The American issue. [volume] (Westerville, Ohio) 1912-19??, 1923-01-12
Reports Show That Fines Assessed Average Only Third
of Maximum Under State Law
NEED OF MORE JAIL SENTENCES APPARENT In REPORTS:
FINES OFTEN REPRESENT A SMALL PART OF PROFITS
Injunction Seems Be Almost Forgotten Effective Means Of Stopping
Booleggrs
NATIONAL SURVEY INDICATES MANY JAIL SENTENCES In COURTS

With the end of the third year of
Prohibition at hand, it is interesting
to note the increase Ill effectiveness of
enforcement For long time most
of the news reports dealing with liq
uor violations merely told OF raids and
arrests. Now news items from all
over the state and nation speak more
OF convictions. This is one of the most
hopeful indications OF the ultimate
success of Prohibition,
A report from Washington shows
that indictments ana criminal informa-
tions for liquor violations filed in the
Federal courts the past year, totaled
45,444.
The report says that through active
cooperation between the Prohibition
unit and the department OF justice.
there have been 1928 convictions in
Federal courts. Judges throughout
the country are imposing heavy jail
sentences, in addition to fines, these
jail sentences having salutary effect
upon violators.
1t is further set forth in the report
that there has not been greater
activity among violators, but greater
efficiency in their apprehension
Making Moonshine "Scarcer"
Newspaper clipping from throughout
Illinois show some heavy fines are be-
ing assessed against bootleggers ard
numerous Jail sentences are being i'm
posed. Here is sample from the
Alton Times
The jury returned verdict of guilty
under only one counr OF the informa-
..s:. -TI.ssirsd sdsss. night. 4lcas 2 90
o'clock. At the converting of court,
Friday morning, Judge Chapman
passed judgment on the verdict, ifn-
posing fine of 81 900 and six months
in jail and ordered that he stand com
nitted to the county Jail until fine and
costs are paid This sets a precedent
as being the highest nnc imposed in
our local courts for the making of
moonsh ne, and in addition to the
money fine is the six months Jail SEN
tence "Moonshine' is very liable to
be scarcer in Jersey county hereafter.
Temof, being unable 10 pay his fine,
will be boarder al the county jail
for long time.
Penalties Provioed by Law
More sentences like that imposed by
Judge Chapman in ,ne above case
would undoubtedly make moonshne
scarcer throughout the state. A study
of the cases reported in the press
shows that sentences as heavy as the
above are exceptional. There is no
reason in law why they should be ex-
ceptional The Illinois Prohibition
Act makes the following provisions
for the punishment of violators:
Sec. 50. (A) Any person who manu-
factures, transports, or sells liquor in
violation of this act snail for a first
offense be fined not less than $4,000
nor more than $1,000, or be imprison-
ed not less than sixty days nor more
than six months or both and for a
second or subsequent offense shall be
fined not less than $4,000 nor more
than Sl,500.00 and u- imprisoned in
the state penitentisry not less than one
year nor more than two years.
That the maximum penalty is
seldom imposed is shown in the follow
ing reports selected at random from
newspapers from all over Illinois: