The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-03-21

time, but proved momentous in politi-
cal results.
In the session of 1855 the legislature
had passed what is known as the 'sDow
Intensified Liquor Law" Mr.. Dow had
been elected Mayor that spring for the
second time, as Republican, or what
more properly might be termed a Tenn
perance-Whig Republican; and majority
of the aldermen and council were Wing
Republicans. At that time political
matters were in chrysalis state, and
there was much coalition between ''Mor-
rill'' Democrats, Wings and Freesoilers.
The great mass of Wings in Maine became
Republicans and were reinforced by
some Democrats, while some of the
Wings went over to the Democracy. The
''Maine Law screws had been put down
tighter, and the feeling against it and it's
author assumed among the opposition
fever heat The clash was destined to
occur in Portland.
By the instructions of the board of
Aldermen and Council, and in connection
with vote of May Sd, appropriating
room in City Hall building for the use of
the city liquor agency for the sale of
liquors for mechanical and medicinal
purposes, liquors to the value of $1,000
were purchased, in the original packages,
of an importer in New York, by the
committee, and which came duly in
voiced to the ''City Agency of Portland
which invoice was accepted by the AL
dermen. The agency had not been put
in running order so that the opponents
of the law had Mr.. Dow arrested, on the
charge of having liquors in his posses
sion, on his own private account, with
intent to sell. By the opposition the
law was looked upon as a gross infringe
ment on the peoples liberties, and Dow
himself tyrant and usurper, a modern
Nero who gleefully played his prohibit
burning. ''The people aren't going to
stand ifp' was the earnest remark Of
many an honest citizen. And 10! the
opportunity had now come to break down
the hated Dow-to hoist him by his own
petard!
BY certain clause of the law, when
ever three citizens made oath that they
had good reason to believe person had
bought liquors with interest to sell, con-
trary to law, such liquors could be seized
and said person arrested as rumseller.
Three citizens of Portland-Royal Will
Jams, Joshua Stevens, and Alvin S. Dyer
made complaint to the police court and
took oath that they chad reason to be-
lieve that on the I'd day of June, 1866,
intoxicating liquors were kept and de-
posted by Neal Dow in the City Hall
building of Portland; said Dow not be-
whereby the liquors became forfeited
and subject to destruction, and the said
Dow liable to pay fine of 500 and be
imprisoned thirty days in the common
jail"
Judge Henry Carter, of the Municipal
Court, could not do otherwise than make
out the warrant for seizure and arrest,
but shrewdly delayed until he could put
it in the hands of Deputy Marshal Oren
Ring, instead of the officer whom the OPP
position had arranged to serve it. Mar
shall Ring that afternoon took possession
of the liquors, which were stored in the
basement of old City Hall building, at
the junction of Congress and Middle
streets. The original design was to have
got possession Of those liquors under
authority of search-warrant against Dow,
and then have mob spill them in the
streets. That design, however, was
thwarted by placing the warrant in the
hands of Mi. Ring, and not, as have
said, in the hands of the officer brought
with them to city hall by those who ap-
piled for it.
Things had now come to focus.
At an early hour that evening, just
after dark, a large crowd gathered around
the building, and there was great excite
ment. A little after s o'clock, the mar
shall, with six or eight of the police armed
with pistols, entered the room where the
liquors were stored. About half-past s
the mob began to throw stones against
the door, on Congress street, breaking
out the glass in the upper part of the
door. The marshal then gave orders to
the police to keep on either side of the
door, SO as to be out of reach of any
stones that might come in, and not to
fire their pistols until some one should !