Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-07-12
Highly Important CONCENTRATIONS
to Whom Honor Is Due.

Mr.. EDITOR: In your interesting account
of officer Soules successful raid upon Pink
hams saloon in Winthrop village, in which
he '.hoed the critter,' and dug him out, your
closing sentence contains one statement that
is not true and does injustice to another Off
Ger who raided before this the same
ground.
Your statement is that "Sheriff Soule is
the first officer who who has been able to find
liquor at his rancho"
This is not true. In September 1877. Con-
stable Keene. of this town searched Pinkham's
establishment, and for long while had like
experience with Suule. until Just as they
were about to give up the search as a failure,
they discovered the serpents nest in the deep
recess of Il brick set cooking range from
which they brought fourth several bottles of
the ardent. | would not detract in the least
from the hard earned laurels of Officer Soule.
He has demonstrated that when he starts up
on the war path he can do good business.
On the other hand it is no advantage to him
to don the plumes that belong to another.
think it due to all concerned that this correc
ton should be made.
And while upon the subject, | would like
to add a little concerning the history of this
saloon As YOU say Pinkham is sly rum
seller. He went into that saloon four years
ago He took up the business where Pulsi-
fer laid it down when driven from it by the
trials and troubles the law brings upon often
ders. He ran one year before he was caught
bv Officer Keene. In September 1877, keene
succeeded in securing his conviction before
trial Justice in one ease of search and seizure
and three cases of single sale, and in having
him bound over on the charge OF common
seller
III, h., AZ
the succeeding term of court h. was indicted.
I think. for keeping a nuisance-but not as
common seller. On none of those five
cases did he stand trial, but his counsel
! filed demurcrs for the express purpose of de-
Law. which, he got for another year. What
finally became of them | do not know. But
this do know: That in all the cases within
the jurisdiction of the trial justice. he was
sentenced to imprisonment. and had the
Judgment been confirmed in the higher court,
he would long before this been driven out OF
the business, and his experience would have
been wholesome warning to whomsoever
desired to be his successor in the wicked
trade.
With whom the SUPERIOR wisdom rests that
should undertake to defeat the efforts OF the
citizens of Winthrop to rid themselves of the
curse of rumselling, by substituting the
milder penalties of the law, or by commit
ting all penalty, do not know.
/ Rut this also | do know That three years
have elapsed since Pinkham. a sly yet defiant
and bold offender. was brought into court
and not day since that time has he been
missed from plying his nefarious traffic, to
serve a sentence in Jail.
| l submit to you, Mr.. Editor, and the good
| citizens of Kennebec. that there is something
wrong somewhere. 1t is not the fault OF the
law. and it is not altogether the fault of the
citizens of Winthrop. that this rum-shop has
been running unharmed for three years
| Whose fault is it !! H.