New Britain herald., 1927-05-07
MOONSHlNE RANKS
 CONTINUE FILLED
Hope of Profits Springs Eternal
 in Human Breasts

Despite the passing of the years since the sale of alcoholic beverages
 was prohibited by law. it Is very we'll understood that men of drink ing habits'' in every part of the
 country continue to be able to
 ouench their thirst when they wish
 to, whether they do their drinking
 at home, at their clubs. or in the
 corner grocery store. In New Brit
 ain the police have been vigilant in
 enforcing the law and as a result
 many thousands of dollars have
 been received in fines and numerous violators have gone to jail for per-
 sisting in remaining in the busi- ness after having had a warning Tn the form of raids
 The question naturally arises as to the reasons storekeepers are so ready and willing to risk prosecu- 'tion time after time. and why does not the fate of their acquaintances and themselves tend to keep them away from the forbidden traffic. It has been proven that whereas some bootleggers have found their business highly profitable and no longer fear anything but the prob ability of a term in jail. others who have tried to do business in a small way have failed miserably and for their trouble have nothing to show except worry, publicity. and In some instances. disgrace.
 Many Excuses Offered
 Police department and court records supply the answer, or rather answers, for there are different req sons for the persistency shown In different cases. There is. for ex- ample. the case of the woman who pleaded for leniency on the ground that she was unable to clothe and feed her children properly after her husband died, and she felt that her circumstances justified the business she was engaged in. So open was the violation, however, that the po- lice had little trouble obtaining the evidence necessary for conviction and eventually the widow. after having paid fine and costs amounting to far more than the profits she had realized. was obliged to take other means of ob- taining a livelihood for herself and her dependents.
 Numerous cases have been heard in local police court. of violators who admit after they were caught, that sickness in their families forced them to assume financial burdens of such weight that they could not resist the temptation pre- sented by the chance to sell liquor under cover. As might be expected. the business went well for a time. but eventually the police obtained the evidence and when the fine and costs were paid, in addition to the attorneys fees the lesson in eco- monies was complete.
 Others "Got Away With It"
 More than once have the police heard the excuse: Well. so-and-so 1 got away with it. 50 thought I'd ! take chance" It has often hap pened that while one place was op- erating with apparent success, oth- CTS were being swooped down upon. the police had looked over l the ground and found it difficult If | not impossible to obtain the re- quired approach, and rather than give advance notice of their plans. they had decided to assume the ap- pearance of ignorance of the activi. ties of the man or woman in l charge of the successful place. soon- CT or later, however. the raid came, and in many instances the visits of | tA police have been SO numerous after the first successful trip that the nerves of the owner could stand the strain no longer and the place either went out of existence or was taken over by a new owner.