The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-08-28
LewlsToN's RUM CLUBS.
Judge Cornish Declares Their Members
Liable Under the Nuisance Law.

Judge Cornish Declares Their Members
Liable Under the Nuisance Law.
Judge Cornish as reported in the Lewis
ton Sun, gave an Interpretation of the
Municipal court Thursday morning,
which if prosecuted by the officers would
make every club in Lewiston in which
liquor is dispensed in any way whatever.
a nuisance. This comes as great sur
prise to the members of these various
clubs who thought themselves secure
from the law, and could enjoy their beer
at any time, while the fellow who didn t
belong to the club had to hustle for his.
The question came up over the beer Of
the Diamond club which Judge Cornish
refused to return to the club. Judge
Cornish announced that although perhaps
some OF these clubs were run in partial
" legitimate manner, they were all liable
under the nuisance act. Judge Cornish
said: ga single gathering of men in a
place for the purpose of drinking liquor
does not constitute a nuisance. A man
might invite party of men to his house
to drink, but that would not be a nuis-
ance. But should they continue to go
there; to resort to this house to drink,
whether he gave them the liquor, they
bought it, or come into possession of 1t in
any other way, they would create a
nuisance. SIS
"Under this statute all places resorted
to for the purpose of drinking intoxicat-
ing liquors are a common nuisance. 1t is
not necessary in order to authorize con-
viction that liquors should be sold. Mere
ly resorting to the places where liquors
are kept and there drinking such liquors
is all that is necessary to be shown in
order to justify conviction. This section
of the statute is applicable to all liquor
clubs i'll this city. All members Of such
clubs are liable to prosecution under this
section of the statute.
"The section further authorizes the
county attorney or any twenty legal voters
of the city to apply to the Supreme court
for an injunction. This portion of the
section, If used, could not fail to prevent
the continuance of every liquor club to
the city.
$50 if the people of Lewiston desire
that these liquor clubs shall cease they
have but to petition the court or ask the
county attorney to do so, and the clubs
could not exist twenty -four hours. have
no doubt that the legislature Of the state
in framing the law of the existence Of
which I suppose not one in q hundred Of
our citizens are aware, intended to do
away with the clubs by strengthening the
law.
"There is plenty of law in this state.
There have been many complaints about
the clubs, and by most people they are
considered greater nuisance to the city,
and a greater injury to the young men,
than are the socalled rum shops because
these young men go at night and drink,
often staying till late into the night and
frequently becoming intoxicated. In this
case, in view Of the testimony I shall
find that this man Kicker is guilty Of as
sisting in maintaining a nuisance. Not
that he has sold liquor, or that he has as
sisted in the actual dispensation Of the
said liquors, but that he with each Of the
other forty seven members of the club,
has assisted in maintaining the nuisance.
II doubt if many Of the members of
these clus which are kept open for the
drinking of liquor know that they are
liable to fine Of not over $1,000 and to
AN imprisonment of not over year."
This ruling Of Judge Cornish has de-
lighted the liquor dealers about town,
who believe that If the many beer clubs
about town were closed up it would drive
the traffic into their places. 1t now re-
mains to be seen whether any one will act
upon the suggestion of Judge Cornish and
close up these clubs.