The Portland daily press., 1898-08-26

Did and Sheriff PIummer Gives His
Side of Story.
The "skin games" which have been
carried on at RigSy Park every day since
the opening of the fair have been matters
Iof general notoriety, observed by the
thousands who have visited the park, de-
soribed and commented on by the press of
the city. How long these light fingered
gentry would be permitted to ply their
thieving operations, for such they were,
has been asked by hundreds of our citi-
zens, and visitors from abroad, and why
they were not nipped in the bud by the
officials responsible for the good order
and we'll being of society at large has
been somewhat of a mystery to those who
have at heart the good name of the city
and state.
| It is pleasing therefore to note that a
wave of morality reached us yesterday
and one O'Clock the managers of the fair
began an attack on what is known as the
Midway" and directed the managers
of such shows as the "Streets of Cairo"
and the "Nautch dancing girls" 20 fold
their tents and silently steal away.
| The managers took this seemingly, very
much at heart and asked suspension of
the order until consultation could be had
with the county attorney. This was ac-
corded them and they FASTENED to the
office of Mr.. Libby and asked that they
might be permitted to remain ON the
ground, and if SO, they would change the
character of their entertainments, not
making them SO risque, SO to speak, but
would introduce some vaudeville features
that would not offend the most fasti1ious,
| for they felt If thus summarily ordered
| from the grounds, their reputation might
suffer-
They were informed by the county at
torney, in reply, that their performances
had been an affront to the decent people
OF the community, and that their presence
could no longer be tolerated, and so it is
taken for granted that the curtain has
dropped for the last time, during the
present season at least, on thess side
shows and that the voice of their
"barkers'' will be hushed.
Having scored one victory along the
line of morality the managers continued
their attack on the light fingered gentry
and taking a stroll along the road just
back of the grand stand discovered three
| or more of the notorious gang who having
been banished from Coney Island and
other resorts, make it practics to follow
county, state and other fairs in the New
England States.
The secretary, DR.. Huntington, kicked
over three Of the tables on which were the
pins which have cost many deluded in
dividuaI his hard earnings and at once
notified the sheriff that games of every
such description should be suppressed.
"For," said DR.. Huntington to repre-
sentative of the PRESS, "when these
parties hired the ground for which they
paid So foot. they were distinctly in.
formed that gambling of no kind would
be tolerated" s4
With such an understanding it seemed
not little strange that this thieving
| business should have been allowed to
| thrive so long, undisturbed by the
officers of the law, and for illumination
as to the why and wherefore some of the
county officers were interviewed, and
County, A ttorney Libby's attention being
called to the matter he said: "On Tuesday
the 23d day OF the present month, COM
pIaints were made to me that the laws of
the state were being violated in various
ways at Rigby Park, SO called, in South
Portland; that public exhibitions were
being given by dancing girls that were of
most disgusting character, indecent, and
of nature tending to corrupt good
morals; that gambling of all descriptions
was being carried on without restraint
upon various parts of the. grounds and
people were being swindled out of their
money by scores, and that the perpetrators
were operating boldly and without
molestation.
| "Upon receiving these complaints went
to Rigby Park and found Mr.. Alonzo
Libby, the general manager and called
his attention to the condition of things
about the park, relating to immoral
| shows and performances. and the
gambling and swindling that had been
complained of, informing him at this