The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-03-11
STORM OF BALLOTS AND WARRANTS
1t Looked Like a Riot purinr tho
Election in Biddeford.
Police and Deputy Sherlffs Eneapaa
in ArrestIng Each Other.
A Democratic Majority and a Case
for the Courts.
Tspecial to the Press !

tions are apt to be attended with more or
| less excitement. 1t is not uncommon to see
the street crowded in font of the ward
rooms, and there are often wordy battles be-
tween the various heelers and ballot distrib-
utors But today's proceedings dwarf all
subsequent circusses and it win 60 on record
as the day when no man was sure of his lib
erty for 10 minutes If he attempted to exer-
else the rights of suffrage or to uphold the
law.
The Democrats made up their minds to
swing the election peaceably and lawfully if
they could, but if they could not. they were
fully prepared to resort to force. The meet
ing In Marble Hall last night was the means
OF stirring the illegally naturalized
aliens up to the desired
pitch, they sbeing assured that they had
the right to vote, and that when it came to
the scratch, they would not be bothered.
When the polls opened they were surround
ed by officers, policemen and deputy sher-
IFS. The former putting in good work for
the Democrats under the efficient manage
ment of City Marshal Tarbox, while Sheriff
Hamilton with a swarm of deputy sheriffs
undertook to enforce the laws and Judge
Webb's decision. For the first few moments
after the polls opened there was wild con-
fusion everywhere; but it was especially
turbulent in Ward g. Deputy Sheriff Park
er OF North Berwick was arrested in this
ward at about 1910, Nobody knows what
the charge against him was as he was stand
ing quietly in corner of the ward room at
the time of his arrest. A squad of police set
upon him, hustled him around, tore his
clothes, knocked him down and cut and
bruised him badly. He was dragged over to
the police station and locked up in cell like
a common felon.
Occupying cell near Parker is Deputy
Sheriff Obed Stackpole, who was arrest
ed by policeman for the crime of attempt
ing to do his duty. An unnaturalized man,
whose name was on the list with a mark
against it, showing that fact, attempted to
vote and was challenged. He persisted in
his attempt and was arrested by Stackpole
who was at once set upon by crowd. In
the struggle the Frenchman's vote was
thrown on the floor and of course
will not figure in the returns. In the crowd
who attacked StaekpOle Andrew Mason was
prominent StockpOle pulled SON ething
that looked like pistol from his pocket and
by hourlshing it in the faces of the crowd
drove them off and kept his man while some
of the other special deputies captured Mason
and carried him off to the county jail in Saco.
Alter this, all Was quiet for o few moments
and some OF the more hopeful began to think
that perhaps the troubles were over. But it
was not so. A man advanced to the rail to
vote and was challenged. Two deputies
took hold OF him and pushed him aside. He
persisted In his attempt and was arrested
-Four special policemen with drawn clubs
nOh fha md nd ,.,;kl,
siderable profanity ordered his release. The
deputies held on to their man, but the crowd
in which the police officers again were not
in the rear rank, forcibiy took the man away
and forming ring around him allowed him
to vote without interference. The police
men now took a hand in arresting ileaal
voters although they took particular pains
to take in only deputy sheriIfs, the victims
being Anthony Romeo and Thomas Mirme-
ham. They were conveyed to the station by
officers Charland and Tate who afterward
went back to the ward room for more vic
tins. Charland was spotted by the deputies
and arrested. He was put into a sleigh and
started for Saco Jail. Marshal Tarbox and
his father, street commissioner Shaw, and
others whose names could not be learned,
surrounded the sleigh and took the prisoner
out. Charland, however, declined to be a
party to such outlawish proceedings and
climbed back into the sleigh, expressing his
willingness to go to jail.
All OF the foregoing proceeding took place
III thC CCHbtO WdiuS, uIdlUIY 4 anu d, In
Ward Z Police Officer Frank Houley. a Ca
madam Frenchman, voted and was arrested
by two deputies. Officer Need nterfered,
saying that If any arreSting was to be done
ne was to DO 1t, and carried Houley off to the
station. He was not confined in a cell but
remained in the station all day
Inc Dold front OF Sheriff Hamilton's men,
rather discouraged the Democrats, who soon
after IL O'Clock held a council of war in the
city Dulldlng. AS 1t resulted warrants were
fnf. ba l,ola II
OF deputy sheriffs on charge of intimidating
voters: Siackpole was the first to be brought
down by this sort of ammunition. The ar
rest OF Deputy Parker was legalzed at this
time by serving warrant on him.
The balllng machinery was now set in mo-
tion ana all OF the men arrested by the sher-
IFS were released under bonds. The sheriff
determined at about noon to punish the off
GERS VINO took Charland away from his dep
utieS, and warrants for the arrest of Mar
shal Tarbox, his father and Commissioner
omail were sworn out. The two latter were
captured and taken to jail, but were soon re-
Leased under bonds. To Offset these arrests
rant for the arres swoTe 0 out seG9nd war
timidation in Ward 4. He was marched
through the streets by two policemen, fol-
lowed by a bowling mob. The mob surroun-
ded the ponce station and made disrespectful
remarks, nrst ABOUT Stackpole, Parker and
Small then by one of those sudden changes
OF sentiment that sometimes sway such
crowds, they went over to the other Side and
smashed in few windows demanding the
release of the deputies. Tarbox appeared
from some unknown hiding place and UNDER
took to bargain with the Gagged deputies.
promising if they would do certain
things, probably give up en-
forcing the laws he would re-
lease them. Stackpole refused. saving that
they had arrested him by what they called
process of law, and that they must release
him in the same way. Marshal Tarbox heard
now that his precious liberty was in danger
and he cut his dickering short and
'vamOOsed" to parts unknown.
There were no more arrests and little vim
| lent excitement after half past two. although
| the city marshaPs form was occasionally To
| be seen skipping lightly across from the Bid
defOrd house to the city building and hack
again when pursuit became too hot
A conspicuous figure in this new game of
| Hunt the Marshal was Charles b. Harmon.
Esq, eX- United States marshal He. like
| Deputy Stackpole, calls himself Democrat.
| but he is too level headed to lend his aid in
any such proceedings as those of today. He
appeared on the street during the forenoon
| and was unmolested until it was noised
| about that ke was in consultation with G. III
| Prescott, Sheriff Hamilton and another man.
| who was said to be his successor in the IJni,
| ted States marshalship. Mr. Harmon is too
| large man to be touched with impunity by