The Washington times., 1921-03-22
DRY ACT lessons
CRIME IN VIRGINIA
Statistics Show so Per Cent
Decrease Since Prohibition
Was Effected,


ton, according to analysis Of statis-
tics given today by the various State
and Federal agencies having to do
with the detection and punishment OF
lawbreakers in the Old Dominion.
The decrease in actual crime Is
placed at a greater figure than 90 per
cent because many convictions now
are for violations Of liquor laws,
which, before November !. 1915. were
not c1assed as crimes and which were
not punishable.
Superintendent ]. B. Woods of the
Virginia State penitentiary gave sta
tistics which show that inmates OF
his institution are rapidly decreasing
since the advent of prohibition.
Whether this was due to the aridity
Of the State he could not say. In
1915, the last full year of legalised
whiskey selling, 957 persons were ad-
mitted to the penitentiary for va
rious felonies.
4s5 DROP FOR 1917.
In 1915, the last two months of
which were "dry," 1913 persons were
admitted. In 1917, the hrst full year
of prohibition in Virginia, this num-
Der dropped to 495. In 1918 it was
466 and in 1919 and 1920 1t was less
than this. Major Woods declared. al
though he could not give the exact
figures.
An analysis of the records Of Jail
commitments in the various counties
and cities Of Virginia for the first
nine months Of 1915, just prior to the
advent of Statewide prohibition,
shows 81 ,932. Jail commitments for
the first nine months of 1917 SHOWS
13,267, a falling off of S,665. even
,,ol. - ~
Mapp act are taken into consideration.
OF the 13,267 persons given jail sem
tences in this period 1920 were sent
for violations of the Mapp act and
given terms appregating 1919 months
and fifteen days. Fines of $71,975
were also imposed upon liquor law
violators, while $40 defendants were
acquitted.
In all the cities Of Virginia a de-
crease in crimes punishable by Jail
sentences was shown, the largest
being Richmond, with 1852; Norfolk.
with 1.21O, and Lynchburg, with 1,OO2.
Norfolk county showed an increase of
2S1 cases, and Augusta county of 13S
after prohibition went into effect.
"wAR-TIME" ACT HELPED.
A similar decrease in crime is
shown In the two Federal courts Of
Virginia since wartime" prohibition
went into effect on July 1, 1919.
There was no perceptible decrease of
offenses against the Federal Govern
ment in Virginia Immediately subse-
quent to the Mapp act becoming ef-
fective.
In the eastern district of Virginia
crimes against the United States near
ly tripled during the war. Assistant
United States Attorney Henry R Mil
Ter, of Richmond, attributed that in
crease in crime to the presence in the
district of over 10000 more persons
of q class which are prone to violate
laws. In the western district crime
actually fell off.
In the fiscal year ending June 30.
1917, 40 persons were convicted and
fines of $9,762 assessed in the eastern
district. In the western district lis
persons were convicted and fines of
$1O,540.18 assessed-
For the fiscal year ending June 80,
1918. when the war was at its height,
376 persons were convicted and $751;
300 assessed in the eastern district,
with fifty-three convictions and fines
Of $5,49714 for the western district
ONLY 2s7 IN 1920.
For the nscal year ending June 30,
lblO, fOo pCTsoHS WCIC COHNluCSu anu
fines of $47.S75.50 assessed in the
Eastern District, while 120 persons
were convicted and fnes of $S,437.79
assessed in the Western District.
In the fiscal year ending June 80
1920, only 262 persons were convicted
in the Eastern District and fines of
S32,530 assessed. In the Western
District 11S persons were convicted
and fines Of only $11,6s0.40 assessed.
Assistant District Attorney Miller
declares that, while statistics for the
current year haven't been compiled yet,
prosecutions have been cut in half
since last June.
Samuel r. Bran, Federal Prohibi-
tion supervisor for the Southern De-
partment, comprising the states of
Virginia. Tennessee, Kentucky, North
and South Carolina, declared that
many law violations are the direct re-
suit of leniency by courts in liquor
law violations.
Small fines and no sentences en-
courage violation of whiskey laws, he
said and men who violate one law
with impunity, in a very short time,
have utter disregard for all laws.
Heavy fines and long prison sentences
would protect the taxpaying public,
he said, and very materially assist in
the enforcement Of all laws.