St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-05-31
THE BEER BUSINESS.
HI Censes 10 Bc Profitable in ~. Johns
Vigorous Prosecutions by States
Attorney Slack.

bury-VigOrOus Prosecutions by State's
Attorney Slack.
For number OF months the beer busi-
ness has been the source OF a great deal
Of annoyance to the officers of the law
in st. Johnsbury. The article sold in
most of the barber shops, pool rooms
and small cigar stores was claimed to be
notwithstanding but the effects upon
those who drank it indicated that such
was not the fact.
About four months ago the establish
ment in the basement of the Avenue
House run by George Lemere was
searched by the officers, under the direc-
thin of States Attorney Slack, and quite
a quantity Of the beer in question seized.
Samples were analysed by Prof S. H.
Bracket and found ty him to contain
from 6 to over 8 per cent alcohol. A justice
jury trial of the case was held at which
the respondent testified that his goods
were all purchased OF George B. Clement
and E. M. Harris, who were doing
bottling business and furnished all the
local dealers in "soft drinks" Both
Clement and Harris swore that they put
up only notwithstanding hop'beer.
Notwithstanding the analysis and
other strong evidence against Lemere,
the jury brought in a verdict of acquit
tai.
Mr. Slack and Sheriff Sulloway later
made a collection of fourteen samples of
beer obtained from the various dealers
and these were sent for analysis to the
state chemist, DR.. ]. A. Linsley OF Bur-
lington. The result satisfied the states
attorney that the. beer came within the
prohibition of the statute.
Mr.. Slack also procured an order from
Judge Start authorizing and directing
Sheriff Sulloway to obtain from the
office of the internal revenue collector at
Portsmouth, N. H., list of the holders
OF Uuited States liquor licenses He
soou was possessed of satisfactory
amount of evidence aginst the beer
dealers, and last week filed complaints
against the bottlers George B. Clement
and E. M. Harris, for keeping intoxicat-
ing liquor with intent to sell, also for
keeping a nuisance. The respondents
pleaded guilty in each case and paid
fines and costs amo ,uting to $S4.02
each. Upon comp fAts being filed
against Hiram Goss, he pleaded guilty
of keeping "a nuisance and of eight first
offenses of selling Intoxicating liquor
and paid fines and costs amounting to
$199.02. Complaints were filed against
the following for keeping a nuisance,
each pleaded guilty and paid fine and
costs amounting to $29.51 in every
case: Bourque & Dumas, Joseph Hen
ault, William P. Brown, John Bernier,
Ernest Massey, F. A. Derby, Frank
Benoit, Dominick Costa. o. S. Cogswell,
Edward Buckley and Robert Cobb
pleaded guilty OF keeping Intoxicating
with intent to sell and were fined accord
ingly.
Hon. Albro F. Nichols acted as court in
these cases. The states attorney has filed
bills in chancery against the keepers and
owners of the buildings where the bust
ness has been carried on, alleging the
keeping of common nuisance and asking
the court to abate and enjoin the same.
The keepers against whom the chan
Gerry proceedings are directed are Messrs
Harris, Clement, Goss, Bourque &
Dumas, Henault, Bernier, Brown, Mas.
sey, Derby, Benoit, Costa. Allison &
Davie. The property owners are A. L.
Bailey, Citizens Savings Bank and Trust
Co., Merchants National Bank, John T.
Ritchie, M. ]. Caldbeck, Henry Cormier,
Thomas Gagner, Mrs. Carrie L. Daniels,
William A. Burke. Mrs. G. c. Burnham,
B. g. Howe and First National Bank.
Great credit is due to States Attorney
Leighton P. Slack for thus clearing out
the dives" that have been the cause of
so much trouble in this village, and the
measure of justice meted out to the
transgressors of the law is such as may
well be wholesome lesson to all inclined
to carry on compromising business.