Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1855-06-27
THE LIQUOR RIOT IN PORTLAND.

of the Mayor and Alderman Brooks
and Carleton to make all the the necessary +
for putting the agency INTO opera
ton.
10 facilitate matters against the time when the
room should be ready and it being strictly within
the line of their duties, the committee negotiated
with an importer in New York for the purchase
of liquors in the original packages, stating IN
what capcity they acted. The liquors were hnaiiy
sent invoiced 10 the City Agency of Portland
which invocate has been accepted by the Alder
men Whatever has been done by Mr.. Dow has /
been done under this vote of the Board of Alder
men passed May 3, 1888. as member OF the |
committee appointed by the Board, and in
conjunction with the other members.
lie neither bought the liquors on his own
account, nor paid the money for them. nor kept |
them in his own possession: but he acted
throughout as member of this committee,
regularly appointed by the Board OF Aldermen
Thus the liquors Were obtained IN the manner
required by law, were received and taken IN
possession the law provides, and for the
use and benefit of the city
The assertions OF the State OF Maine. therefore,
as far as they conflict with the above, utterly
groundiess and false.
In the afternoon of Saturday, Immediately on
the opening OF the Police Court, Royal Williams,
Joshua Stephens, and ALVIN S. Dyer, appeared
before the court for the purpose, as Mr. W liiams
stated, of making a complaint against Mayor
Dow for having liquors unlawfully In his posses
sion. 81 .ss.ea g95e
They were accompanied by an officer (alr-f
Bradley,) and there soon appeared IN the court
! room dozen or fifteen OF our citizens, well known
as bitter opponents of the liquor law. But the
| Judge looked into the law and satisfied himself IN
| a moment that his duty under the circumstances
was explicit and obligatory. lie Immediately
therefore put the complainants under oath, and
required II they could conscientiously swear that
they had reason TO believe, and did believe, that
the specified liquors were kept by MIR. Dow, and
were intended for sale within the State IN VIOLA
ton of the law"
They hesitated at first but Mr.. Williams having
made substantially the same statements which
had appeared in the State of Maine and Argus
finally said they ready TO take requisite oath
aud sign the complaint; and these three men
made the solemn oath and signed the complaint.
The judge at once proceeded to make out the
warrant, When IL finished n. handed 1t to
Deputy Marshall Ring, who was present at the
time. with orders to execute 1t. III should here be
stated that these warrants have invariably been
given to the City Marshall or his deputies in
preference TO other officers, because the former
being on salaries, make out their costs TO the
city, instead Of having them accrue, as IN the
of DINER officers, to themselves, thus saving
the amount to the city treasury.
But in this proceeding the receip of the warrant
| by officer HING appeared TO occasion a sudden
disappointment to the compliments and their
friends. Mr.. Williams stepped forward and
demanded the arrant The court informed him
| it given in the usual manner into the hands
of competent ficer, who would no doubt pro-
perly attend to it execution. Mr.. Williams again
demanded it, asse, ting his right to it of the
complainans. he told he had made his
complaint, taken his oath, affixed his signature
and there was more for him to do until the
! day of trail. Mr.. Williams then demanded the
warrant of officer Ring, who referred the matter
! fhpr md no lot la thaa II.
as before.
| Mr. Williams then began talking in bois
ferrous manner, but informed that he would
be expelled rom the court room unless he dessted
The compainants and their friends quietly
disappeared. Officer Ring then went to the cellar
IN the City Hall, where the liquors were deposit
ed, and took possession OF them ander the
waI rant, which he now retains lie would have
arrested Mayor Dow Saturday afternoon If
there had been time for trail-Mr. Williams also
suggested to the court ample time should be
given Tor the trial-As the officer arrived
at the City Hall, large crowd be gan to assemble
round the building, with all the demonstrations OF
disturbance
! At the fact of officer Rings having the warrant
they manifested the same indig nant disappointment
which had been displayed by the omplainants
" neither this large crowd, so made up and so
assembled at that critical moment, evidences pre-
concerted movement TO rotously get possession
of the liquors, in the event OF officer Brady
executing the warrant-we leave every fair mind
to decide The facts are undeniable
| Certain it is that that body OF disorderly men
were there for no good or lawful purpose and The
| fact that they assembled IN SO short period OF
/ time after the warrant issued would indicate
i that they must have had some previous know
! ledge OF intimation of the proceedings.
/ AT an early hour in the evening there was
iarse crowd around the building-A little after
ciocE. the Marshal with some six eight of
the police. armed with pistols, entered the room
where the liquors stored. About half past
/ 3, the mob began TO throw stones against the
door on Congress street breaking out the glass in
the upper part of he door. The Marshal then
gave orders TO the police to keep on either side OF
the door, to be OF reach of any stones
! that might come in, and pot fire their pistols
until some one should attempt to enter In the
meantime the marshal repeatedly cautioned the
mob to desist upon peril of their ives-and in the
course OF the evening they were ordered 10
dispense by the Sheriff of the county aad also by
the Mayor.
AT length one man who appeared TO be the
rlnsl ader In the mob came to the door swearing
! horrible oaths and using most insulting and
violent language towards the police in the room.
| DE called them "a pack of damned towards
challenged them TO fire, and tainted them by
saying that they did not dare to fire. Then he
harangued the mob, urging them to come on,
assuring them that there danger-that the
/
cartridges: and did not dare fire upon them if
they had The marshal again warned him upon
peril of his life not TO attempt TO the room
But under his leadership the mob made a violent
rush for the door, which however, proved too
strong. Tor them
The police then fred intentionally aimed over
their heads hoping 10 brighten and thus avoid the
necessity of killing. This checked them for a
few minutes but the same voice was again heard
raliylng the mob, assuring them that nobody was
hurt-that they were only blank cartridges &c Sc
and aaoiher rush maos for the door the
leader reaching In and attempting 10 unbar il
The police then fred with effect. One man.
named Robbins, as we are informed. mate ofan
Eeastport vessel-fell dead or mCrtaliy wounded
close dy the door, and it is supposed he was the
man who had been so busy in exciting the mob
as that voice was not heard again during the
evening.
OF This however, the police are not certain, as
they were not able clearly to distinguish objects
IN the darkness and confusion. Prior however to
a. firm NV Ia,