The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-06-13
VIRGINIA NOT TO Be
A LIQUOR WAREHOUSE
Attorney Guy T. Horner, In Inter-
view. Characterizes Statement AS
Mental Contortion."

Norfolk. Va, June i2.-Em-
phatically denying that Virginia will
become a liquor warehouse and Will
deal out to other states the sunshine
liquid which is unfit for the denizens
Of the Old Dominion "a statement
which he characterized as preposter-
Gus and mental contortion-Guy T.
Horner. attorney for sidney Peters
prohibition commissioner Of Virginia,
gave an interview to the Vtrginian-
PINOT last night, setting forth the facts
in connection with the visit here Of
Edwin + Surber a representative OF
the com mission.
In addition to the Liquor ware
house statement II was said that Mr.
Surber would take an inventory OF
liquors Confscated by the courts OF
Virginia. and then 60 to New York,
where the liquor would be sold to
the highest bidder
Taking Inventory.
Mr. Horner, when seen at the Lor-
raine. gave out the following state
ment:
MIR Surber was temporarily err
pIoyed by the commissioner to inven-
tory the ardent spirits in the custody
of the courts and officers In and
around Norfolk. Under the new law,
which takes effect on the 2lst Of
June, the commissioner is required to
take over all ardent spirits conflis-
Gated by the courts and he has the
discretion Of manufacturing IL into
alcohol selling IT TO drugg SITS, hos
pita!s, state Institutions. etc, OF de-
stroyiug IT,
Anticipating the action Of the leg
isiaure in making available to the
state whatever value this conhscated
f.gnnF- ~ trfG
Of he cities have, with commendable
motives and judgment. conserved the
uquor coming into their custody,
Some Of these stocks. especially that
OF the local police court. have be-
come bur ensome, besides taxing to
the very limit available storage space
In taking an inventory of these mis-
cellaneous stocks. prior TO the opera
ton Of the now law. the commission
er has two objects in view;
FIRST. 10 ascertain the quality and
quantity o. the different lots over
the state, In order properly and sd-
vantageousiy to dispose OF it. Sec
ond. 10 relieve the court and officers
at the earliest possible moment OF
the responsibility for the care and
custody OF the same
Plenty of Booze In Store.
There is stored over the state
more whiskey Of a medicinal quality
than Will be requisitioned in five years
by those who, under the law. may
acquire the privilege of purchasing.
selling and using the same. and this
quantity is being increased by daily
seizures. II was never intended by
the legislature that whiskey seized in
Virginia should be made available for
use as a beverage in this or any other
state. but that it's use so far as 1t Is
possible TO control the same. would
he restricted to either medicinal.
scientific or like purposes. and this
spirit of the law will be carried out
by the commissioner with the great
est fidelity.
When the purpose of this inven-
tory was explained to Justice Pitt, he
not only expressed a willingness to
have 1t done. but recognized its i'm
portance, and the inventory will be
made within the next few days with
his full approval"
Mr., Horner was then asked wheth-
err the statement that the whiskey
woAlld be sold in New York to the
highest bidder was correst.
Certainly not" he said That lis
preposterous The statement was an
exercise in mental contortion, II
made