The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1921-12-23
THE CRIME WAVE
SUBJECT OF ADDRESS
District Attorney, Gen. Thos. 0. Nor
ris. Addresses Citizens.

U1stTlct ALbOAACJS 0CA' AASs' -
ris, Addresses Citizens.
At Jimmie's Playhouse last Sum
day afternoon Gen. Thos. o. Morris
appeared on the platform as one OF
the speakers in series OF Sunday
afternoon meetings promoted for the
benefit of the people of Union City
who find some leisure to devote to
the problems of the day.
Mr.. Morris, who has been in the
service of this Judicial District for
number of years as prosecuting at
torney, chose the subject Of crime.
First he found that a great many
people talk and write of crime who
do not E.now anything about it.
They've had no experience with
criminals end shoot very wide OF the
mark.
Criminal conditions are growing
more serious, Mr. Morris stated, and
he proceeded to talk more particular
ly about his district. In some OF the
counties of the district crime has in
creased twofold and more. Making
comparisons, Mr.. Morris said that
some time back Obion County stood
fifth, at that time having greater
criminal record than four of the 9TH
er counties. These conditions have
improved until Obion County has
taken second place for having elm
mated a greater percentage OF crime.
Mr.. Morris then proceeded to speak
about the juricS and the officers of
the law in connection with the fact
that they are criticised Tor being in
league with criminals-the juries are
packed and the officers are partners
in crime. This is a mistake, says
Mr.. Norris. Once in very great
while man will get on the jury to
defeat justice, but very seldom only.
AS for the officers standing in with
moonshiners and criminals this is an
other popular fallacy. 1t is mistake
that does the officers great injus-
tice. The officer has enough trouble
without this, but it is too often the
case.
Proceeding Mr.. Morris took the
ground that it is not hard to detect
murder, larceny, arson, but very diff
ficult indeed to detect the moon
sinner and the bootlegger. In the
first place it is not against the laws
of Tennessee to make whiskey, but
it is an offense to carry it about and
the bootlegger must be found guilty
of transporting and selling liquor.
The moonshiner can make all he
wants unless the Federal officers take
the matter in charge. 1t is against
the Federal statutes to manufacture
whiskey as beverage. The great
trouble in apprchending the bootleg
ger is the fact that he is protected in
the practice By the man who buys
the liquor. This man will go before
the grand jury and refuse to tell the
truth and thereby the bootlegger is
in no danger. Says Mr.. Morris sew
enteen men out of twenty will lie to
tho grand jury about buying whis-
key, and then when an indictment is
found the witnesses will leave the
State. So you see it is not the de-
linquency of tho officer but the man
who buys and drinks white mule"
These are the facts. Mr.. Morris
states, and he knows. Mr.. Morris
says that ore of the smaller counties
of his circuit is now infested with
more crime than any of the others.
There arc more moonshiners and
criminals there than anywhere else
in his circuit. Whiskey made with
Merry War Lye and mean enough to
kill is made in abundance in that
county. 1t did sell for ten dollars
quart, but for fear of Federal officers
enforcing tho law and putting them
out of business the price has been re-
duced to two dollars quart
Winding up the address, Mr.. Nor
ris made the statement that phohi-
biIicn is not failure, but the day
will come when there will be no
whiskey made in the United States
and prohibition will become reality.
A very large crowd heard the ad-
dress with interest and attention.
nsaUnr p -nrusrnro