New-York tribune., 1920-09-28
Drunkenness
Nearly Triipletl
ln Arid N. Y.
McAdoo Reports 1895 Ar
rests i'm Three Months. as
Compared With 57I i'm
the Preceding Quarter
Victims Are More Violent
Quality of Liquor Is Held
Responsible for Disor-
derby Acts of Bibulants

Wheteves 8 benefits eventually NAV
accrue from national prohibition. ii
was plain from figures made public
by Chief Magistrate McAdoo yesterday
snaS Dooss nows gayly on in increasing
volume, while the number Of arrests
for drunkenness in New York Citv ia
mounting daily.
The most alarming phase of the sit
uation, however, according to the chief
magistrate, is that nearly every case
OF intoxication appears to be an ar
rest case. offenders being charged in
many instances with acts of violence
such as damage to property and as
saults on innocent citizens.
The outstanding feature of the sta
tistics is that from 571 arraignments
during the first three months follow
ing the application of the Eighteenth
Amendment the number of arrests for
lntoxlcation has jumped to 1895 for
the three following months. With the
tabulatioh Of figures for July, August
and September still incomplete, there
are indications, said the chief magis-
trate, that the number of arrests for
drunkenness during this period will be
even larger than that Of April. NAV
and June of this year.
That these figures approach the pre-
dry period can be seen from the data
covering 1919. During the first three
months Of last year there were 1914
arrests. In the second three months
there were 1863 A noticeable drop
is seen in the third quarter Of 1918
because of wartime prohibition going
into effect on July 1. During the third
ana last quarters Of 1919 there were
944 and e36 cases of intoxication re-
spectlvely in the municipal courts.
Initial Effect Soon Lost
The number fell still lower during
the three-month period following Jan
nary 16 of this year, when the Eigh-
teent Amendment became effective
In the time between January and
March, inclusive, there were only 571
arrests for intoxication throughout
three months the figures jumped to
1895. while the total for the three
month period ending September 80,
says the chief magistrate, will be
even larger.
How these figures compare with
those of wet years may be seen from
the following: In 1918 there were
1857 arrests for drunkenness. In
1915 there were 17,O78; in 1917, 14,192,
and in 1918, 1884.
II gather from present develop
ments," commented Mr.. McAdoo, chat
the people who drink alcoholic liquors
ton laws. but have gradually adapted
themselves to the situation and have
found way to get what they want.
There is evidence that the drinker.
too, is indulging himself to the full.
with the result that he is brought into
court on charges Of assaulting peo-
pie, breaking windows and smashing
property generally 1t may be due to
the brand of the liquor imbibed
Source of Supply Protected
In few cases can the magistrate
lind out where the offender got his
drinks. When asked he usually re-
plies, In a saloon,' From a friend or
Home BREW showing a general dis
inclination to disclose the real source.
The wives of many prisoners, however,
offer the information that they got it
at the corner saloon"
Mr.. McAdoo declined to attribute
the situation to any particular cause.
"The enforcement Of the law" he said
sis entirely in the hands of the Fed.
eral authorities. Under the national
law. as construed by the United States
Supreme Court, the state LIQUOR tax
law, although still on the statute books.
is practically repealed and not in ef,
feet. Or course. a license cannot be
given by any municipality or state 20
sell intoxicating liquors There is.
therefore, no necessity for police su-
pervision to prevent infractions of the
state laws. This work appears now to
be entirely in charge Of Federal
agents"
Richard BaSShelmesS as David has heen
declared New York's greatest lover. ssa