St. Paul daily globe., 1884-07-05
HIDING wHIsKEY IN ooNNEoTIoUr.
Ingenious Contyivonoes of Illegal Liquor
Dcaters-A WOnderfuI Barrel.
Norwich Cor N Y Sun

Ingenious Contrivances of Illegal Liquor
Dcaters-A WOnderful Barrel.
Norwich Cor. N. Y. Sun.
The evasion of the cast-iron Conn necticut
license law, and the hunting down of often
ders by prosecuting agents greedy for the SIS
bounty paid in every proven case of Illegal
hquor-selling, furnish many novel episodes.
To successfully evade the law the saloon
keeper must not only have his liquor hidden
so as to defy the keenest search, both day
and night but he must be constantly on
guard against spies in the pay OF pros ecut-
ing otfic ers.
In spite of all difficulties therelis hardly
village in Eastern Connecticut in which
there are not violators of the law, who make
a good living, besides paying heavy fines af-
ter the agents have hunted them down. The
large factory villages in which the non-li-
cense system is in force a fruitful field for
illegal liquor selling. The employees are era
Zy for alcoholic stimulant, and any one who
is able to furnish it to them in sure of an in
come of from SO, 600 to $1,000 year. The
business is sometimes done by the propris-
tor of village restaurant, but oftener by
mill hand, free-and-easy fellow with large
circle of acQuaintenances.
khIn Occum, a mill village, few miles
north of this city, ajolly young Frenchman,
Moses kambert, was convicted in the Nor
wich city court OF sixteen distinct violations
OF the law in one year, and was sentenced to
pay fines and costs in each case ranging
from $50 TO S120. In all his cases appeals
were taken to the Superior court, and nearly
all of them were marked off the docket Of
that court by the states attorney, the usual
fate of cases brought by the prosecuting
agents. Notwithstanding his drawbacks,
Lambert makes money. He smuggles the
whiskey into the village at night.
The hunt for illegl dealers is going on
continually, the raids being made generally
just before daybreak by agents who have rid
den in light buggies all night. Two men,
the agent and his deputy sheriff ride togeth-
er. The suspected man is awakened by
Gathering at his back door. The demand
follows, "Open your house-we are liquor
officers" He hastily complies, and the Off
GERS. search the dwelling by the light Of
lamp carried by the owner from cellar to
garret Not Granny escapes inspection.
Closets and pantries are Invaded, wearing
apparel is searched, feather and straw beds
are ripped open, foor-boards are taken up,
tables are sounded for double drawers, the
uCoi tlloLOuC ID pl4Cd up; anu ehO 40
peered into. Next the barn, the horse stable,
the hay-lofts and the we'll are searched, and
then sink-drains and stone walls are looked
after, the proprietor jocosely assisting in the
search and cracking jokes at the officers ex-
pense.
Often a cunning liquor seller will hood
wink the agents for years before the hiding
place Of his liquors is ferreted out. 1t had
long been suspected that Eli st. George, of
Putnam, in Windham county was selling
liquor contrary to the law. His house was
visited by squads of men at all hours, who
apparently, had no business with him, but
several searches, instigated by spies, result
ed fruitlessly. On last Saturday Constable
Davis and Herman Carver entered st.
Georges place, and after long search
discovered a pipe in the ceiling of his re-
ception room.
By pulling up boards and cutting away
plastering they traced 1t to tank containing
several gallons Of whisky between the floors
and the upper story. On the same day these
officers surprised Anthony Murphy in the
same village. Anthony welcomed them with
smile and said, ''search all you want to
to- gentlemen; you'll find no rum about my
place. There's nothing stronger than cider
here, and that's in that barrel over there"
he pointed carelesSiy W clueI cash III Il
corner of the room. The officers looked the
barrel over carefully and smelt of it.
sect glass, Andy" said one of them.
Andy got the glass and the officer turned the
spigot. Out ran stream of sour old cider.
Next the officer got a hammer and knocked
out the bung. He lowered his official nose
into the vent. "Cider, true's your born ~
was the comment. Then he noticed a small
peg on the rear end of the barrel. Might as
well try this, too, Andy" he said. Mr.. Muir
PHYS countenance fell The peg was pulled
out, and the constable drew glassful of Old
Crow whisky
"Quite barrel,'' he said, getting off his
knees. Did you invent it, Andys Going to
get patent?"
There were two apartments in the cask.
A few weeks ago prosecuting officers, after
searching boarding house in the early dawn
at Versailles and descending to the broad
kitchen, noticed that the dining-room table
was singularly corpulent. They rolled it over
two or three times, there was crashing of
wicker-colored glass, and gallon of whisky
rickled ont on the floor.