The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1888-03-15
NUMBER II.
Oatrages In East Greenwlch.-A Correction.

To THE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: a copy of
the last edition of your valued paper is Just at
hand. ON the first page is found nearly column
dealing with the unfortunate and dastardy acts
supposed to have been perpetrated by rumsellers
in East Greenwich, r. i. Permit me to say the ac
count you print from the Boston Herald is too
highly colored. In this respect it compares with
aggravated reports appearing in other Boston pa.
rcrs, rs well as those printed in several cities On
the morning of Feb. 18th arsenic was found spriuk
led upon the stones, in the bucket and water spout
of a we'll on the premises of 5. W. X. Allen a law.
yer prominent in prosecuting violations of the
liquor laws The poison discovered in season
to prevent fatal results. This is the foundation for
many eNtravagant dispatches. The simple facts
are bad enough and point TO both cowar,llv and
criminal action by some party at present unknown.
ON the same morning, just after the midnight hour,
an explosion was heard near the residence of the
Key Mr. Still, situated ina sparsey populated
ton of the village. This gentleman, who has like
wise been active in prosecuting rumsclIers, did
iearc his bed to ascertain the of the disturb
ance. some Of his ncighbors did, however, which
leads to the Impression that the explosion occurred.
nearer heir homes than MIR. Stills house. The
"-car line headings of "dynamtc and anarchy
had therefore, very little basis No dynamite was
uSe'', but some powder instead the front OF Mr..
Atli16 IT 7ence was not shattered, the steps and
fencing were not blown t" pieces; the smashing of
Windows was confined to four pancS Of glass. A
few claphoar,ls were found somewhat loose at one
corner Of the house, but no signs of other than
natural causes were perceived These are the facts
given by those familiar with the property presum-
ed 10 be demolished The midnight alarm is sup
posed TO have been the discharge of small can
non IN the ucishburhood.
While these transact have caused !. deal of
local comment, the only panic thus far perceived
has been in newspaper columns, On the second
lay after the poison fouud nearly half score
of reporters accompanied by an artist visited the
startled community" The meagre details were
nNerlosed to nauseating degree. "Spacc writers"
who had been to some travelling expense, iccoup
rt' the OUTLAY by cNravag;lnt CORES pondencc The
artist could sketch iulns but ne did prepare
enEraying> OF Me>srs. Still and Allen which their
wives could not recognize without the appended
names. All this has reacted mfavoraby for it
has disgusted men who sympathized with the en-
fprccment of the laws
Temperance and politics are mingled To an un
preccdented extent in East Greenwich. SIN wears
residence in that village taught me this fact most
f"rrlhly The mixture may not njurc the towns
ppltlc>. That were almost an impossible task.
Bu the righteous cause of temperance has suffer
c't, and still does, from the unholy alliance When
say that large percentage of citizens believe
Mr. Allen placed the arsenic in his own well, and
then tlrl to his aborer With an cxplos ion
near his homc-ali for the purpose of posing ~
martyrs-it will be seen that political opponents
travel no small journey in supporting town rum
mics.
The most reasonable Alution vet offered is that
some bait drunken rascal sought to perpetlatc Il
practical joke, and carried his operations to an IN.
warranted and criminal degree. 1t is hard to be
htve that even Il calolscd rumsellcr would en-.
danger the lives of innocent women and children
10y sach ""Wardly steps in seeking revenge. one
Thousand dollars await the order of any one who
can hunt the villain down. For the good name of
the community hope this may he done, and
Nulrkly In the meantime people are not moving
away, nor is the price of real estate declining.
Pulic sentiment is aroused, and the declining act
Will be rla! cd in barroums only.
NJ. NJ. REl NOLpS.
laNiaNlic II. |. March ID, lS,>.