The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1935-03-05
THE VOYAGE OF LIFE
JUDGE oGLESBY IDENTIFIES
ENEMY NO. ONE

Judge John NJ Oglesby, Of Concord, VINO
is presiding in Henderson Superior court
in his charge to the grand jury on conVen-
ing the court yesterday, listed the lndlHer-
ence of good citizens to the problems OF
law enforcement as Public Enemy NO. L
in North Carolina.
Judge Oglesby is making commence
able effort to discharge his duty in seeking
to impress members of the grand jury with
the obligation that rests upon them in this
connection, and an equally commendable
effort to call law-observing citizens from
their wanderings in the wilderness of in
difference to an attitude of deeper and
more active interest in law enforcement.
Judge Oglesby quoted figures on law
lessness in North Carolina in recent years
which are simply appalling. No doubt
these figures and the accompanying rec
ords have been quoted many times before,
by judges, public speakers, and in the
newspapers; but the information has fallen
on deaf ears and been placed before blind
eyes The majority of our citizens-cltl-
zens who are not guilty Of violating the
laws themselves-have simply been deaf
and blind and dumb and indifferent when
confronted with the problems of lawless-
ness in their State.
Many citizens take the position that they
have discharged their full duty when they
have balloted for law enforcement officers;
and that after election it becomes the duty
of these elected officers to shoulder the en-
tire burden of law enforcement and carry
on without any cooperation from law-abid-
ing citizens Some otherwise good citizens
go so far, when OCCASION arises, in which
they have personal interest, as to become
obstructionists of law enforcement. They
do this by seeking to influence the course
of law enforcement, or by seeking Glenn
ency for offenders who have been con-
victed.
Better law enforcement cannot be had
without the cooperation Of law enforce
ment agencies and officers and law-observ-
ing citizens. LawlessnesS has reached such
proportions in the State that it will not be
curbed or eliminated except by the COM
bined efforts of public officials and that
great body of citizens who obey the laws.
Good citizens must bring the power OF
their active influence and efforts to bear
along with their example of law observ-
ance, and become directly interested in
law enforcement, letting the criminal
classes feel the weight of their active eff
forts in backing up the law officers and
courts. This, yof course, will involve a de-
cided change on the part of many citizens
in their attitude to law enforcement and
cooperation with the authorities. !
One who is thoroughly informed as to
conditions IN Henderson county is author
ity for the statement that around five per
cent. of the population belongs to the Grim
inal classes and that this five per cent. re-
wolves through the courts of the county,
the same law breakers coming into court
again and again. The class is composed OF
those who make, sell and drink liquor, gam
BILE, steal, fight, and are guilty of various
other crimes The habitual criminals furn-
ish the greater part of the grist for the
criminal courts mills. The Times-News'
informant says that if this class could be
eliminated in Henderson county there
would be little use for the county Jail and
the criminal courts would have so little
business they might be forced to close up,
too. incidentally, this gentleman estimates