The Republican journal., 1874-11-05
Concerning Bells and Fire Crackers

intends to be about right on all questions
that arise-making complaint in regard to
the remarks in this paper upon the Fourth
of July bell ringing of Wilmot Curtis,
and for which Curtis was indicted. Our
correspondent says that the real offence
was going into the house without per-
mission, taking out glass to accomplish
the object, and damaging the house. He
further says
| noticed an item in the Wing saying that
Wilmot Curtis has been indicted for ringing
bell on the 4th, probably taken from the Jour
nal. The ringing of the bell really had nothing
to DO with the case-but his entering in the
manner he did, and refusing utterly to come
out when requested
In order that the matter may be fully
understood, we copy the indictment found
by the Grand Jury, 1t is as follows
The Jurors for said state upon their oaths
present, that Wimot Curtis, of Frankfort, in
said county of Waldo, on the fourth day of
July, in the year Of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and Seventy-fOur, at Frankfort
aforesaid, in the county Of Waldo, aforesaid,
with force and arms, was disturber and break
er of the public peace, and then and there
ibulIh ny anu luttINtillS ~ uIStuIb Tue peace
of said State, did in public place in said town,
to wit, in the beltry of a certain church, situate
upon Il public place in said town. make a loud
noise by ringing large bell for long space of
time, to wit, for the space of one hour, to the
great damage and common nuisance of all the
citizens of said state there inhabitng, being
and residing, and against the peace of said
state.
1t will be seen that the offence in the
al, hroa
damaging the house, but ranging the beU
We could not go behind the record and
hold the young man to account for an
offence of which he was not accused. If
he had been indicted tor an offence that
he really did commit, we should nothave
been led astray, to the injury of the feel
ings of our Frankfort friends.
Our correspondent further says
ct seems to me that have noticed in the
Journal, occasionally, Just before the Fourth,
an item calling upon the authorities of the CITY
of Belfast to prohibit the indiscrimnate use of
fire crackers even on the good old Fourth Did
it occur to you that YOU We're making an IN
patriotic request:'
Not at all. The fire cracker is an inven-
ton of the Heather Chinee aided by the
devil. 1t is used at pagan festivities, to
burn before idols. and is therefore unfit to
salute the Goddess of Liberty, Yankee
Doodle, or any other Christian gentleman
Its unrestricted use is forbidden by statute
1t burned the city Of Portland on recent
Fourth Of July, and on every anniversary
thereof devours several towns or cities
Move had rather stuff cotton in our ears
or lay awake all night listening to the bells,
than to endure the diabolical fire cracker
for an hour
The BeecherTilton case has been
brought before the courts at BROOKLYN, on
the order to show cause, granted a few
days ago. Mr.. Beecher's counsel are en-
deayoring to make Tilton produce bill
of particulars, showing the different oc-
| casions on which the alleged adultery was
committed. Only one date, it is ALLEGED
has been given thus lar. The design OF
Mr.. E3Gecher is. Of course. to learn what
teStim0nv hn hnva --fh'le ana So
be prepared for it on the day OF trial. If
several different dates are given he may
be able to prove an alibi in regard to some
Of them. 1t would seem as if the motion
of Beecher's counsel hardly came, never
theless, within the provisions of the New
York code regarding a bill of particulars.
The section which covers the matter was
designed to secure definite items when a
gross sum is claimed rather than to OBJ
tain a knowledge of the plaintiffs line of
attack. The delay of the judge in giving
his decision shows that knotty point has
been raised. After he grants or denies
the motion there will be an appeal to the
general term, and from that to the court of
appeals. In this way year or two will
pass by before this preliminary skirmish
is decided Even then the main battle
will be a great distance off. The truth of
the matter is, this motion seems to be
mere plea in abatement. The attorneys
are simply staving off the trial.
The statement of the Bangor Wing that
a Massachusetts man recently purchased
in that city 40 empty rum barrels, to be
filled with cider, is q curious commentary
on the operations Of the Maine law. The
local demand for cider barrels is very
large-bntit seems the supply is abundant
enough to meet that, and send large sur:
plus to our neighboring states. Verify, the
prohibitory law is an enormous success.
Speaking Of the legality or illegality of
official acts by female Justices ofthe Peace,
1t IS proper TO say that marriages by them
performed are valid, because statute of
Maine provides that any ceremony which
either OF the parties to Il marriage believes
to be legal, is SO. SO nobody need to be
alarmed about the matter.
Ulysses has got mixed about the age of
this nation. His thanksgiving proclama-
ton of last year was dated Gin the year of
the independence OF the United States the
ninety-seventh.' This year he hops over
one and calls it the ninety ninth If he is
light, that Philadelphia affair should be
hurried up.
The Waldoboro News, which never
neglects any local item Of interest, comes
to the front with an eel four feet seven
inches long. We move that it have the
first premium.
Among recent nominations by the
Governor are the following
Trial Justices-Robcrt A. Friend, Brooklyn;
George Comstock. Lubec; Andrew p. Wiswell.
Ellsworth, Inspector of lime and lime casks
Job w. Ingraham, Camden, in place of j. c.
Jordon, declined appointment. NotarieS pub
lic-T. c. Woodman, Bucksport.
We saw one day i'll the garden of one of
our citizens, a barrel of potatoes and it was
there three days afterwards. Presquc Isle