Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-01-07
DESPERATE GUNMEN
IN WHISKY TRAFFIC
Commissioner Peters Makes Sensational Dis
closures in Annual Report-Will Recommend Abandon
ment of Licenses to Druggists Unless Abuses Stop

Licenses to Virginia druggists to
unless abuse OF the privilege is
stopped should be abolished
Booilcsgcrs. timid themselves.
are hiring despcradoes, cS-convicts
and gunmen. who, armed with
rifles and shotguns. speed into Vir-
Ginia az fifty miles an hour, firing
on sight at amy officer who at
,cmpts 10 aDprehcnd their cargocs
OF whisky.
Railroad employees are showing
such aniaGonism toward Prohibit
ton Department agents that boot
leggers are being encouraged in
law-violation and attacks upon
officers.
smaller scale in the mountain
sections of the State.
Courts along the sea coast are
owners and crews of vessels carry
ing. large quantities of liquor
Great activity, of bootieEgcrs is
Federal prohibition law goes into
effect, and preparations are being
made to forestall 4 great influx OF
l;luor into Virginia.
The above are the salient points of
the annual report Of Rev. j. Sidney
Peters, Nirg inia's Prohibition Commits
sioncr: which was presented 10 Cover
nor Wcstmorcland Davis yesterday.
Comm! ssioner Peters states in his
report that the law permitting physi-
suing of licenses to drug stores to fiji
these prescriptions. is being abused
II am discouraged and feel that un-
less abuses stop this convenience
druggists licensed to sell liQuor)
should not be renewed another year"
he states.
MAKES NO RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR NEW LEGISLATION
Whether Commissioner Peters will
act upon his opinion that licensed
l!quor-SellinS should be abolished is
unstatcd in the report.
Next year no drug store will consent
ing 10 the opinion expressed by the
commissioner. Therefore, he says, he
will not recommend any litigation or
legislation at this time.
liquor into the state by automobile,
Commissioner Pcterss report says:
The highways through tho. gaps, in
down tho Valley Pike from Maryland.
the Maryland roads TO the Eastern
Shore, ana las, and greatest OF all.
inGton. ID. c.. afford Il procession of
!iauor-ladcn automobiles easy access to
All parts of Virginia and over these
alarming rate of speed"
DESPERATE CRIMINALS ONLY
ENGAGED IN TRANSFORMATION
The occupants Of the cars are des-
pcrauocS, armed TO the teeth with pis-
to!S, rifles and shotSuns. AS they
come tearing down the road at forty
20. ;ifty miles an hour the sight of an
officer is the signal for them 10 begin
hiring. Every officer who undertakes
chen! arrest does so at the hazard Of
his life.
These whisky blockadcrs are max
ing travel on our highways danger
Gus for all Travellers. as we'll as Of
iiccrs Of the law There was a time
when some OF them would stop on sig
nal from AN officer. but such ti.nid
ones have left the business and to-day
il is. followed by the most desperate
criminals only.
This business is financed by men
and women Of low character who
rarely expose their persons TO the dan
ger OF getting caught. They stay in
Richmond or Petersburg, and employ
lailb:rds TO drive the cars for them.
IL their drivers were caught, either di-
rectly or indirectly. they set up the
plea that their car was stolen or hired
10 the driver for another purpose, 10
prevent the conlscation Of their ma
chimes, and. alas! these spccious pleas
have been TOO often accepted by the
courts and the machines released