The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-11-18
The Bristol Liquor Prosecutions.

advance. 1t had been evident for some
time by the number Of drunken men IN
the street and other Developments that the
sale of liquor was engaged in quite extern
sively, and that we were drifting into a
condition of things, that was to be lament.
ed by all law abiding citizens, and would
debar any prudent parent from sending
their sons to our public school.
The condition which we have already
attained was quite well known in other
towns, in and out of the county. To state
things as they were, intemperance was
stalking in our streets unchecked, unim.
peded. The law was being trodden un-
der foot, To remedy this peacefully, if
they could, forcibly if they must, a tenn
perance meeting was called, and town
organization effected with officers and ex-
ecutive committees to attend to these
things Three members of the executive
commttc with the officers Of the society
constituted the board OF managers. They
decided to notify those violating the law,
that they must stop selling Intoxicating
liquors but they gave no heed to this,
but continued the selling and the result
was the prosecutions. The trials were
held at the Town Hall that the people
might have an opportunity to be present
AS soon as it was known that the court
was to be held at the hail, many Of the
ladies Of this place decided to attend 1t
is fitting that they should, If there are
any in society that feel the sting of drunk.
enness, it is our wives and mothers that
have husbands and sons, that are being
led step by step TO ruin, by these vendors
Of the vile stuff that transforms men into
brutcs robs them Of their homes, and what
is worse, their manhood. The trial was
conducted in such manner that it was
perfectly proper for ladies to be present.
The only occurrence during the trial that
would cause them to blush, was some of
the witnesses holding up their hands, and
solemnly swearing before God and man to
tell the truth and the whole truth and then
60 on and state what every one IN the
room prove 10 be false, perjuring themselves
for the sake OF screening these violators Of
the law. The venerable Bishop Simpson
says that when women can be organized
at the ballot box, then we can enforce the
law. The ladies present, and there were
a good number, were pleased to meet the
wife OF our States Attorney at this place.
The counsel for the respondents said that
this prohibitory law was very bad law ;
1t made men perjure themselves so often
and so tiagrantly, He had not failed to
discover that many Of the witnesses had
so done The States attorney replied
that it was not the law or its effect, it H..
lustrated how low rum would sink man.
There must have been some small beer
made and sold in town, if we are to be.
lievc the testimony. Men who require
alcohol in order to affect them. remen Der
ed distinctly Of drinking small beer, but
were uncertain about drinking "ale" or
strong beer. Finally coored boy was
sworn in, and he was not SO well cducat.
ed in false swearing. He said he had
drinked ale there. The guilty seller tried
then and there to teach HIM to lie, 10y AK
ing him II it was not small beer, but the
colored boy couldn't see it he said it was
ale. Mr., Abernethy was fiued eighty
dollars and costs, be appealed. Geo. n,
Dixie thirty dollars and costs, he too, ap.
pealed. In Jesse Ridley's case no5le
pros was entered by States attorney. This
was owing the lateness of the hour, the a5.
sence OF witness, aud the fact that not one
OF the jurors, so far as We could learn
was in favor of enforcing the law. His
case will be carried to the County Court
unless he settles it prior to that time. T.
W. Gage will be tried next week. These
cases will be attended to and those
appealed. We have quite an amount OF
money pledged on purpose to meet any
expense that may arise, In the past case,
have been carried to the County Court and
that is the last heard from them For thi.
cause sum of money has been pledged
to secure attention to such cases as may
appeal, and follow them up, until the law
is vindicated and justice is done.
And those pledging this money ar,
willing to double the amount il necessary
This is done in no spirit of malice or re-
venge they only ask them to stop selling
The law does Tot say what this one OF
that one shall drink. 1t says they shall
not sell nor give any at public place
Some say that the law is useless, because
people will drink SO long as it is made
In the same light, smuggling laws ar,
useless. because people will smuggle 81
long as there is anything to smuggle
The States attorney conducted the prose
cution literally, did not stoop 10 intrigu,
or pettiiogging, but took consistent, lib
eral course aud followed it.
These trials have caused some agita
ton here. The class that take glass now
and then,seem to be somewhat exercised
and talk quite as much as those who
drink more freely. But the writer is 10
aware that any single individual that is I
total abstinence man, is opposed to the
enforcement Of the law in this place
Three of the board composing the execu
tive department Of this organization ar,
clergymeu. They are unit on the en-
iorcement Of the law. each alike come III
and put shoulder to the wheel. 1t would
be beneficial to the cause Of temperance
and honorable aud true to the cause O
Christ, II clergymen everyWhere would
take the same stand. We hear it stated
that it engenders hate, from those whom
the enforcement Of the law pinches. Very
likely II did. when certain John Rinl
was sent to Windsor, Our property aoc
persons were threatened if ever he at
tanned his liberty, and even very many
now attribute our fire to the work of hi
emmissaries. Vioators of the law. nc
matter 10 what form the violation consists
invariably dislike the Jaw and those who