Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-09-19
AcoLD DAY FOR JOHN SHAW
The Unpleasant Situation Of an An.;e,,
Rumseller.
a Damp that Didnt Work Worth e..
'"re" Enthusiastically C,u.n,

'onn Shaw's luck has gone back nm h;
For years he has been one of ,b.
uie and accomplished retailer, of .rae,,
Fpir's IN Augusta, and during tie long time
winch he has been in the business has en;o,od
comparative immunity from punishment
FRANK harrington is mo SLOUGH" in HINT
ing up rsmselers, but during tine MIN.
l" winch he was City Marshal he could
make but two seizures on Shaw .rha.
seemed to be
a sweet little eherub sitting up aloft
| "Achihg the fate of poor Jack
| Inc wisdom OF the ages crystalized into a
pio'ero mas asserted that it is a long lane
winch has no turn. Saturday Mr.. Shaw On,
ie'' In way which would make the merest
'yro IN the liquor business smile at hi,
lack OF caution. On Monday of last
| week he was tried before Judge Whitebouse
on an Indictment for keeping liquor nui-
sance at his house on Willow street. The
jury disagreed. and John escaped justice.
oh saturday forenoon last he was again
brought before the same tribunal for a search
and seizure made at his residence on the 25tb
| OF August, involving the same fact,
put IN evidence at the preceding trial
Inc police made return on the
warrant that they were prevented from seiz
ing the liquor by its being spilled on the
premises. On that day City Marshal White
and officers Breen End Thorndike, ra ided on
the Shaw mansion. The proprietor received
them affably, and conducted them over the
establishments
perhaps you would like to examine the
cellar" said Mr.. Shaw
"of course said the City Marshal. '.we
shall search every nook and Granny of this
house.
Its pretty dark down there, and I'll 60
ahead, amiaby remarked the proprietor.
They cautiously descended the rickety
stairs. Mr.. Shaw leading the way amid the
encirclng gloom. All at once they heard
the rafting of iron and the splash of water
light was procured and the officers found
the sides of the cistern in the cellar wet
with intoxicating liquors, the waters inside
in commotion, and they fished out of the
cistern with an old iron rake two iron por-
celain lined kettles dashed together. These
kettles were kept suspended from a ring
from one of the floor timbers, directly over
this ring rope ran up through the floor into
buttery above. Upon the slightest alarm the
rope could be severed, and the kettles would
fall into the mass of filthy water. The old
man had taken advantage of his knowledge of
the Topography of the cellar, and dumped"
the whisSey. This was why the police
made the return on the warrant that they
were prevented from Selling the liquor.
Mr.. Shaw came before the jury, Saturday,
with an air of conscious rectitude upon his
features. He testified, and his testimony was
corroborated by his sons and other witnesses,
that the kettles were placed in the cistern to
be used in cleaning it out; that he watered
his horses out of il, and had just taken water
from it when the officers came that this caused
the commoiion in the cellar and the moisture
on the outer sides that whatever liquor he
kept was to be used on his horses and that he
did not keep liquor for illegal sale.
His testimony was so plausible and go fatty
conrradicted the officers story. that City
that he would go over and get the kettles and
produce them before the court. Accompanied
by officer Breen he procured a warrant, and
went over. Mrs. Shaw and her sons wife,
were in the house. The officers effected an
entrance They found the cellar door locked
with a paddock. Getting hammer they
pried up the staple, and descended. The
dump had been pulled, but the tmo kettles
rere redged into the entrance of the eistern.
Not drop of liquor had been spilled! The
officers secured the kettles, rope, iron
weight, etc, described in their testimony,
and FASTENED back to the court room. 1t was
lust twelve o'clock when they entered. The
aroma of fragrant Medford rum impregnated
the whole apartment. Some of the hungry
spectators shifted at the fragrance, asawar
horse is said to snuff the battle from afar
There was a great sensation as the officers
marched down the aisle and placed the ket-
ties before the jury. Mr.. Shaw and his
friends turned CHASTITY white when he saw
these evidences of his guilt, and, accompanied
by his attorney, hastily left the room. There
were no arguments made in that case, and
the iurv. after a very short deliberation,
brought in verdict of guilty.
For years, it is believed, Mr.. Shaw has
carried on a large business in contraband
LIQUORS, but he has hitherto been remarkably
success ful in keeping out of the clutches OF
the law.