Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise., 1938-04-01
COIINTY CG!IRT CONFINED
ON MONDAY LAST
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of gambling tables and devices will
exert their influence against enforce
ment and it ought to be expected of
people who are operating legitimate
enterprises, parents who have children
and people who believe in protecting
the welfare of the community will
exert their influence in favor of en-
forcement. However, if it be true
that such state Of apathy exists, still
this affords no legitimate excuse to
anyone to permit violations.
"In this connection we direct your
attention to the newspaper reports to
the effect that during the Summer of
1887 gambling raids were made at
Ocean City, with the result that there
were a number of prosecutions in
stituted in magistrates courts, and
we charge you to inquire as to the
names of those arrested for these vio-
lations, what disposition was made of
their cases and what became of the
gambling devices confiscated, what
disposition was made of the monies,
if any, found in the devices, and what
fines and forfeitures were imposed.
Likewise, we direct our attention
to newspaper reports that gambling
raid was conducted at Pocomoke City
a month or so ago and we also charge
you to make like investigation of
this incident.
eve charge you to make detailed
report of these raids and any other
raids which have been recently made,
in order that it may be public re-
cord and the information available
to the citizens of the county and state.
"In addition, if you find cause in
this connection to indict for violations
of the anti-gambling statutes, such
should be done. For the purpose of
such Investigations you are entitled to
have brought before you any public
officials of the county and state hav-
ing knowledge of these matters, as
well as all private citizens thought to
have information bearing upon the
subject, and for that purpose your
judgment will teach you the impracti-
bility of examining witnesses in
body and the advisibility of separate
examinations of witnesses.
eve likewise direct your attention
to the law against the sale of "hard
liquors" in this county except by the
county dispensaries. The sale of such
over a bar Or in any other manner,
except at the dispensary stores, is for
bidden. If you find any violations of
this law, indictments of the parties
charged with such violations should
be returned. Likewise, we call to
your notice the law aginst the sale
of beer or light wines unless proper
license for that purpose is in effect
at the time Of sale.
"The annual report of the State
Board of Welfare indicates that dur
ing the fiscal year ending September
80, 1897 one hundred and forty per-
sons were committed to the House of
Correction by Justices of the Peace
of Worcester County. That report al
so discloses that during the same per-
iod from no other county in the State
did the number of prisoners commit
ted to the House of Correction by mag
istrates exceed seventy-two, although
there are number of counties having
populations far in excess of that of
Worcester County.
"This induces the inquiry as to
whether crime is more prevalent in
our county than in other counties or
whether prosecutions in Worcester
County is more efficient or whether
the magistrates of the county are
more severe in their penalties than
those of other sections of the State.
We recommend that you investigate
this situation and report your find
ings.
eve are asking that you file your
report as ii your findings as to the
matters specially called to your atten-
tion. Previous grand juries have not
followed this practice, although it is
an established practice in many other
counties of the State and is undoubt-
edly the proper course, thereby giving
to officials and members of the public
the benefit of your observations and
recommendations.
you are anxious to complete the grand
"Now, gentlemen, doubtless many of
jury work and return to your busi-
nesses.. On the other hand, we are
sure that you are equally anxious to
perform the duty the performance of
which you now undertake not in per-