The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1935-03-21
JUDGE SCORES FLAGRANT
LIQUOR LAW VIOLATIONS
CONTINUED from Page One)


any of the members of this grand
jury know of any persons who are ad-
dicted to the habit it will give you
some clue as to what turn your inves-
legations should take.
"You are required under the law to
examine the books of the County
Treasurer to see whether they are be-
ing properly kept and whether the
monies he is required to have on hand
are on hand and available for public
use. Necessarily the investigation of
this matter on your part must be more
or less superficial, as it would require
a long accounting to check up IN de-
tail as to the actual situation. What
YOU must do is to see as far as posi-
Bile that the books appear to be IN
proper shape and that the amounts
called for on their face, feast, are
available. AS a matter of fact, public
accountants employed by the State
do make Investigations from time to
time and they make rather detailed
report and examination, but at any
rate YOU should examine the books in
order to ascertain as far as possible
that they are being properly kept.
"The constables of the county are
required to report to you on the sec
ond day of each term and some valua-
BILE information may be acquired by
the grand jury from this source as
to conditions in the various sections
of the county.
81 am not required by law to call
to your attention the matter of the
carving of concealed weapons, but so
many major violations of law are oc-
consider it smart to arm themselves
casioned by the fact that many men
with deadly and dangerous weapons
and later on get into serious trouble
by reason of this practice. While there
may be no intention of committing
crimes by offenders, the results of
such actions are in many instances
so grave that we can not regard this
form of violation in any but a serious
way and those who are found guilty of
carrying deadly weapons we think
ought to be severely dealt with.
''In this county there is in effect
what is known as the Local Option
Law, which the people of the county,
by their ballots, have declared to be
the law of the county and under this
law it is a violation to sell or possess
for purposes of sale spirituous or
fermented liquors or lager beer con-
tanning more than two percent of al
cohol. 1t is notorious that this law is
being flagrantly violated in Garrett
county, and particularly in this town,
and there are some places in this town
where beer of higher alcoholic content
than the law permits is being hauled
in by the truck load. 1t is also notori-
Gus that where such beer is being dis
posed of that alcoholic liquors are also
being dispensed and are being bought
in large quantities by whomsoever
wants to purchase them. These viola
tons by these people have become
more or less of by-word in the coun-
ty, and particularly in this town. The
evidence ought to be available to you,
and before you adjourn I think you
ought to give this matter your serious
attention. The people of this county
have spoken in the most solemn way
and their will, as expressed by their
votes, says that this must not be done.
1 think the evidence will be accessible
to you to make a thorough and COM
plete investigation of these offenses
and to return indictments against
those guilty of the offense of handling
Intoxicating liquors in violation of the
Local Option Law of Garrett county.
"You will also likely be informed of
gambling devices which are said to be
operated in these places and are habit
ually played by many persons in this
town who frequent such places. If the
will of the people of the county is to
be given any effect at all it can only be
given effect through action by the
grand jury, and think I know enough
about the character of the men who
compose this grand jury to say that
this matter will not be overlooked.
During the past eight years, since
1 have been on the bench, it has been
the custom for Judge Doub and my
self to take week about at every term
of court with perhaps two exceptions
during that time. For instance, if l
should charge the grand jury at the
opening of a term of court, Judge
Doub appeared here the following
~ 80. ts,