PROHIBITION EVADERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 4 December 1929, Page 7

PROHIBITION EVADERS

WORK FOR U.S.A. COURTS. (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) WASHINGTON, December 3. According to the annual report of the Department of Justice, during the fiscal year of 1929 more than 21,000 persons were sent to gaol or to prison for violations of the Prohibition laws, they serving an average sentence of 147 days. During the year 56,786 criminal .prosecutions were instituted, of which 56,455 terminated in 47,100 convictions and in 1477 acquittals. The fines totalled 1,476,300 dollars. There were 4,885 jury trials, and 43,183 pleas of guilty. The time of sentences totalled 8663 years. One of the most notable gains was in the “padlock” or injunction proceedings. BRITAIN MORE SOBER. (Received December 4, 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 3. Britain’s thirst is being increasingly quenched by tea and less by beer. The latter for the year ended March 31 amounted to 20,000,000 standard barrels, which is the lowest since the duty was raised in 1920-21, whereas tea increased 2 per cent., to a total of 412,000,000 lbs. The severity of the winter accounted for a sudden-jump in the use of whisky to a total of 13,000,000 proof gallons, but wine declined.