The New York herald., 1875-12-05
THE LIQUOR LAW IN CONNECTICUT.

POPULAR INDIGNATION AGAINST EXCISE SPIES
AND rSFonMHRs-wEsr MERrDEN AND WATER
Bury VASTLY Exc1TED-THE OFFICERS At
TAcxKp IN THE srREETs-sYMPToNs OF A
WEsr MERlpEs Dec 4, 1875.
Every strange man who alIghted from the train, in
th civ 10 day vas taken by the assembled hundreds
of rather rough looking citizens On the deposPatorm
b. be SPY.
Uasthis West Meriden a terrible state OF agtta-
,op over the liquor question AZ the last town meet
,ng held ii October, mo license" voted This was
because the liquor dealers their friends stayed away
from the polls or refused vote, thinking that "ro
Yeeason meant stree rum.n After the election the
Iouor dealers delared that they would sell
any way and the result was that the Methodist
ianiser Charles Parker, and few other in
nuental citizens, called for the organization OF
league or citizens which should put stop TO the sale
of Intoxicating liquors. Such league was formed, In
Guiding tie persons named, and a womans rights
woman, who held meetings, exhorted the people,
raised money and proclaimed that the trafnc in rum
should be stopped. But ii not stopped; liquor
was sold but BY whom and at what places was not
known.
THE CHIEF
league made charges against the Chief of Police He
was accused OF playing cards and drinking in the par
Iors Of the Bixby House He suspended The
Common Council gave him hearing, voted that he
should be renstated ordered that he be brought
before the Council aud be reprmanded by the Mayor
As il happened the Chief there and the repr-
mand was postponed
A NEW MOVE LEAGUxRs.
In the meantime the League having lost ali faith In
their local officers, imported two detectives from
springfield Their names John ?. Butterworth and
John L. Prince. They 70 Meriden some two
weeks ago They well dressed, smooth, fine ap-
pearug fellows and, taking their from the League,
they soon had number Of citizens in their
toils: but their presence in Town became
known and the League imported three other spies,
two Of them from Bridgeport IN this state These last
reuton sold his lager and his wine In bissfui ignorance
OF the detectives presence The ressdt was that on
Thursday last thirteen dealers in liquor were
ARRESTED
They all gave bonds for their appearance on Friday
morning. The town was IN an uproar The arrested
parties that they would nght the thing through
aud the temperance men vowed VOW that the law
should be enforced
Al the trial there was big array Of counsel and there
was large attendance OF citizens. The latter were
mostly OF the rougher sort
Charles p Ives appeared for the prosecution and
Wilbur F. Davis appeared sor four OF The principal
Chief Of Police Beach on whom the prosecution relied
Tor evidence not present He had gone home TO
get breakfast, having been on duty At fire all
Counsel for defendants asked for an adjournment OF
pne week Counsel for the prosecution objected and
after bitter discussion, alternately eered ap,
pauded by the audience,
rHK JUDGE RULED
that the defendants should have sufficient time pre-
pare their cases. and he adjourned the trials Saur
THE LIQUOR DEALERS REVENGE
fha
The State, carrying with them box containing spec
mems Of contraband liquors, and accompanied
Sibsr N''g Prominent citizens nled ~ out o. tbe tbe
court room, and attended by the crowd,
look up their line Of march for the office OF the prose-
outing attorney. Although in the middle Of the fore
poon a New England city, It was plain 10 be seen
that there trouble ahead The first real indication
s II was when prominent liquor dealer the crowd
picked up large stone and tossed 1t the heads Of
Ihe crowd IN the direction OF the detectives Another
followed and soon thereafter Editor Graham
Jhoved violently of the walk The shove almost
Immediately repeated, and Graham, feeling that the
prowd desperate and terribly in earnest shouted
hsttly for the poca The States witnesses especially
lhe detectives, were much alarmed, and backing up
against amppost. they drew their revovers and
pointed them Al the crowd Editor Graham followed
luit and the three men were Al bay. In the mean
TIE MOB Had sxES GREATLY INCREASED,
md much ncensed ''Shoot II you dare ~
pro he with al spies 4" ''Dowr with the thieves -
md other like expressions heard The
auation va. & growing .DaS really m critical r.. when
persuaded the detectives abandon their hostile
nde. They then hustled away but not without
LANCER both to themselves and their escort
THE RIOT,
br such In fact, 1t was spread like wildhre and in
emarkaby short space OF time the usually quiet
rreets OF West Meriden thronged With excited
multitude The mob gathered about the Office Of G. H
Patt where the witnesses and detectives had sought
efuge, and for . time 1t seemed raid
gould be made upon the building and the occupants
brown out OF the window. But better counsels pre-
faled and finally, at the particular request Of Mayor
Elcox the crowd dispersed
NEW COMPLAINTS.
To-day twenty eight new complaints fled
against the liquor dealers The announcement OF
chs in the evening papers caused the most
tense excitement Hundreds OF men are patroling
ehs streets tonight, swearing vengeance against
all "spes-" They have ascertaned that at least
one OF the Springfield detectives has been convicted OF
1heft in Massachusetts, court, and that his companion
arrested at the time as an accomplice, and their
rage against these and all other nformers intense
There will be
FURTHER TROUBLE
unless the authorities take prompt and decisive
measures 10 suppress IL
WATERBURY,
IN this State there is the trouble and really
looks II the steady old Nutmeg State was to be in
valgcd IA J series Of whskey riots.