The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-12-10
The Liquor Riot In Maine.


FIRST FRUITS OF THE coERcIvK MEASURES TO
ENFORCE THE LAW TO ABOLISH THE SALE OF
The following acsount of riot which occurred at
Frankfort, Maine, on the 4th instant, is given in
IN extra from the Office of the Reps6icaw Journal,
published at Belfast, Maine
ERousLEs USDER THE LIQUOR LAw-REsIsrAScE TO AN ATT
TEMPT TO MAKE sEIzuRE STEAMER BOSTON
SEVERAL MEN NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. BOAT,
ARREST Of TtE OFFICERS ANb CREW:
We have to record the first violent attempt to
resist the seizure of liquors which has occurred
under the new law in the State. The facts. as We
learn them from sources deemed the most reliable,
are as Yellowstone men in Boston consigned
quantity of liquor to some persons in Penobscot
county. AS we learn, part OF the consignees we're
Licensed to sell under the new law: The liquor was
sent down to Frankfort (now the head OF psnobscot
navigation,) per steamer Boston, and it arrived
there on Wednesday morning On leaving the
boat, the captain, Thomas SandiordD gave direc-
tions to land freight, Tor, at least the liquor,)
until the freight charges were paid; and he himself
The friends of temperance in Frankfort, who are
most active in enforcing the law, took out war;
rants, which were put in possession of Deputy
Sheriff Miles Staples, with directions to seize the
liquor. With some Of the friends of the temper
ance law, he proceeded to the boat, where he was
told by tho mate (Mr McNally),, of the directons
rations until Thursday morning We are told
that they were permitted to examine the liquor,
and that they then left the boat, whether With any
show OF resistance we do not know
.
large number Of voluntary assistants again ap.
peared. Mr.. LOOMS Taylor, the agent Of the
boat At Bangor, was then present The captain
had not returned. There was another request to
delay until his return determination was made
on the part OF the boa 5 not TO suffer the liquor
to be removed, but the party for the seizure COM
menced in some form an attempt to take the
liquor. general melee ensued, in which the
Ieadiest weapons at hand were used very freely
There are various rumors to which party COM
united the first actual violence after which the
dght became general. All such weapons as were
ready at hand were used. The general result was
that the friends Of Temperance beaten of, and
the iquer was not taken. Officer Staples was very
severely injured, so that his reoovery deemed to
be doubtful. Also Mr.. VIM Chase, of Frankfort
who was last evening reported TO be dead; also q
man by the nome Of Carlton, understood to be in
ured and on the other 81 10, two Of the boats
crew. Soon after these proceedings the Boston
started on her return voyage to Boston An express
had come from Frankfort to this place with war
rants for arrests on board the b On her arrival at
3 o'clock, she was boarded by High Sheriff VIM
Rust, and Dep. Sheriff H. w. Cunningham. No
discovery of the persons was at FIRST made, and
the search seemed on the point of being discon-
:inued The boat swung from the wharf with Mr..
Aust still on board, demanding more thorough
search and the detention of the boat. Officer Cum
bingham again went on board, and Mr.. Rust ask
ed for an additional force, (as there were ample
appearances of resstance,) but no one went. The
boat parted her stern line and weus down the bay
short distance. But by order Of the Officers she
returned to the wharf The men were discovered,
and after much mannuvrng, but 40 violense, were
arrested in the evening.
!, Capt SANFORD has given bail for IS 900. Tho
mate and crew are in the jail The captain has
entered protest against the detention Of his boat,
which cannot 60 on. Most OF the passengers have
gone on via Watervills. The crew are to have
an examination to morrow morning:-W. Da
Wis, ESQ., for the prosecution; A. T. Pal
defence. Mr.. Losmis Taylor. the agent of the
boat at Bangor, is arrested IL is reported-how
truthfully We know not-thaL Mr. T. ordered the
crew to resist to extremites the liquor has been
seized at this place, and all taken from the boat
The legal bearings of the whole matter, those who
are familiar with the law must judge for them
selves Great excitement still prevails though it is
20 DC hoped that the affair may end without any
further violence dangerous TO tuman life.
The Bangor Duly Mercury, OF tao 9TH, in al
ludipg to this affair, says
The present liquor law is n stringent law, so
much so, that at the first 1t was not believed 1t
would be sustained BY prudent management, it
doing great good. Is it not better, under this
law, to avoid all cases where there is Q
question about legal rignts-to keep within
the letter of the statute rasher than overstrain
it and arouse the opposition of many who are
its advocates We are afraid there Is zea
that Is not according to kno~lodge, and, sside
from tho immediate evils resulting from this
ARRAY at Frankfort to the Immediate parties
we deprecate the sad affair account OF its injur
GUS tendency to the law itself The law has been
continuously enforced in this city Large quaint
tes OF LIQUORS have been taken from the st9reh0uSe
of the steamer Boston, and no oppos ton been made
on the part Of the officers agent Of the boat.
Everything has been conducted gentlemably on both
sides, and IL is somewhat singular that at the very
first landing Of the same steamer at Frankfort, this
dreadful affair should have ensued Wherever the
blame is In this affair we shall endeavor to speak
out boldly, nor shall we screen any one, Whatever
his position or ON whichever side he has acted.
! There was rumor ia the city last evening that
one OF the injured men dead. but 1t proves in
corect and it is probable that there will be loss
OF life
Tho Boston left Frankfort at IL o'clock, and on
arriving a. BelfaIt, officers Russ and Cunningham
vent on board to make arrests. The captain,
mate, and crew were arrested aud Capt. Sanford
gave bail in the sum of $1,000. The boat was
thus detained, aud great excitement prevailed at
Belfast.
LOOMS Taylor, the agent Of the boat, was ar
rested In ths city last night, and taken to Belfast
In order bat the whole matter. may be better
understood, Ne append synopsis Of the Maine
Liquor Law TT provides, 1s., 81 and 3D. That no
person shall be allowed to sell intoxicating liquors.
town, and Mayor, &c, Of the city, "for mechani-
chal and medicinal purposes. and no other, unless
such appoiptso gives q bond ard surities, 10 the
penalty OF $500, not to sell for other purposes.
e. IL any person, clerk or agent, sells contrary TO
the above provision, shall forfeit the LIST convic
ion $40 and costs, ON the % go and costs, and
the Sd and every subsequent conviction $50 and
costs, and imprisonment not less than three months,
nor moro than six months.
5. Penalties recoverable by action Of debt, &c.,
and IL a selectman OF alderman, &c, shall endorse
his approval Of the writ, defendant shall recover no
costs in any event and the selcotmen, &c, are re-
quired TO suits when notified of breach Of
the law.
o There shall be no appeal unless bond Of $500
ia pay costs and penalty in the court appealed to,
and to prosecute tho appeal-and like bond that
be will not sell until tho appeal rs dc hied, and the
defendant shall be held TO advance tho Jury fee
appeal, and in case Of fual conviction defendant
shall suffer double the amount Of fines, cost aud i'm
prisonment.
Z. II the selectmen notify the sppointee afore-
said of q complaint Of the brea:h Of his boad, he
shall stop selling forthwith.
:. Similar penalties for manufacturing as for
sclling--to be recovered by seirc fa,i1s, Sc.
o All liquor sellers inco mpetent jurors in cases
under the act. The judge may question him aud
u be refuse to answer, he shall be discharged, and