Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1897-05-07
THE PROHIBITION WAR.
The American House and BurPee's Reh-
taurant RaIded---TOtal Costs of SO0.-
~ and s224.49 Taxed Against the

The American House and BurPee's Reh-
taurRnt RRIded---TOtaI Costs of 500
~ and s224.4a Taxed Against the
ProprIetors.
States Attorney Robb's determination
to stop the liquor traffic in Windham
county was made evident in Brattleboro
Friday afternoon, when promptly at 4
o'clock Chief of Police Hall and Special
Policemen Thayer, Wright, Worden and
Amidon descended simultaneously upon j.
G. Burpee's restaurant and the American
House. The three officers first named, af-
ter carefully searching the restaurant,
found barrel containing about 100 pint
bottles of lager beer and keg of from six
to eight gallons of whiskey in the part oc-
cupied by the Richardson market Officers
Worden and Amidon wendell their way to
one of the bed chambers of the American
House, surprising the bartender and sew
eral customers" who in their dilemma
gently poured the contents of their glasses
out of the window. About two dozen bot
ties of lager beer were seized here with
three twogallon jugs and demijohns of
whiskey and gin. The "spoils" of both
raids were carted off to the lookup, and
three arrests were made at each place A
hearing was set for o'clock Saturday af-
ternoon, but owing to the inability of Law
yer Hit to appear for the respondents it
was continued to 1870 o'clock Monday.
The case against Burpee was first taken
up. The liquor seized at the restaurant
was condemned by the court and was or
dered destroyed, and costs of $1501 were
taxed against the respondent. Mr.. Hit
then announced that Mr.. Burpee pleaded
guilty to keeping with the intent to sell
and Judge Newton imposed a fine of $40
and costs, amounting to SPOIL. A plea
of guilty of five first offences of selling was
then entered for Mr.. Burpee and a fine of
$40 for each offence was imposed with
costs, amounting to SG071. Mr. Burpee's
total bill of expense was 500 43.
States Attorney Robb was at first unde-
cided as to what method of procedure he
would adopt in the case against the Amer
lean House, as the hotel, which he sup
posed was run by George E. Richards, was
found to stand in the name of f. X. Dur
gin, Mr. Richards's son-in-law. He had
some doubt as to whether the transfer of
the business to Mr.. Durgin's name, which
was made after Mr.. Richards's prosecution
for second offence, was bona fide, but
inasmuch as Mr.. Richards, Monday after
noon, was not available as a witness in an
aIenpt W prove InaI lne trade was not
genuine, Mr.. Robb decided to prosecute
Mr.. Durgin. As in the case against Bur
pee the liquor was condemned and ordered
destroyed and costs of $lS.01 taxed against
MIR. Durgin. The respondent pleaded
guilty to keeping with the intent to sell
and paid fine of $50 and costs, amount
ing to S3O.71. He also pleaded guilty to
II first offences of selling and paid fine
of Slj for each offence with costs, amount
ing to Sl7j.71. Mr.. Durgin's whole fine
and cost was 1924 A.
Constable Thomas Harmon aud Special
Policeman Worden raided the Gulford
hotel, kept by George II. Chattield, Mon
day afternoon, but they found no liquor.
None of the persons who were found at
the American House were available as wit
nesses, as they had left town. Mr.. Robb
says that he will adhere to his determine
ton to accept no pleas of being a common
seller, and that a second offence for selling
will mean impris 1nment. A case is now
pending before the supreme court to deter
mine whether the owner of building in
which liquor is sold is liable TO prosecu-
ton. Should the decision in this case 90
against the owner Mr.. Robb will hereafter
prosecute the owners of buildings in which
liquor is sold in this county.