Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-04-19
APPOINTMENT OF SPECIAL cousrA.
BLES.
4 Hearing Given by the Governor and
Council.


: hennebec county to enforce the liquor law
Joshua Nye conducted the case for the petit
TONERS, and Herbert NJ. Heath, ap-
peared for the remonstrants,
Joshua Nye said: This case comes under
the statutes providing for the appointment
OF special constables when a petition of
thirty signers is made, and it is shown
mat the laws are not faithfully en-
forced. / present these petitions, one from
the city of Gardiner one from the CITY of
Hallowell, and another from Waterville with
list of SO names. If l represent the tenn
perance men of this comfy, then all we ask
Is that the law now on our statute books shall
be enforced. If it can be enforced otherwise
then We ask for no specialries at ALL We
shall show that the law is not enforced, that
In Gardiner not a single seizure except in
transit has been made for the past year. If
the law was enforced We could wipe out the
traffic. l have no personal feelings in this
matter, had rather have the local officers
enforce the law. The sheriff and his depu-
ties have not enforced the law excepting in
Waterville. We shall show that two depu-
ties were removed in Waterville last wear
because they enforced the liquor law
j. h OsgoOd of Gardiner testified: This
Is rather a serious matter and a solemn occa-
sion. l appear the friend of suffering
wives and children. | doubt if there is a
man in the city of Gardiner who would
deny that the liquor law is not
enforced in Gardiner. The mar. hal and deputy
sheriff would not deny this. | am surprised
that any one should come here to demonstrate
against the appointment of constablss. 1
know that no searches and seizures have been
made in Gardiner. Our records show much
drunkenness. The bar-roems of Gardiner have
been kept open Sundays. When we remon-
strate against the non-enforcement of the
liquor law our officers say ''why don't you
come and sign warrants. Have not heard that
the deputy sheriff in our town enforced the
law. The present city marshal of Gardiner
is George NJ. Wentwo rth. His predecessor
was Jedediah Thomas, who, with the mayor,
was elected on a temperance ticket the same
year. The drunkenness during the past year
has been almost double what it was under a
temperance administration. / have not
lodged any complaints with deputy sheriffs
against liqucr selling during the six weeks
have been in Gardiner within the year prior
TO the lst of March. | have never taken
any personal action in getting out warrants
against liquor sellors.
Jededah Thomas testified: | reside in
Gardiner. Hold commission from Gov. Davis
a county constable. l thought had no
authority to act as county constable when the
local officers enforced the law. There has
been more or less drunkenness on the streets
nearly every day. think as county constable
| could not enforce the law alone. | was city
marshal of Gardiner for one wear Have not
signed any complaints. Have never been re-
fused aid from officers. Lave not made any
attempt to obtain aid and make searches. /
have been wholly ignored by our city marshal,
he saying that he did not want any Of my
help. The opposition strong against
me that did not feel like irving to enforce
the law alone and | did not feel like calling
for aid. | never had much success in com
pelling aid. | have had reason to believe
that liquor has been sold in several places
but left the matter to the officers. | might
have handed in a list of witnesses from Gar
diner for appearance before the grand jury,
but did not.
MIR Samuel Lane of Gardiner testified
There has been much drunkenness in Gardi-
ner. Haven't seen much myself The city
police and deputy sheriff have made n,
seizures. have not signed any warrants
during the past year.
Stephen Cobb of Chelsea testified | live
near the Togus Military Asy ium. | have
seen much drunkenness in that vicinity. A
large number of persons sell liquor near the
Home. and much of it is secreted in the
woods and a common saving is, The woods
are full of it" There have been few ar
rests. There is a deputy sheriff, Mr..
Searles, living i'll my neighborhood. He has
made several seizures, but no arrests
of persons for drunkenness. He has
never made a complaint himself.
The Augusta police have done a great deal
of work at the Soldiers Home in suppress
ing the liquor traffic at the Home. do not
believe it is possible to suppress the traffic
around the Home.l think if we could have an
officer there who is not afraid to have his
house burned or lite tax en- and made strenuous
endeavors to suppress the traffic, it could be
kept under. When Augusta officers are
notified by telephone to come out to Togus
man stands by and gives the liquor sellers
notice of their coming. 1t would be very
difficult matter to stop liquor selling in the
vicinity of the Home. think Mr.. Searles
our deputy sheriff, did not go ahead and do
his duty. 1t was understood when Mr.. Searles
was appointed that he should make every Of
fort to enforce the law. | have not requested
the sheriff to appoint another man to enforce
the law when | found Mr.. Searles would
not enforce it. They are constantly
selling beer on the grounds of the Home. 1t
is not sold to citizens.
X. w. Dunn of Wsterville stated: Prior
to the lst of last January the liquor law has
been as well enforced in Waterville as the
officers were able To enforce it. Have seen
more drunkenness since January lst than for
all the ~ months previous to that time.
had an article put in the Waterville town
warrant at the last town meeting to have the
officers cooperate with the selectmen to en-
force the law This article was voted down.
The town officers have done very little. if
ANYTHING find fault with our temperance
men tor not turning out and supporting the
article in the warrant. Our deputy sheriff
made a seizure shortly after Jan. LIST and
found some liquor. The offender was
brought before the police court and convic-
ted. shortly afterwards the same man was
selling liquor gave testimony OF this to
the deputv sheriff. tie made search and re-
turn upon the warrant that no intoxicating
lionors could be found. He did not seize
any alcohol as he regarded alcohol as kept
for legitimate purposes. There was alcohol
in the store at the time. For this reason
claim that he made false return upon The
warrant If not but half pint of alcohol
had been found he should have been arrested
and brought before the court claim that
if private citizens cannot give Information
against liquor de alers without suffering inJu
nv. we ought to have officers who will enforce
the laws themselves. | gave Information to
tn eel