Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-04-10

The Twistings and Turnings Of Rum
sellers Ia their A gOnies-Verdict, Guilty

The low depth to which liquor selling will
degrade man was illustrated yesterday in
the Superior Court, in the trial of GetChell <
Wiggin for keeping Il liquor nuisance. There
was some of the tallcst kind of bare-faccd
sef-reliant perjury 1t was admitted that
the scent OF liquors was plainly evident on
the premises at the time of the visit of the
police officers; but then the debris that had
collected in the cellar under the Scuttlc
composed of broken bottles. the washngs OF
bottles purchased of the City Marshal and Of
boys, had been awakened from their slum-
bers, the spirits disturbed after remaining
quiet for wears, and thus emitted the odUr :.
No doubt Ben. Gardner and the other officers
believed they smet fresh rum or whiskcy
but it was only the disturbance or rather
resurrection Of familiar spirits that were
awakened to life by dash of cold water !!
The natural droppings from the outside roof
might also have soaked through the brick
wall of the store and so moistened the heaps
of rubbish in the cellar as to produce the
effluvia mentioned, Oh, no. The scent
didn't come from newly spilled rum. That
statement wouldn't go down worth cent
| True the establishment was fitted up with a
view to turning an honest penny in liquor
selling-the trap door and the stone below
were all arranged for ''smash" should the
officers make sudden desccnt-but the pro-
prietors found the fines so much greater than
the profits that they had become converted
and abandoned the business, Hadn't sold
a drop since last August. True a. you
liver Hope to die if you haven't? What
not a d,oP' No. not a drop! What, not a
single dropy Well. ha,diy drop,
And Mr.. Eugene w. Whtchouse plead so
earnestly and cloquentlv for his clients that
before he got through they undoubtedly
considered themselves innocent of the great
trangression, whatever opinion they might
have entertained previous to the aforesaid
plea. Why, gentlemen. (and kennebcc
jury are always intelligent gentlemen) can
YOU disbeicve these good looking men under
oath They say they haven't sold liquor
since August; don't YOU believe them: Now
that they have left off liquor selling the dear
! little harmless lambs. why not give them a yer
diet that will encourage and strengthen them in
in their good purpose? The police officers say
| they smelt whiskev or rum, but fail to tell Us
what the smell of whiskcv or rum is like or
how they knew it was whiskcy or rum And
so Eugene, having delivered himself asked
for square acquittal. and sat down.
The ease for the government was closed
| hy County Attorney W ebb. in an effective plea
for the protection of society against the ma
chinations and designs of the rum power.
These are not similar to the low groggerics
under consideration Yesterday. but are the
respectable. high-toRs6 rumscllers, that are
bringing to destruction the Young men of good
families that are crushing hope and joy from the
breasts of mothers and children. and weaken
! ing the very foundations of society. He re-
capitulated the testimony of the officers who
swore they had smclled liquor. referred to
the past convictions of the parties, the fines
they had paid. and the damning work in
which they had been engaged. even to run
ming off witnesses, who if they had appeared
and told the truth, would have testified square
" against them The testimony of the re-
spondent he characterized as clear, cold
blooded perjury.
The charge of Judge Whitchouse to the
jury. was brief but clear, able and pointed
| If it bore in the least against the respondents
it was because the law and the testimony were
| against them. He referred to circumStantial
evidence as being stronger in very many cases
than direct and positive testimony. From its
consistent links. put together one by one.
forming grand whole. criminals in all time
| had been unable to cxtricate themselves.
| Taking the law in the case from the Judge,
the jury retired, and soon returned the YER
dict of "GrILTY."
And all the people say "Amen,"
This seemed to be a test case, and brought
three other rumsellers, under indictment. to
their senses, and they came forward and
plead guilty, thus saving the county consid-
cradle costs.