Evening journal., 1921-11-14
JUDGE URGES
WHISKY PROBE
Rumor Says Queen Anne
D1s WI
OOnSIaDleS Wink AT Law
Breaking
LIQUOR USED IN
PRIMARY FIGHT

CENTREvILLE. Nd, Nov. IA
condition Of alleged lawlessness in
Queen Anne's county for the past
several months last week prompted
Judge Philemon b. Hopper, asso-
ciate judge Of the Circuit Court, to
deliver one OF the most far-reach-
ing charges to the grand jury ever
heard in Queen Anne's county.
Judge Hopper charged the grand
inquest to investigate all cases and
rumors and to spare no expense in
bringing the guilty to justice. AS a
consequence, the entire week has
been taken up by Investigations, and
those called before the jury have in
cluded all ages from school boys tc
old men.
Judge Hopper's charge, in part
follows:
There are rumors. circulating IN
this county which. II true. should
make every law-abiding citizen OF
the county blush with shame at the
alarming and degrading conditions
that exist here. refer to the ru-
mors that intoxicating liquors are
being imported and sold in this com
munity persistently and almost
openly. Some reputable people have
said to me that they have seen more
drunken people in the county in the
last six months than they had OBJ
served here in any year since our
local option laws were enacted. Thu
-. l-
ing. degrading and dangerous, il the
rumors about the traffic in intoxi-
catink liquors here are even half
true.
Heretofore have stated to your
predecessors in office that there were
no criminal classes In this county,
meaning by criminal classes people
who adopt crime as their means OF
livelihood, who habitually prey upon
others for gain. But II what have
heard be but partly true. this com
munity has lately been Invaded by a
most dangerous class who operate for
gain. and who corrupt and degrade
others by their evil example.
Unfortunately the local laws re
stricting the Importation OF alcohol,
liquors into this county was repeal
ed some years ago, so we are power
less to punish those who do not NOR
more than bring intoxicants here
But Il is nonsense 10 say that Il is be
ing brought here for any Legitimate
purpose. Those who are importing
It are bringing Il here to sell and
the sale OF il violates our local laws.
1t ought not TO be very difficult for
you to discover who is importing il
and I think you may feel quite cer-
tain that the man who brings it into
this community is selling It.
For, although we cannot enforce
the Nolstead act. I think IL is the
duty OF every law-abiding man or
woman 70 report any wilful vioh-
ton OF IT, / do not approve OF all OF
the provisions OF that act and I know
many others who do not, but that is
no reason for me as an individual or
them 20 wink at violations OF T..
There are one or more constables In
each election district in this county
They are wide-awake men. But
rumors that I am talking about sa,
that the characteristic zeal and viei
lance Of these officers are lackini
lately ~ 10 the enforcement OF tn
prohibition laws because they ar
not in sympathy with these laws
cannot bring myself 70 believe thi
is true, but II IL be. each officer 81
derelict should be removed from
Office for failure 10 perform his duts
"Rumors says insistently that larg
amounts OF money and large guam
titles OF whisky we're used 10 corrup
and influence voters at the primar
election. Any party to the corrup
act may be forced to testify agains
the other: he is freed from prose
cution where made a witness. ]
incumbents OF offices are elected b.
corrupt means. the offices which the
administer will be corruptly operate'
II opportunity be given.
I urge you 70 make full an,
searching investigation in these mat
ters. spare neither time nor neces
aAr7 expense Il will be better 70
r1u 20 bankrupt the county finan
r-ally IN expressing crime than q
allow the iawiess 10 bankrupt :
morally and socially BY bringing law
into contempt.
H-TVTTT TrT n HnR