The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-06-27
SHERIFF CRAM TALKS.
Difficulties Of Enforcing the Prohibi-
tory Liquor Law.
PEOPLE MORE READY TO CONDEMN
THAN TO ASSIST.

Some of the Difficulties Encountered-A
Specimen of the Evidence by Which
Deputies are Sometimes Condemned
Real Estate Owners and the Traffic.
Sheriff Cram, speaking yesterday con-
corning the charges rdcently made against
him said:
"In relation to these charges I will say
that there was, some time back, more
or less fault found with my force of
liquor deputies, and early in the winter
l said to some people who were repeating
what had been said to them that would
appoint any one they would select
made this offer in the belief and with
the hope that someone would be inter.
ested, enough in the strict enforce ment
of the prohibitory law to recommend
others in whom they would have con-
tidence, but nothing came of it and the
talk continued.
Then Issent up country and had two
OF my country deputies come down
Chase of Baldwin and Cook of Casco.
I had known them for long time, and
had the fullest confidence in their integ-
rity.
"They came here and went to work.
This was about the middle of Decem Der,
and they were at work at Christmas.
At that time there had been considerable
talk about the expense incurred in the
f1x, - L.
found that had two new men there was
considerable opposition and fault finding
although did not propose to increase
in the end the number of liquor deputies.
My idea was to let them take the place
of the others.
OF course l couldn't well advertise this
fact, for it would, under the circumstan-
ces, have prevented their doing business
effectually, It should be understood that
good many things are done in the
sheriff's office in experimenting and con-
victing criminals, that can't well be
when they tried to do business Christmas
day among the rumsellers, found them
selves handicapped by this matter of the
expense. They found it hard to get war;
rants from the court because of the OPP
position on the part of the county COM
missioners and others to the expense.
Mr.. Cook soon came to the conclusion
that his services wouldn't amount to
much, and said SO to me, and I allowed
him to serve as court deputy at the Jan
uary term of the criminal court. Mr..
Chase continued to serve, and did give
me some valuable Information in relation
to the saloons, but in the course of a
few weeks he was talked about as bad
ly aslthe others, Ralthough l believe that
be is thoroughly honest man.
will give you an instance in his
work here that will illustrate this point
well. 1t was reported to me that Chase
had sold out to the rumsellers. and the
evidence against him that was offered to
support the charge was that he had been
seen walking up the street srm-in-arm
with rumseller.
II investigated and found that it was
fact. He was on the street with rum
seller land they were walking arm-in-
IL
and Chase was sent with him by order
of the court, in orderEthat he might get
money with which to pay his tne.and
costs.
"This is but one instance, but I have
followed down many other charges made
against members of my force, only to
find them, ending in that way. This is
hard place, and nothing would induce
me to take it again under any circum-
stances
early in the year,I think in January,
gentleman came to me from the Wom-
en- Christian Temperance Union, and
said they were about to censure me for
failure to enforce the prohiDitory law.
81 told him to tell them that l
would appoint new deputies, recommen-
ded by them in place of my aold officers,
and later ION I SAID the same to those
who represented the church people,
and the ohibitionists. $500
II then talked with Rev. Matt S,
Hughes and the other ministers who
were with him, and made the same
statement to him and them that l did
to the gentleman who represented the
Womans Christian Temperance Union"
The attention of Sheriff Cram was here
called to this extract from the report
published sof the sermon delivered by
Mr.. Hughes last Sunday.
1T is charged that there are open bars
in some, at least, of the hotels; that the
city is full of criminals who have pur-
chased protector, and we know that rum
is fowing.and saloons increasing. What
excuse is there for this state of things?
Sheriff Cram did say to me that if /
would name three men who could
give proper bond, that he would
swear them in and set them at..work as
liuuor danutiac. INIT hut offar