The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-18
DISEASED MEAT.
John l. Best and William Gum
Charged With Selling 1t.
BOUGHT THE TUBERCULOSIS HERD
OF ALONzQ' LIBBY.

If Well Cooked it Won't Hurt Ihem-
Not Very Choice Eating, However
Case Will Come Up Saturday.
Yesterday noon Deputy Sheriffs Firth
and Plummer upon warrant drawn ny
County Attorney Libby, and issued by
Judge Robinson of the Municipal court
went out to the Best rendering works at
Scarboro Crossing and arrested Mr.. John
L. Best, the proprietor, and William
Gum, his foreman. This warrant con-
tains ten counts end charges the sale by
Best of beef cattle, known to him to be
poses of food. Each count charges the
sale of separate animal.
These cattle that were sold by Mr.. Best
were reported to County Attorney Libby
TO be the herd of Mr.. Alonzo Libby of
Wesubrook that were lately ordered
killed, after examination for tuberculosis
by the cattle commissioners, and it was
further charged that Best brought the
carcasses to the city and placed them In
his refrigerators, presumably for human
food.
Mr.. Libby had thirty-six valuable
cattle, some of which were taken sick
several weeks ago. AS stated at the time
State Cattle Commissioner, DR.. George
H. Bailey and his associates, gave the
herd thorough examination and pro-
nouncsd all the cattle badly diseased
with tn berculosis. Upon this the Cattle
Commissioners ordered the entire herd
killed. This WAS severe blow to Mr..
Libby. for the cattle we're all selected
animals and very fine specimens. They
were appraised and then came the ques-
tion of how they were to be disposed OF.
John Z. Best has q large rendering
factory at Scarboro, near Soarhoro Cross
ing. With the knowledge and consent OF
the Cattle Commissioners Mr.. Libby sold
the diseased cattle to MIR. Best, who
agreed to take the cattle to Scarboro and
kill them, using their flesh in his render
ing establishment for what grease could
be Obtained from it. For the hides Mr..
Best was to pay five cents pound, and
for the carcasses one-half cent pound.
The cattle were delivered to Mr.. Bert
and were driven to Scarboro. When they
arrived there they were in the custody of
Mr.. Best and no one except mis- employees
had any knowledge of his disposition Of
them.
When the cattle were bought by Mr..
Best it was suspected that they were not
to be used for grease, but were to be sold
I'm h, fou q vpatoh lent nv
the authorities but so secretly were the
plans made for bringing the meat to
Portland that it was impossible to prove
it at once. Within few days, however,
the off GERS Of the law claim that they
have obtained sufficient proof to enable
them to proceed against Mr.. Best. 1t is
the opinion of the officers that the whole
thirty-six cattle were dressed for meat
and brought to Mr.. Best's establishment
on Commercial street. The warrant,
however, declares upon only ten car
casses. If the whole thirty-six have been
sold here it would mean that 10000
pounds more or less, of this meat has
been eaten by Portland and Desring
people during the past week, since Mr..
Best furnishes meat to a large number
of local markets.
The meat so it la asserted. was mostly
conveyed to this city from Scarboro in
the night time. One large load. SO 1t is
said was hauled here in the afternoon.
When it drove into the yard of Mr.. Best s
esta blishment on Commercial street, 1t is
reported he was SO alarmed by repo rt
that the officers were on the track Of it
that he had it turn around and drive
directly back to Scarboro. That same
night the meat was again hauled to Port
land and deposited in Mr.. Best's re-
friger at0r.
If the meat was thoroughly cooked it is
probable the heat would Kill the disease
germs, but if put into sausage and not
thoroughly cooked rs is not unfrequently
the case, then the bacilli would cause
trouble. Still nobody wants to eat
diseased meat
The penalty for selling for human food
meat known to be Infected with disease
is heavy fine or imprisonment. The
exact penalty in this case cannot be
stated from the fact that the offence may
be construed to come under any one of
several different statutes. In general, it
may be said that if this charge is proven
against Mr.. Best his penalty will not be
"a light one. The heaviest fine that can
be imposed is $1,000 and the imprisonment
i've years.
Mr.. Best would neither affirm nor
deny the charge Of selling the meat. All
he said to the officers was thas the pub.
lication of the affair would ruin him.
Well it ought if the charge is true. If he
is innocent he will not suffer.
Best and Gam appeared before Bail
Commissioner Carroll W. Morrill, ana
gave bail in $500 each, for their appear
ance before Judge Robinson. Saturday
morning. David Murdoch was their
hondsman Gen MattOckS will defend