The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-09-11
.l Political Advertisement Z
Law and Enforcement
Mr.. John R. Sumter Declares
His Position With Respect to
Suppression Of Vice and lii.
cit Sale of Liquor
Editor Daily Item.

Editor Daily Item.
/ judge by the. article from Mr.. C.
M. Hurst in The Item of September
8th, that he comedies the fact that he
is unable to cope with the matter of
the suppression Of the bawdy houses
and the conditions surrounding these
places, through the sheriff's office.
Comforting news, no doubt, to the
keepers and inmates Of these houses,
All laws contain or should contain
provisions safeguarding all persons
against possible acts OF persecution
and injustice, by overzealous officers
of the law. But luckily these proyis-
ions do not preclude all initiative by
careful officers to put the machinery
OF the law in motion. They merely
establish proper methods of procedure
\, In carrying out the said laws.
The ownership, OF the houses used
Tor such purposes, does not. even
.pnder the law quoted, permit them to
oe used for immoral purposes. Some
of the unreasonable people Of the
city are daily asking why are these
places permitted to fuorish, where
their young sons spend nights and
days atfa time in riotous drinking
and gambling? ..."
What Is the answer to these unrea-
sonable people? z,.trl -.r ,., ~ =
They persist in saying that it should
be found In the sheriff's ofiice. That
the City Council found means TO.
Danish such houses and people from
the city and keep them out. ....t
The City Council notified these wo-
men that they must leave the city and.
they were wise enough to go. They
sither stayed out altogether or were
arrested and punished when they at
tempted TO return. y.| use. -..
1t was never necessary to get citi-
gems to swear out warrants to arrest
and try these people. ~ rsr
u will add that If elected sheriff
of Sumter county. will notify these
people to leave said county. If they
are still wise they will do so. If not
I will take such steps asSare war;
ranted under the laws to compel their
absence.
They have told several people that
IL j, II. sumter were elected sheriff
they would have TO go. / hope they
mean what they say, for | mean what
1 have stated.
/ would call attention to chapter
xxx, Criminal Code, in reference to
intoxicating liquors, sections S34. $40
and 841:
) Sec. S34: 1T shall be the duty of
sheriffs, deputy sheriffs and consta bles
having notice Of the violation OF any
of the provisions of this chapter to
notify the circuit solicitor Of the fact
of such violation and to furnish him
the name OF any witness within their
knowledge by whom such violation
can be proven. II any such officer
or solicitor shall wilfully fail to COM
ply with the provisions Of this section,
he shall, upon conviction, be fined in
a sum not less than one hudred dol
lars nor more tina five hudred dollars,
and such conviction shall work q for-
feiture of the office held by such per-
son, and the court before whom such
| conviction is had shall in addition to
the imposition of the fine aforesaid,
order and adjudge the forfeiture Of
his said office.
| Section $40: 'Tt shall be the duty
Of the. sheriffs and their deputies,
magistrates, constables, rural police,
city and town officials, to enforce the
provisions OF this chapter
Section SAL: Any constable, deputy
constable, sheriff on magistrate who
shall neglect or refuse to perform the
duties required by this chapter, shall
be subjected to suspension b ythe
| governor. -.
Respectfully, 49,,