
begins with these words:
In a recent communication from
Gov. Dunno the statement was made
that the sheriff was responsible for
the enforcement of the law which pro-
vides for the closing of the saloons on
Sunday. 1 have asked the sheriff of
this county to do this sworn duty in
this matter. Thus far he seems so
have failed to act
After citing a sentence from the
Dunno communication which reads:
IF the officers charged primarily with
the enforcement OF the law refuse or
neglect to do so, thew themselves may
be punished and removed from Of
flee" Mr.. Yarrow makes his demand
on the coroner.
NOW, I understand" he writes
that the coroner is the only official
W lIu tfitl atEt5t ING 6HcEills We mere
by call upon you to arrest the sheriff
for tho neglect of his duty as laid
down in the State law. interpreted by
AttorneyGeneral F. j. Jucey and con-
veyed to me in the Governors COM
munication.
And. furthermore. in view of the
fact that the Sunday closing law is
openly violated In Cook County, we
call upon you as coroner to take such
action as will preserve the dignity of
| the State, and to secure the enforce
ment Of this beneficial law.
"Hurd's Revised Statutes provides:
Zach coroner shall be conservator of
the peace in his county. and IN the
performance of his duties as such
shall have the same powers as the
Sheriff" In view of the fact that 50
many accidents suicides and violent
deaths are due to the use OF alcoholic
liquors. we deem It in a very peculiar
way your duty to take such action
as will helm to remove one of the
fundamental causes OF so much So
cial DISASTER in Cook County
Sheriff John Traeger laughed after
he had read copy Of the letter.
II am surprised at these dry gen.
| tlsmen." he said. "They misinterpret
the Governors communication, as the
| Governor said 1t is the city and village
officials who are responsible for clos
ing the saloons, and not the county
| sheriff. Our office IL not supposed
to do ordinary police duty.
u respect the motives of these dry
gentlemen, but If they want to get re-
suits why don't they file evidence with
the States attorney? They certainly
cannot force me to take their views
by any such means as these. I have
my own views on what I should do in
this situation. They are based on the
advise of my attorney. and I am go
Inc to stick by them without any fear
that the coroner will arrest me-"
Il will take no such action" Coro-
ner Hoffman eaid when a copy of the
Yarrow letter had been read to him,
until l can be shown IN O. court OF
equity that the sheriff has failed &c
| do this duty. The proper way for
these people TO handle such O. matter
as this is to mandamus the sheriff
II they think he La not doing what III
should.