The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-04-12
Fairlawn Improvement and
Social Club Visited.
Secretary Arrested and Large
Quantity of Liquor Captured.


The largest haul In the wet goods line
that the police have made for some time
took place yesterday morning when most
good folks were at church, and the Fair
lawn Improvement and Social Club house
was the scene of the excitement.
The police have been for some time sus-
picious that the club was run more for
social benefits than for the discussion of
improvements. So it was decided yester-
day to watch the place, and II the suspicious
proved correct to pay it visit.
Officer Rockford was sent in the morn
ing to investigate, and when he saw indi-
cations OF the disposal of various kinds Of
cheer, telephoned to the station and De-
tective Haberlin was soon on the scene.
After the officers had sized up the stu
alton and noticed several men leave the
place they went to the entrance, which
they found locked, and raped for admis-
sion. They were looked over by someone
inside through peep hole in the door,
and the look was evidently not satisfac-
tory, for the man on the inside desired to
know their business.
The demand had to be made twice before
the door was reluctantly opened. The
officers found but three men inside, and
one of them proved to be James w.
Wharmby, the secretary of the organiza-
ton. As the two others said they did not
belong to the club they were allowed to go.
Evidences Of the social side of life were
plentiful, and an ordinary bar, wet from
recent usage was a prominent article of
furniture. Behind the bar was a large
chest with a portable front, which was
found to be locked.
A demand for the key not being COM
piled with the officers broke it open, and
from the bar and chest the following ar
ticles were captured: barrell of Highland
Spring ale, 70 bottles of lager, jug of whis-
key, jug Of wine, bottle of whiskey, bottle
of wine, beer schooners, Is beer glasses,
gin glasses, 1 beer pail, / beer pitcher
dice box and dice, liquor funnell and q
quantity of brass checks with the letters
''F. l.. s. c."
The entire outfit, including the secre-
tary, was placed in the patrol wagon and
taken to the station. After his arrival the
secretary volunteered the information that
''the club did no business on Sunday and
sold no liquor anyway. The members of
the club 'chipped in and bought the
liquor, and this is not sold except to MEM
bers, e,ch member purchasing a dollars
worth of checks at the rate of twenty for a
dollar"
A list of names found on the wall of the
club house was also taken, which is sup
posed to represent the present member
ship. The names are: A. Webb, j. w.
Wharmby, II. Bottomly, j. Dewsnap, r.
Fenton, T. II. Peters, III. Benn, ID. Wool
L, 4 Dofn lox
Brennan, III. Tomlinson, l.. G. Jowett, l..
Loxin, George Johnson, s. B. Emerson,
Frank Wild, Thomas Simpson, Fred Reed,
r. II. Tomlinson, Thomas A. Seery, J.
Wilkinson, s. Halstead.
In the afternoon Wharmby was ar
raigned before Judge Shove and pleaded
not guilty, and the case was continued
until Wednesday. Bonds for his appear
ance were furnished by Thomas A. Seery.
This will probably close the history OF
an organization that has in the past done
much for the improvement of the Fair
lawn district. The club was originally
formed for the purpose of taking measures
for the improvement of the locality and
the encouragement of sociability among
the residents of that section of the city.
The erection of the school building al
Fairlawn and many other improvements
are due to the influence the society once
had.
The club has recently, and in fact for
some time, been in disrepute, and many
members left the club for the reoson that
liquor was dispensed there. It is said that
before the recent election the members de-
cided to vote no-license as 1t was not re-
quired by them.