The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-03-16


Into York County Rum business /,
Special ConStabIes Petitioned Fonss
Delegation Considers Bill t.
Regulate Bsneeford Caueuses.
IsPEcIfL TO THE PREss.1
Augusta, March 14.-York oounty.cs1
usually be coulted on to furnish somG
thing spicy in the shape of a legislative
hearing. 1t began to look as II this
session would slip by without the Yorsg
county combstents getting 10 theis
work, but todaS they were here in forqs
and they made up for their loss of Tins
by having two sittings of the Lyelies3
Kind.
First they aIfeared before the governor
and council, who were treated to nearly
four hours of testimony and argument Of
the question OF whether York county
needs more enforcement of the prohibitory
law. In the eSening the York county
delegation spent nearly an equal length
of time in listening to the "pros" and
"cons' relating to proposed special legis-
lation for the pf rpose Of regulating Bid
deford caucuses.
The hearing b.fore the governor and
council came up on petition of citizens
of Biddeford, Saco, Sanford. Springvale
and kennebunk FOR the appointment of
ex-Deputy United States Marshal Edward
Ii. Emery of Sanford and ex Deputy
Sheriff Benjamin w. Parker of North
Berwick as special state constables for
the enforcement cf the liquor law in
York county. A semonstrance signed by
1900 citizens of the county, mostly resi-
deEts OF Biddeford and Saco, was put in,
together with another which bore the
signatures of all the members of the
York delegation except Representative
Deering of Saco.
The petitioners eide of the hearing was
conducted by IL. Z. Knowlton, ESQ.,. of
Portland, who was coached by ex-Judge
Cram of Biddeford. on his right, and
John p. Kelly, tho head pusher of the
petition, on his left For the remoD-
strants the legal talent comprised ex-
Mayor James o. Bradbury of Saoc and
Hon. +. w. Hoyey OF Biddeford.
Before the testimony began Governor
Powers read two letters. One was from
Mayor Levi W. Stone of Biddeford, who,
writing under date of March IA, said that
the prohibitory law is being well enforced
in that city, and there is no need OF
special oonstables. The other letter IVES
from Agent Robert Macarthur of the Pep
perell and Laconia mills, who asked the
privilege of Withdrawing his name from
the petition, which he said he signed un-
der Misrepresentation.
The tirst witness for the petitioners was
B. H. Winslow, a deacon of the Saco
Baptist church, and paymaster of the La
COMA mills. who graphically rscited the
| details of tour Of the Biddefori rum
shops, which he made in company with
John p. Kelly, last Saturday night
They walked into ninateen rumshops.
SAW men drinking, and surveyed the
shelves of bottles, decanters and glasses.
The shops ranged all the way from cheap
groggelies to palatial bar rooms.
In response to q question from Lawyer
Bradbury, Deacon Winslow admitted that
he had not made any complaint to the
officers or courts He said the officers dt6
not need any informa alton OF that nature t.
! John p. Kelly indorsed MIR. Winslow' q
statements, told how openly liquors are
sold in Biddeford and Saco, recalled
scenes of drunkenness attending recent
elections there and then offered some SUBJ
stantial evidence In the shape of bottles
of beer and whiskey which he had
bought, or caused to be bought. for him,
in Biddeford and Saco shops. Some OF
these 'samples" were purchased for him
by notorious liquor drinker.
Mr.. Kelly was given rigid cross-ex-
animation by Lawyers Bradbury and
Hoyey. He said he hadn't sworn out
any warrants or made any Complaints
since a year ago last January, when his
efforts in that line came to naught, and
MS courage was borken.
Asked If he was not instrumental IN
bringing about Democratic regime in
Saco, under which the prohibitory law Il
being violated, MIR. Kelly replied: 81
never voted the Dem oclatic ticket but
once in my life, and L guess the Lord
will forgive me for that once, as l was
honest when l voted it. -
| Editor Frank II. Dexter of the Spring.
! vale Advocate told about liquor selling in
his town, and Melville Il. Kelly, treasurer
of the Saco and Biddeford Savings insti-
tuition, described some Of the drunken
scenes he had witnessed in Saco.
Edward III. Emery of Sanford, whom
the petitioners recommended as good
man for the governor to appoint as q
special constable, testified briefly. Hs
promised, if appointed to impartially en-
force the law. Re believed Ar. Parker
would do the same; Mr. Parker had 6