Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-14
NO MORE LIQUOR
MAY BE BROUGHT
IN BY TRAVELLERS
CONTINUED from First PaEe.)

'Sontnueo from FIRST PdSc.)
that since July 1 it has been impos-
sible to ship liquor into the State. and
consequently the traffic has been cur
tailed. There remained only one way,
he said. by which whisky could be
provided within the State for sale, and
that was to personally transport II into
Virginia. Now that Federal officers
will give this matter their attention,
the added police protection is expected
to reduce to a minimum this illegal
practice.
WILL PUT END TO MANY
TRIPS TO WET TOWNS
While the Federal measure prohibits
tho transportation Of liquor into the
State. the Virginia law provides that
one quart may be received every thirty
days. and 1t has been generally under
stood that under the terms of this
act a person could legally transport
ono quart OF liquor in his personal
baggage. This question was brought
to the attention of MFR. Peters, and
hc ~ oS dohcu what dCliou COulQ Oe
taken against a man arrested in the
State with one quart Of liquor in his
baggage. although he had crossed the
State line.
Mr.. Peters declared that he would
be arrested and prosecuted, because 1t
was unlawful to have the liquor in
his possession. The Virginia law i'm
plicitly provides. he said. that person
cannot have liquor in his possession
except at hts home. or while transport
ing it from an express office to his
home. Since liquor cannot be shipped.
It remains that it could only be OBJ
tainable through illegal practices. and.
therefore, the offender is subject to
arrest and trial.
In addition to reducing the Illicit
traffic in liquor. the departments ruiz
Ing will also seriously affect hundr ed s
Of Virginians who have. It is known.
been making business" trips to Wash
ington and Baltimore for the purpose
OF supplying their needs. This is
especially true in the counties in the
northern part of the State, because
OF the comparatively short time in
which the trip could be made. In many
instances. it was stated. such pilgrim
ages were made with little or no
danger. although operatives OF the
department of prohibition spent a
large part Of their time in this section
running down Offenders.
Federal authorities are expected to
assist in prohibition work in gem
eral way. but will vigorously prosecute
all cases brought to their attention.
Local authorities said that for months
automobiles have been used extensive
ly in this traffic to transport liquor
into Virginia by unfrequented roads.
They believed that with Federal as
sistance this practice could be reduced
to a minimum.
BONE-DRY LAW HAS
CUT OUT ONE-QUART SHIPMENTS
Operation of the ''bone-dry" law in
Richmond curtailed shipments Of liquor
into this city, principally from Dalti-
more and Washington. from a normal
business Of 400 quarts daily to about
two quarts. Since November. when
the Mapp prohibition bill became law,
shipments into Richmond averaged 400
quarts daily. Several weeks before
the Federal measure went in force,
however, the traffic increased to APP
proximately 900 quarts daily up until
midnight Of June 80. At that time
many hundreds of quarts were In
transit. and the express companies de-
livcred to consignees for several days
all shipments crossing the State boun-
darics before the stroke OF midnis hit
of that day.
Since July l the traffic hos been re-
duced to practically nothing. despite
the fact that no Interpretation has been
made Of the provision allowing the
shipment OF liquor for medicinal pur-
poses. State officers said last night
that no construction would be placed
upon this section OF the law by Vir-
ginia authorities. but that 1t would be
referred to United States Attorney
General Gregory for an opinion. since
the measure Is a Federal act.
In Richmond. only two seizures OF
liquor have been made by the police
since the Federal law became effective.
Omcials OF tho express companies an
ticipate that the liquor Office. opened
on South Twelfth Street several weeks
after prohibition became effective in
Virginia. will be closed In the next
few days. There has also been a great
curtailncnt in shipments to other sec
ttons Of the State. as result Of the
"bone-dry'' amendment.