The Portland daily press., 1895-10-22
But George Benjamin Will Stick to
the Cause.
THE BIDDEFORD ENFORCEMENT
LEAGUE AND ITS WORK.
The Court Records Show that People Still
Get Full in Eiddeford and Mr.. Benja-
min Thinks the Thirsty Can Get Their
DRAINS. But the Work Will Go On.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1

ESPECIAL TO THE PRESSs1
Biddeford October 21.-There were
eight cases of drunkenness before the
Biddeford municipal court today fnl
during last week there were Is, so that
despite the vigorous campaign OF the
law and order league, it is evident that
some people here find chance to get
drink. Today's court record is larger
than usual, even for q Monday. The
new league began it's operations during
tho past summer, and at the September
term of court at Alfred it made things
exceedingly uncomfortable for large
number Of violators of the liquor law in
hasn't stopped the sale of rum. That
goes on although the league has succeed
ed in all but perhaps one or two cases in
making the men who dispense the ardent
pretty careful as to whom they sell Some
figures from the court records made inter-
estingssreadingain this connection. In the
last few weeks there have bee1 Al arrests
as compared with 81 in four weeks during
last June. Taking the longer period OF
sNyen weeks beginning September l, the
records show total of GA drunks before
the court. Seven weeks beginning on
May q. show total of 81, but of this "a
were in one week. For some reason the
last week in May was a record breaker
for Biddeford inebriates In only one
or two weeks during tho last five months
have there been as many drunks before
the municipal court as appeared here
this morning
1t may be that the drunkenness is in
part due to condition OF things which
has been observed to follow at
tempts at violent enforcement
in Portland and elsewhere, when
the necessity to which drinkers
were put OF gathering their liquor on the
ly, led them TO drink large quantities
Of split and other decoctions warranted to
put man to sleep in short order
Marshal Harmon said this morning
that he had thought there was good
deal of liquor being sold in private hous-
es in way to make it difficult to discov-
er. OF course there may be various caus-
es affecting the amount of drunkenness
at one time and another but on the face
of the returns, the league has had little
effect in checking the acquisition OF Jags
The league. men themselves do not
claim to have stopped the sale Judging
from a statement made today to a
Benjamin. Mr. Benjamin Is the young
man who in company with Mr.. John T.
Kelly last August bought and drank
liquor in order to secure evidence against
the sellers Mr.. Kelly is the proprietor
of brass foundry and machine shop here,
and is one of the leading spirits in the
temperance crusade. Mr.. Benjamin is
4ol tp1i irrh G1nnHQr
with an honest face adorned with light
moustache and is employed by Mr.. Kelly.
Today Mr.. Benjamin said that he had
no dou BIT that liquor could be procured
at many places IN Biddeford but he did
not think he could get any. Mr.. Benja-
min thinks that his usefulness as de-
tectiye is over. why he said "the
rumsellers get together down by Smiths
Corner and watch me when l go by.
There was one up there today leaning
against lamp-post and watching me al
though he kept his hand over his face.
He is a man against whom | got evidence
last summer. 81 don't believe but that
me whaling u added Mr. Benjamin.
"I have been told that man over in
Saco said he would put in S. to fund to
have me 'whaled' but | don't take ally
stock in that after the Sanford case At
any rate I shall keep right on in the
work.
mo have never received any threat
ening letters. -
"Do you think then Mr.; Benjamin"
asked the writer ''that T could get a
drink in BiddefordT'
eyes / think if you went into bar
and acted as if you knew what you
were about you could get about anything
you called for.
Mr.. Benjamin said that the league is
in the work to stay. He hoped that
lesgue would be formed in Portland and
came numerous and strong enough to Sc.
cure the appointment of men who would