The Portland daily press., 1895-04-08
LETTER OF THE LAW.
Exeter Druggists and Hotels Refuse
to Sell Wine.
KITCHEN BAR ROOMS HAVE
STARTED UP THOUGH

And are Doing Lively Rusiness-The
Liquor Agency Closed Its Doors-A
Peculiar Condition of Things in the
New Hampshire Town.
Exeter, N. H., April 6. 6.--This town is
witnessing the liveliest liquor war
known in it's history. About the only
topic Of conversation on the streets and
in the stores and saloons is the enforce
ing OF the prohibitory law by the select
men. The selectmen give the pnblic to
understand that they are in the business
to stay, and that they mean to enforce
the law without fear or favor.
The liquor agency started by Dana VI.
Baker, the newly appointed agent, was
closed this morning. and this fact set
flying all sorts of rumors.
1t was confidently asserted that the
selectmen had found that they had start
ed in wrong by not purchasing the neces-
sary supplies of the state gent, Manson
Brown Of Plymouth, and had sent back
to Boston all the liquors which they pur-
chased Wednesday.
Such, however, was not the case, for
Mr.. Baker had only gone to Portsmouth
on business connected with the agency.
The law in regard as to whom the town
agent shall purchase his supplies from is
found in chapter 1i2, and is as follows:
"The governor snail, from time to
time, appoint one or more suitable per-
sons to furnish the agents appointed in
towns for the sale of spirituous liquors.
on such terms and under such regula-.
tions and restrictions as to him may.
seem proper.
THE governor upon the appointment
shall notify such agents severally there
OF, and of the terms, restrictions, and
regulations by him prescribed in such
manner as he shall deem proper; and
such agents shall purchase thereafter,
of the person so appointed, all spirituous
liquors that may be required for sale in
their towns and of no other person ex-
cept of the county commissioners as pro
vided in section 30 of this chapter.
"If any agent shall adulterate any
spirituous liquors which he may keep
for sale, or shall buy any spiritous liQ-
uors of any other person than the person
go appointed by the governor or the
county commissioners in cases authorized
by law, he shall forfeit for each offense
$50, for the use of the town.
Selectmen Gooch and Perkins. in con-
sultation with Mr.. Baker, in regard to
the law, decided to consult Attorney
General E. G. Eastman as to whether
they had right to purchase their sup
plies of any one but the state agents.
Attorney General Eastman held that
until Mr.. Baker was notified by the state
agent that he must purchase of him that
he acted to the best of his knowledge
and without any intention of doing
wrong.
An adjourned town meeting is to be
held May Z, and rumor is current that
an effort will be made then to pass a
vote authorizing the selectmen to abol-
ish the liquor agency. Meanwhile the
traffic is being carried on almost openly
by some of the saloons. Ale and beer is
on drauhgt, and hard stuff is being sold
on the sly.
The druggists have kept to their agree
ment not to SELF to anyone, for any
purpose whatever. Even where a stimu-
liant was neededEto save life the physic-
ian is refused. A case in point was
that of an operation of pleurotomy per-
formed onsa man this morning by DR.. W.
Fl. Mute The patient was in great need
of stimulants, and could only retain
champagne ON his stomach. DR.. Mute
applied to the druggists and the hotels,
and was refused Had not private in
dividuai come to his aid his patient
might have suffered fatal results, as the
agency had not as yet laid in supply OF
wines.