The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-11-23
A New woman's Crusade.
The Rockland Courier says of the new
temperance monement in Rockland:

LAO 1sOChtdAu OOuIloE Says u Luo new
temperance monement in Rockland:
For several weeks there have been at work
in our city certain elements that are tending
in the direction of thorough shaking up on
the temperance question. The number of
seizures noted in our columns the past few
weeks has shown that something was being
done. We have this week to chronicle new
feature in the business, together with several
additional seizures When the State Woman's
Christian Temperance Union met here a few
weeks since, the matter was discussed as 10
whether or not it was the duty OF members to
sign search warrants, the answer being in the
affirmative. In accordance with this decision
land indeed they had done it several times be-
fore) number of the ladies of the Union here
have been singing these warrants before
Justice Hicks, and upon these warrants sew
erai of the liquor sellers have been appre-
hended. On Thursday the City Marshal made
a haul at James MeLaughlin's, at the Brook.
This place is so arranged that on the ap-
pearance of an officer trap could be sprung
letting the bottles of liquor crash upon the
rocks beneath the building Several times
have the officers been thus fooled, and the IN
slant they had left, the place would be run
ming as before. But this time the officer had
obtained knowledge OF the secret hiding in
which the reserve liquors were kept stored and
gobbled the whole batch. Mclaughlin was
fined 500 and costs, from which sentence he
appealed Friday the marshal made another
raid upon the place kept by @. s. Coombs and
Fred Lorraine, making good-sized capture.
The trial was set down for Saturday, and
Coombs insisted upon summening into court
as a witness, Mrs. G.. M. Brainard, president of
the W. c. T. o., whose name was gned to
the warrant under which he had been appre-
hended. just what his purpose was in taking
such step is not clear, though it is supposed
II was intended as an intimidation, for nearly
all the liquor sellers were assembled in the
court room as the hour came around. But
they reckoDed without their host for when
the plucky president appeared she was accom-
panied by body-guard of a dozen of the
brave women of the Union, and the repre-
sentative of the two factious faced each
other throughout the scene. There was wait
in proceedings for the defendants counsel. One
OF the ladies asked the judge if he had any OBJ
lection to her offering prayer. Certainly not"
was the courteous reply OF his honor, where
upon the lady arose, and amid hush addressed
touching and eloquent petition to the throne
OF grace. 20 God,' she prayed, "fhou know
est the hearts, Thou knowest the bitter sorrow,
Of those whose loved ones are the victims of
intemperanee." She proceeded in an earnest
appeal for those who sold intoxicating liquors,
that they might be led to see the error of their
way and the evil that were creating. Those
who heard the prayer say IL was one of the
most beautiful they ever listened to. 1t GER
taiDly was an unusual scene for our police
court room. No lawyer put in his appearance,
and the trial proceeded The defendants at
tempted 10 question Mrs Bl ainard but il was
useless proceeding. County Attorney Star
rett was summoned and by him a previous
conviction against Coombs Was proven, and
upon this charge be was found guilty, and for
second offence sentenced to pay $l00 fine and
serve SIX months in Jail at hard labor. Lor-
raine was Fl ned 500 and costs on first offence
Both appealed and furnished securities. Chas
Clark, whose conviction we noted last week,
was again seized and will be tried next Mon
day. In addition to this phase of the matter
petition TO the city government is being circu-
lated. DraVlnp th0m inatruot the nOllPA n
proceed in the active enforcement of the pro-
hibitory laws, and each signer, of which there
are now about 100, pledges himself to uphold
the officials in the performance of this duty.
me signerf embrace large number of the
most prominent business men of the city. In
another column we refer editorially to this new
crusade, which appears destined 10 go on and
accomplish great results