The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-04-01
MASSACHUSETTS BLUE LAWS
How the State Police Vindicate
Their Character.
Heavy Liquor Seizures and the
Reason Why.
Important Action of the
Legislature.

BOSTON, March 81, 1871.
The Investigation into the history and manner Of
operation Of the Massachusetts State Constabulary
an outline OF which has been previously published
In the HERALD. bids iair to ultimate In complete
or at least partial abolition of the force by the ver
dict Of the Legislative Committee who are
now adjudcating upon its merits. The EVIL
dence up TO wednesday last was OF a character
which seemed to mpiicate the private character OF
few individuals and not the morale OF the entire
force; but on that day hot shot fred into the
ranks. Mr. Franklin G. Doe OF Medford, one OF the
propretors Of the Mystic Park Hotel, asserted
before the committee that he had not INDUCED
more than half dozen OF the State Con-
stabuary with "free drlnksn at his bar, but that
he had paid them money IN various sums and at
divers times with the implied understanding that
they should let him alone and refrain from prose-
cutting Mr. Doe for violating OF the laws. This
agreement said Mr.. Doe. was carried out to the
letter, except when circumstances rendered an Op-
poslte course necessary, and then 'the seizure was
always Of small value; not one.tenth OF the stock
had on hand" This evidence, certainly, might
have been supposed to have staggered some OF the
friends Of the Constabulary, but when 1t was sup
p!emented by that or Mr.. Joseph II. Davis who, by
sale dealers in the city, It's effect
may well have caused them to lose faith
in their peculiar institution. Mr. Davis sald that he
has been in business three years; that he has paid
from five to twenty dollars, besi.es large quantities
ofquor. 70 the officers OF the law during that time
and that there has never q seizure made in his
place.
= And satll another witness swore to the statement
that one OF the officers to whom ne had been In the
habit or paying money came back to his store one
day and grnmbled because his stipend not SUN.
GENTLY large to form gag for his mouth, and
threatened TO prosecute Immediately unless the
In Berkshire county the evidence went to show n
large de- zee Of caution on the part OF the officers.
for instead OF dealing directly with the seller in
toxicating drinks, they employed a mi ldleman.
One Hatfield, who occupied this pc ition testified
Win eonsry that ne aad collected
tween himself and the officers who employed MIN.
AS may naturally be supposed, the result
was create reaction OF public sentiment and
doubling Of exertons on the part OF Mayor Jones and
loving day. they seized something like 5000 worth
of liquors from Messrs Ralph Smith Co., wholesale
had haS s u %
quantity than pint at one time, and as species
Of petty revenge took also large qqanty Of intox.
cants from the frm with which Mr.. Joseph NJ DAVIS
is connected as junior partner
1t Is certainly little remarkable, says the Journal
speaking OF this latter seizure. that dealer IN
CIGARS who has been complained Of only three times
during the three years he has been In business at the
corner OF state and Commercial streets should with
latlve committee, be visited by the force, against
the integrity OIL which he had unwlllingv testified.
The law recently passed by the Legislature granting
certain immunity to witnesses who would testify in
this examination did not protect Mr.; Davis
from the. liability to have his illegal traffic
stopped by the seizure OF his stock or
liquors; but this seizure, nevertheless, will
be regarded desire to intimldate wit
nesses and therefore interferes with the intent Of
the Legislature to obtain the whole truth in regard
the State cOnstabulary The seizure OF the stock
OF Mr. John II. Smith is also to be deprecated a. this
particular time. few weeks later would have
worked no injury TO the cause, and the law would
not have suffered after so long delay in applying
It to Mr. Smith TO cause any new msgivings
regarding Its efficiency
There IS no question but that the summary action
OF The Officers In these instances has created great
deal OF unhatterlng comment about town, and that
there are not few, even among those who style
themselves ''moderate prohioiti0nists," VINO favor
an immediate abolition OF the force.
The popular feeling against these seizures as
sumed definite proportions IN the Legislature to-
day. Bills were introduced in both houses suspend
ing the action CT the constaDulary, so far as the
liquor law is concerned, for thirty days, and
there is strong prospect that they Will be passed
on Monday. This will secure immunity for SUCH
dealers as may testify before the committee, until
such time as the investigation shall have been
finished.