The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-04-16
THE WAY OF THE TRANSGRESSOR
Is HARD.

There is large element OF the pop
ulation that does not feel that it is a
crime to smuggle. manufacture or OBJ
tain liquor on the sly. and hence the
practice of running the forbidden flu
Id over the line from Canada is a very
common practice. Then there is an
other attraction in smuggling liquor
besides the stacking of vicious
thirst. The stuff commands an extra
ordinary price. This is one article that
men will pay from three to five times
its value for and let out no roar over
the high cost OF living. The high price
is an incentive for men to take long
chances bringing the forbidden liquid
into the state from Canada, and few
people really realize how many real
ly are engaged i'm the contraband
trade. Men who are perfectly square
every other transaction will engage
in this trade. We are not denying that
prohibition is a good thing for the
public, but there is no denying that a
vast amount of crime is growing out
OF the suppression of the traffic in
this country in the way of moonshin-
ing and smuggling, while prohibition
does not seem to reduce the number
OF murders and robberies in the coun-
try judging from the daily evidence
OF the greater crimes in the larger
cities.
But that is neither here nor there.
This item was not started as a disser-
ton upon the rights or wrongs of pre-
hibition. The law is the law, and so
long as that Is SO the law should be
in:orced. The aim was to call atten-
ton to we'll known fact that much
fluid that contains kick and passes
for whisky is sneaked over the line at
this point. Some who are engaged in
the practice escape apprehension, but
they should remember the pitcher that
went to often to the we'll. and take a
lesson from those not so lucky as to
dodge officers on the border, for the
infringement of the law is a serious
offense and in the future the punish
ment will be made more serious I'M
til smuggling will be a dangerous
undertaking.
Several cases of offenders in this
line have occurred of late, and the last
case reported transpired last week
The trouble that the individual got in
to for few bottles of booze is liable
to cost him several hundred dollars.
The following letter received at this
office from resident of Canada,
familiar with the particulars, throws
some light ON the case:
If you would like the facts regard
ing the Hurlbert auto seizure and his
subsequent prosecution by the Pro-
vincial authorities. they are these:
"Hurlbert entered Canada by the
way Of the outport Of Similkameen,
and secured his load either in Kere-
meos or Penticton. Returning by the
way Of Osoyoos his car broke down.
He cached his booze and had his car
pulled out for repairs.
Returning for his booze on the
morning Of April he neglected to
report at the customs office. 1t was
for that that his car was seized when
he was found in Canada without per-
mission from the customs officer.
Returning to Oroville after losing
his car he evidently talked too much,
for the information reached the Pro-
vincial police at Greenwood the next
morning, and later in the day they
proceeded to Osoyoos to learn the
facts as regards to their regulations
Arriving there they learned that Hurl-
bert had gone to Penticton that morn
ing and was again in Canada. They
awaited his return and soaked him
500, without costs. In reporting this
do not mix the customs and the pro-
ceedings of the Provincial police
They are entirely Independent of each
other