OCR Text |
Show Liquor Dealers and Informers. It is said that certain of tho saloonkeepers saloon-keepers havo entered into a compact, or formed on association for self-protection, which protection gos so far as to administer summary corporal punishment to those who inform upon up-on them for violations of municipal ordinances, snch as selling liquor after 10 o'clock, p. m. the hour fixed by law for closing saloons and on the Sabbath day. It ia to be hoped this is not the case, or if such a compact com-pact has been made, the parties to it will not attempt to carry it into effect, especially as regards personal voilence to others. If they do the perpetrators will certainly get themselves them-selves into serious trouble. It will not win, in a civilized community, for private persona to take the law into their own hands, and particular-I particular-I ly will it bo a losing game when they adopt such measures to protect themselves them-selves in carrying on a fraudulent trade or violating the statutes and rules which govern and protect society. Notwithstanding the rumor to that eflect, it is hardly probable that such a society docs exist; certain it is if there is one its numbers are limited, as the majority of those engaged in the liquor traffic here aro men who ' would scorn to connect themselves 1 with an unlawful compact of that i character. ' A non-ofhcial informer, m every community, is looked upon in anything any-thing but a favorable light. He is usually considered a depraved individual indi-vidual who is not only held as unworthy un-worthy the common respect which is due to ordinarily honest members of society, but is viewed as an object to be shunned and despised by the masses. Whether this universal condemnation con-demnation is just or otherwise makei little difference; society has always set a black mark upon a private citizen who secures the confidence of another to such an extent as that the latter will break a law in bis presence, ana men, eitner lor gain or to gratify a personal feeling, report the case of the ofionder to tho officers. offi-cers. But however low and despicable despica-ble the business of an informer may be considered, it is not a crime; and it frequently occurs that police and other officers are compelled to employ em-ploy such tools to protect society in ferreting out and bringing to justic e the violators of law. The case of the young man Walden brings this subject before the public. We understand Walden proffered his services to the police to detect and give evidence against certain saloon keepers who were in the habit of disposing dis-posing of liquor on Sunday. Last Sunday he succeeded in catching two of the dcalera, and on Monday ht gave the testimony in the police court upon which the ealoon men were adjudged guilty and finad $50 each. The Bame evening he was attacked, and at the door of the police station was bo 'severely bruised and beaten that his death may result from the injuries sustained, in which case murder will have been committed. i. uia puts u serious puiwso upuu iut affair, and calls for vigorous, decisive action upon the part of the authorities. authori-ties. Five men, two of whom are owners of the saloon where the unlawful un-lawful trade was carried on last Sunday, Sun-day, wero arrested on the charge of beating Walden, were tried, and by a jury of their countrymen were acquitted, ac-quitted, hence it must considered they were not guilty of tie charge. But some one is guilty, and who ever he is he should be made to Buffer the penalty prescribed for his serious crime. Men should and must be taught that they cannot, with impunity im-punity commit such acts, even though the unfortunate victim is the hated informer; and the police ought not and doubtless will not give o'er tho search until the right man has been "spotted" and brought to judgment. |