Milford chronicle., 1923-11-23
BE FAIR AND GET
FULL INFORMATION
State Highway Police Must Follow
The Law In Performance Of
Their Sworn Duties.
IT IS EASY TO CRITICISE
But Those Who First Criticise Must
Get Straight Information And
Then Go Ahead.

In Milford there has been more or
less criticism by some citizens of the
State Highway Police, because addi-
tiOnal charges were not lodged in the
case last week, where a party of four
or five persons were located on the
State Boulevard, near FELTON,, with an
automobile, the driver being in a state
of intoxication. The case was before
Esquire Truitt, with Thomas Frame,
Esq, of Dover, as council for the de-
PENDANTS, who advised that plea of
non Vult," which is technical plea
of guilty, be made to the charge of
driving an automobile on the highway
while in a state of intoxication. This
was done and a fine of $4,000 was
imposed-which was paid promptly.
The criticism by citizens of the po-
lice were made, because of the fact
that three or four bottles of what was
supposed to be whiskey, were found
in the car, which was stopped along
the boulevard, and three of the men
were standing at the roadside, when
the State Highway Police arrived and
made the arrest.
It was part of the criticism, that
the officers were unduly Influenced
and prevented from making addition
al charges, of illegal transportation
of liquor and having liquor in pos
session Illegally" so as to escape
forfeiture of automobile and further
fines.
Investigation of this case at the
headquarters of the State Highway
Police at Dover, brought out the fol-
lowing facts:
The officer who came upon the car
and its occupants, reported that the
driver and one other of the party was
placed under arrest; the driver for
operating an automobile while under
the influence of liquor and the other
man for disorderly conduct. Later in
Milford these men were assessed with
fines and cost, which were paid, in
both cases.
The bottles found in the car with
their contents, were taken by the po-
lice and guarded until they could be
submitted to a chemist for tests.
This was turned over to the chemist
and after the report of the analysis
is received. The STUFF will be turned
over to the States Attorney for such
action as his department may care to
take against those known to have
been members of the party in which
the liquor was found.
This clearly sets forth why the
Highway Policeman did not bring a
charge against all the members of the
party for transporting liquor This
particular technicality of the law pre-
vented this being done, as the car
and it's occupants when found by the
policeman, was parked along the
roadside with three of the party out
of the car at that time.
Evidence in court must be sustain
ed by facts if jury is to render a
verdict; for that reason an analysis
of the contents of the bottles had to
be made to establish its character, be-
fore the charge can be backed up |
with irrefutable evidence.
1t is all right for the public to Gre
ate public interest in this and other
cases, for public welfare, and it all
depends upon the Attorney Generals |
Department, as to what further move
ment will be made-not the Highway
Police-for they have performed their
duties fully by making the arrests
and presenting the charges to the
courts.