Connecticut western news., 1888-04-18
NO DRINK SOLD.
Citizens Indicted for Leasing
 Buildings to Sellers.

The enforcement of the liquor law, which has culminated in the indictment of more than 100 citizens, many of them promi- nent men, has made stir in Concord, N. H. County Solicitor Martin, himself Democrat, has undertaken a wholesale crusade. with the local Prohibitionists for his allies. Many landlords have been indicted for leasing their premises to liquor sellers. Honored names in the community and churches are mixed up in the Grand Jury report with the names of men who for years have been notorious violators of the law. The worst feature of the situation for them Is the fact that the penalty prescribed by the statute, which has long been dead let ter, is imprisonment and fine. and the Court has no discretion.
 New Hampshire has for years had one of the most ironical prohibitory laws in the Union. although travellers and her own citizens never imagined that the law forbade free and open liquor selling. County Solicitor Martin says: There were twenty seven petitions under the newly enacted Nuisance law of 1887 filed on March in Concord and Pennacook. The names of no persons are on the petitions. The Nuisance law of 1887 reads:
 Any building, place, or tenement in any town or city that is resorted to for prostitu- ton, lewdness, or illegal gaming, or that is used for the illegal sale or keeping for sale of spirituous or malt liquors, wine. or cider. is declared to be 8 common nuisance. The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction in equity, upon information filed by the solicitor
 
 twenty legal voters of such town or city set ting forth any of the facts contained in section l of this act, to restrain, enjoin, or abate the same, and an injunction for such purposes may be issued by said court or any Justice thereof
 "Copies of the petitions were served on the persons concerned. The landlords got coun- sel. The question of the constitutionality of the act was raised, and the saloon keepers said they could keep on selling until that was de- C16pd- | placed SJ1lnnn0S in 10 ham de of tl,a Sherlffs summoning the saloon keepers and their bartenders before the Grand Jury. The object was to indict the saloon men on the evil dence of their bartenders. The object in sum- moning the saloon men themselves was to in quire who their landlords were. This was to get evidence to indict the landlords for letting their premises where liquor was sold illegally The saloon men appeared in the police court and gave bail. except in few cases They closed their places right up.
 "When the prosecution had the effect to close the saloons people complained to me that the druggists sold more liquor than the sa- looms. Then I sumponed the druggists clerks before the Grand Jury. The result was that druggists. Personally, l am in favor of the law, because it Is right and can be enforced if the authorities do their duty. The idea is not to have open saloons here."
 Among those indicted as common liquor sel lers are Martin X Cromwell the leading drug
 
 ant Street Baptist Church. and the apothecary firm of Hill & kittredge. both members of the Unitarian Church. The indicted landlords arc equally welt known. George Clough is one of the solid men of the town. He has ac- quired queer notoriety in these proceedings He has signed the petitions praying theSupreme Court for an injunction against landlords upon whose premises nuisanccs have been main- tained, and he is one of the indicted landlords himself, George Browns saloon being in building which stands on his land. Miss Lurema Brown, also indicted for letting her premises, attends the State Street Baptist Church. Mir. J. M. Hill, Treasurer of the Concord Gasight Company, is one Of the best known men in town, and goes to the Episcopal church. hIr. G. Walker is a wealthy man, and is at present in the South. In the block of the indicted Cyrus Hill .hcirs-Nancy Hill and others-is Jenkins saloon. MT. ". w. Hill, ono of tho heirs. is State liquor agent for New Hampshire in Boston. MT. Edson J. Hill, Manager of the Phoenix Hotel, is indicted for letting premises, and also as common seller Joseph Stickney,. one more indicted landlord is wealthy, and lives in New York city