The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1923-03-27
DRY OFFICERS HOT
AFTER TRAVELLERS
HARASS INNOCENT PERSONS
WHO KNOW THEIR RIGHTS.
INSIST ON SEARCHING.

ATLANTA, Ga.-An illustration OF
the experiences people travelling from
one city to another through the coun-
try are having with the prohibition
enforcement forces was told here to-
day by Macon contractor who ranks
as probably one of the largest enter
prises in that line of business in the
southern portion of the country. -
The gentleman, in leaving Macon,
had someone back into the rear OF his
car and smash the tail light. Being
pressed for time, he came through the
country before having it fixed and
en- route to Atlanta, picked up Tech
professor, who was riding with him
when they reached the outskirts OF
the city.
The car was halted and two offl-
GERS stepped up. informing the con-
tractor that they believed he had liq-
uor in the car and were going to
search it. He replied he did not have
liquor in the car, never had had any
By chance one of the officers knew
the Tech professor with the contrac-
tor. The professor gave the officer his
word there was nothing at all wrong
with the car and, after some hesita-
ton, they allowed the car to proceed
Hardly a block had been Travelled
when two more officers stopped the
car, in rough, commanding tone, IN
formed the contractor he was suspect
ed of having liquor in his car, and the
officers were going to search the car
AS in the first case the reply was CIV
en- that the officers were mistaken
there was no liquor in the car, but
they were not to be satisfied and in
sisted they were going to make
search, whether it was agreeable OF
not.
The expressed attitude of the con-
tractor was that maybe the car was
going to be searched, but it would be
only when the two alleged othcerS
were proven capable Of showing they
together could make one better thar
than the contractor. Still, however
thew were insistent, and one OF the
officers reached for the car door tc
open it when, in unmistakable man
ner, the contractor offered the ina
warning that it would not be healthy
to open that particular door-and
wasn't opened.
A third officer, it seems, joined the
other two, and, after listening IN or
the conversation volunteered the IN
formation that he guessed he woulo
lust make a case out against the con
tractor for driving at night without
tail light.
81 guess | shall have to submit tt
that" replied the contractor, since
the tail light on the car was smash
ed when l was leaving Macon, and .
haven't had an opportunity yet t.
have it fixed"
That's your hard luck" was tn
| officers consolation, and you Nigh
get by the judge with that in thu
morning"
The contractor was arrested. III
was at first refused an opportunity
to make arrangements for his release
and finally when the check of one o
the most prominent hotel men in thu
state was offered that was declined
but finally he got out of the clutches
and went to bed-with the thought
he says, that what the circus man sale
about life is true.
The gentleman in the case is quite
prominent business man, one whose
name is recognized over the whole
state and beyond its borders. But i
was just one of the numerous IN
stances of the kind furnishing lately
multiplicity of the same complaint