The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-09-19
.NR. HlMLEN'S DETECTIVE.
Hired to Spot the Sports Among Old
Orchards Guests.
GAMBLERS AND CONFIDENCE MEN
BY THE SOUNDING SEA.

MIR. Hamlen Told the selectmen That
Some of the Summer Visitors Wouldn't
Be Tolerated in New York-He Started
an Investigation After the Grand Beach
Burglary and Has Some Interesting
!. Reports-Town Ofhcers Ready to Join
the Crusade.
Especial to the Press.l
Old Orchard, September 16.-If the
ears of the alleged gamblers Of Old Or
chard did not tingle this evening then
the old saying ''goes broke" for they
were denounced in good set terms.
A few years ago, a number Of wealthy
Portland people bought land at Grand
Beach and started in to make that quar-
ter place of summer homes and of
notable private residences. First and
last, good deal of money has been ex-
pended there, and sbut for very unfor-
tunate combination of circumstances
number of fine cottages would have been
built this fall. The bnrglaries there, the
arrest of two parties, and a counter suit
against we'll known and highly con-
nected New Yorker, prevented decided
addition being made to the taxable prop
erty of the place. As it is, a feeling If
danger and strong objection to some of
the summer residents of Old Orchard
prevented what promised to be -four
ishing building season.
This evening the selectmen's room was
crowded. representative gathering of
business men having been called to listen
to what the Portland Colony had to
say. There was full attendance of the
interested Portland people, headed by
Mr.. James c. Hamlen, of the firm of j.
H. Hamlen & Son. He is good alker,
and was full of his subject. His strong
ly put statements might have seemed
well calculated to have aroused opposi-
ton, but all present fully agreed with
him. Two of the selectmen, Mr.. Porter
and Mr.. Bickford were present. Mr..
Hamlen said that as he understood it the
object of the meeting was to see if some
thing could not be done in the interest
of the place and of all good citizens to
rid the place of class of citizens alto
gether too prominent last summer. He
said that he was satisfied that the bur-
some one from Old Orchard, and finding
that nothing was likely to be done he
had takeniup the matter himself, hired
Pinkerton detective and had men he sus-
pected shadowed. He produced big
pile of documents, and said they were
the reports sent to him showing the
criminal side of Old Orchard He took
up the reports and showed what had
been discovered. For example, his de-
tective had obtained positive evidence
regarding four gambling dens, land /
have the evidence to convict the parties
he added
He limited at an interesting story to be
told at the proper time concerning the
movements of some parties who made
Old Orchard their headquarters last
summer. He gave no names, but more
than one of the gentlemen present said
81 know them" He disclaimed the
slightest desire to do or say anything
likely to injure Old Orchard.
Mr.. Patten asked if crooks could be
arrested unless some evidence could be
obtained against them.
Mr.. Hamlen said that if he could get
convicting evidence against the crooks,
the Old Orchard authorities could do
the same. He was convinced that the
crooks and gamblers could be driven out
of Old Orchard, or confined to the place
itself.
Selectman Bickford said, s'There is no
doubt that we have set of men at Old
{ Orchard who ought not to be here. We
have class of people here who object
to any law" Mr.. Hamlen agreed with
him, and said there are places at Old
Orchard that would not be tolerated in
New York city itself. 'There are men
here every summer who would be ar
rested if seen on the streets of New
York. 1t struck him as being strange
state of affairs when a man could not be
arrested at Old Orchard, without the
active opposition of a certain class. He
said that he had letter from the chief
of police of Massachusetts city saving
of one man who made his headquarters
at Old Orchard last summer, He is
buncoe man. while the photograph of
another man was sent down from Boston
endorsed HE is an all round crook
He spoke of the presence of the ''shell
game men, at the races.
Mr. F. G.. Staples of the Sea Shore house
believed that what Mr.. Hamlen had said
was true 1t is somethi ng that is most
unpleasantly felt through the year.
There must be a stop put to this rough
element that is driving respectable people
from Old Orchard He believed that the
roughs must be put down before they
drive all respectable business out of the
place. 1t is this element that is making
short seasons at Old Orchard. The
crooks and gamblers must be put down
or the hotels must close, and property not
be worth ten cents on the dollar. He
said he might be thought radical, but
no one present said SO, and all agreed
with him.
It was then suggested that house,
known to be local house for tramps
should be closed. 1t was then suggested
that the town should pay half the
wages Of private watchman for the
Grand Beach people during four months
Of the the year, % the eottagers to provide their
own Waterman during the balance of the
year. The employment OF detective
familiar with the crooks was also sug-
gested, and was favored by all the gen
tlemen present. The meeting will prove
the beginning of little war on the