The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1919-07-22
OFFICERS DISCUSS PLANS
FOR CHECKING LAWLESSNESS
States Recent Homicide Record
Shocking-Illicit Stills Multiply
ing-Patent N icines Give
Trouble-Negro Sold
iers Problem.

cooperation between the people and
their peace officers and more
stringent prosecution of and curb put
on venders of certain extracts con-
tanning large percentages of alcohol
were advocated and a solemn warn
: ing was issued against vagrancy a.
mong the members Of the negro race
and the carrying of obscene pictures,
principally by return negro soldiers,
by speakers at the convention OF
sheriffs, solicitors, magistrates and
foremen of grand juries here yester-
day. The convention, which was
called some weeks ago by Governor
Cooper in order to discuss the law
lessness throughout the State and to
enact plans for more thorough law
enforcement, was representative and
was attended by peace officers from
every section and county of South
Carolina.
Governor Cooper, who opened the
convention with speech telling OF
its purpose, said that there was about
one homicide in South Carolina for
every day of 1919, and that some
thing had to be done to ameliorate
such conditions. The various speak
ers voiced an earnest desire to assist
the Governor in maintaining law in
the State and there was concensus
of opinion that should the people give
proper cooperation crime could be
stamped out.
Lots of Moonshining
The question of prohibition occu-
pied deal of the time of the con-
vention and there was plenty Of evil
dence on hand that the State was be-
ing overrun with illicit distillers, but
that the sentiment for rigid en-
forcement of the prohibition law was
growing hourly. The thing that gave
the peace officers the most concern,
they claimed, was the sale Of Jamaica
ginger and other extracts with a high
percentage of alcohol, and resolu-
ton was adopted calling on the fed
eral authorities to investigate the
manufacture and sale Of these So
called medicines.
Another question which gave the
peace officers a deal of concern was
the disinclination of the members Of
the negro race to work. Solicitor E.
C. Mann, of the First Judicial Cir
cult, said that the government in
drafting the negro into the military
service had succeeded in making
vagrant out of him after his dis
charge. Solicitor Homer S. Blackwell
of the Eighth Judicial Circuit, said
that paper published at Baltimore
had been circulated lately in Laurens
county and that one issue of this pa
per, which he read, had advised the
negro that, as they could not get
Justice, to get dubble-barreled shot
gun, 200 rounds Of ammunition and
proceed to "get" the members of the
white race, as the negroes are in the
majority in the South.
Governor Cooper called attention
to the frequency with which negroes,
principally returned soldiers are be-
ing arrested with obscene pictures on
their persons. Various speakers is
sued a warning that unless the carry
ing of such pictures is stopped seri-
Gus trouble will be experienced.
The convention was presided over
by J. K. Henry, of Chester, solicitor
of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, as chair
man, and J. Wilson Gibbs, Of Colum-
bia, clerk of the House of Represen-
tatives, was elected as secretary.
Charle.ton's Fine Record.
Following the opening speech of
Governor Cooper Capt: J. Elmore
Martin, sheriff Of Charleston coun-
ty. said that without the sentiment Of
the people behind him, thhe sheriff
could do nothing.
Frank J. Simmons, foreman Of the
grand jury of Charleston, said that
Charleston was never cleaner before
in it's history, that the grand jury
was doing it's duty without discrimi-
nation and that an Indictment meant
something. He said that the laboring
people-and he is one of their lead
ers-were desirous of a proper en-
forecement of the law, for it meant
proper protection to them and their
families.
Too Many Techniealities
Solicitor L. NJ. Gasque, of the
Ir;oh+h T,,dic;o1 Hirc,1it said that the