Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1855-06-13
The Liquor law in Portland.--Full Particu-
lars THE Author of the Maine Law" In
Trouh1a

OF In Portland, growing cut OF the purchase
of liquor for the use of the city, from the Port
land Argus of Monday 81
1t will be remembered that on Saturday
morning we called the attention of the City
Marshal and the police to the fact that a large
quantity of spirituous liquors had been pur-
chased in New York and brought here for sale.
and suggested to them the duty of seizing
1 them These liquors 81, 600 worth. Mr..
! Neal Dow had stated to one of the Alderman
he had bought on his own individual respon-
sibility, and had ordered them to be brought
here and stored in The city This being appa-
rently in direct violation of law, making Mr..
Dow liable to the penalty, on conviction, Of
imprisonment for thirty days, and rendering
the liquors subject to seizure and destruction,
complaint was accordingly made to the Po-
lice Court, and Judge Carter issued his war
rant for the seizure of the liquors but wheth-
er for the arrest of Mr. Dow we have not
| learned Judge Carter, however, instead Of
giving his warrant to an officer who was ready
to make immediate service, put it in the hands
of Deputy Marshal King, who, for some
cause. immediately disappeared, and could
not b. found.
Meantime the Board of Alderman were
suddenly summoned to meet, for the purpose,
it was alleged, of etfeeting a transfer of the
liquors to the city. for its agency, which was
established ON last Thursday night, by the
casting vote of Mr. Dow. though the liquors
were purchased some weeks since. After the
Alderman had been together while, Deputy
King appeared and siezed the liquors upon
| the warrant.
Onite a little crowd stood about the door,
where the liquors were stored, and in the Vi
cinity. during the remainder of the afternoon,
4 L I nl.c
we'd. Soon after o'clock a crowd began to
collect about the deposit of the liquors in the
! CITY Hall building, and gradually increased
until little after O'clock, when cry of fire
was raised, as we understand. by Mr.. Dows
order, and the bells rung with a view of di-
verting the crowd from the spot. It had
however, contrary effect, and greatly in
creased it for a time, as the engine companies
were brought from both extremes of the city
to tie centre in Market square, where the
crowd was assembled They, however, soon
withdrew, and the crowd began to diminish.
Occasionally during the evening, stones
and bricl,bats were thrown against the door of
+ the liquor store, breaking the glass and SASH
es and otherwise the door This was done.
SO far as we could see, by boys. The whole
affair was the pierest boys play. done in the
most apparcnt good nature. and with the least
possible excitement
1t is cur decided opinion. and we haze not
met an intelligent person who witnessed the
proceedings OF. the ereRing. that does not con-
cur with us, that an efficient police officer
with dozen good nen-could have easily
dispersed the crowd any time prior to %
O'Clock Soon after 10 o'clock the crowd had
materially diminished, and seemed rapidly
dispensing, when Mr.. Dow, accompanied By
Captain Green, and part of the Light Guard,
appeared upon the sidewalk on the north side
of the City Hall The crowd were warned to
disperse. His appearance, sword in hand,
with soldiers, at once changed the temper OF
the multitude. They rallied around them
and gave groans and Kisses prior to the proc
lamation TO disperse.
Mr. Dow then gave the order: '' First
section fire" The order was not obeyed, and
the crowd then threw missiles. a part of the
company started to escort Mr.. Dow towards
Middle street. and theremainder immediately
returned to their Arinory in the third story
of the City Hall building. At the time Dir.
Dow gave the order to fre.-lCaptain Green
refused to give it as we understand. on the
ground that he did not think the scircumstan-
ces authorized it, ,)--the company were stand
ing directly opposite the entrance to the hall
of the Mechanics Association In Clapp's block,
and their fire would have taken effect, If at
all, upon the people en- the sidewalk, a part of
whom were mechanics just coming from their
hall, and who wore entirely unconscious that
any such proceeding was called for or contem-
plated.
After Captain Green's company had re-
turned the brickbats few thicker and strong
er, and the police, who were aiding the Dep
uty Marshall, who had seized the liquors to
guard them, commenced firing pistols charged
only with powder. A sort of sham fight was
thus kept up between the crowd, which had
now become more determined in its character,
and the police, until about IL o'clock, when
Mr. Dow, with a portion of the Rife Guard,
under Captain Charles W. Roberts descended
from the Light Guards Armory, and with
the muskets of the Light Guards, to the south
side of the City Hall. The doors of the IL
firing commenced, by Mr.. Dows order,
through the store upon the crowd in the street
upon the other side of the building.
One man-George Robbins mate
of the bark Louisa Eaten, was shot through
the body, and almost instantly killed.
Thomas McCarty, hostier- aged % years,
received ball under his chin, which passed
out through his cheek, breaking the Jaw-bone
in its passage,
Thomas Robinson, worthy man, 10 years
of age, while sitting on box near Clapps
block, on the opposite side of the street. was
struck by ball on the right ancle. behind
the Joint, the ball sAattering the lower end of
the tibla, or large bone of the leg, and pass
ing out at the instep.
Howard Dennison, a young man residing
on Atlantic street, was struck by pistol shot
in the front part of the arm The ball pene-