The Portland daily press., 1900-12-11
w aterville's Contested
Election Case.
Mr.. Davis, the Democratic Can
didate, Given a Seat.
ESPECIAL TO THE rnEss.l


Augusta, December 10 An unusual
scene occurred In the Superior Court here
this afternoon, when Rev. w. +. Berry
OF waterviIle, the state secretary of the
Maine Civic league, was allowed to nd-
dress the court, urging jail sentences
for VIC Iations of the prohiDitory liquor
laws. Today the IS people against whom
the grand jury has just found liquor in
dictments, were summoned into court TO
settle. In many OF the new cases demur-
rers were filed.
This afternoon. when certain OF the
cases were called up, the Rev. Mr. Ber-
ny was present and addressed the court.
He said that In the city OF WaterviIle a
great work had already been done In
the way OF shutting up rumshops, and
he and other friends OF prohibition want
ed Jail sentences imuosed on the liquor
dealers. Mr.. Berry was particularly anx-
ious that William A, Barry,a well-known
MIR. Barry is the man against whom In
junction proceedings were begun for
keeping liquor saloon This case, which
has attracted widespread attention, Is
now In the upper court and questions Of
law have to be passed upon. Today
three old indictments were brought up
against Barry, and one new Indictment
returned by the grand jury which report
ed last Friday. Secretary Berry stated
TO the court that Barry was notorious
violator Of the prohibitory liquor law,
tEat his example is bad. and that jail
sentence was asked in his case. not
only to punish him, but as an example
to deter others from engaging in the
liquor business.
Hon. w. 9. Philbrook, mayor of Water
Vile, was counsel for Barry. He had
quite spirited controversy with Mir.
Berry, and the result was that he OBJ
talned settlement Of four cases against
Barry by the payment Of $5O7 In none
OF the cases brought before the court
today were jail sentences imposed. In
every case the respondents were allowed
to settle on the payment of tine and
costs, although Rev MIR. Berry was very
insistsnt that jail sentences should be
Imposed.
Much comment has been made By the
attorneys ON account of MIR. Berry being
allowed to take part In the proceedings.
Inc wholesale Indictment OF liquor deal
ers of the county is causing much feeling,
as reputable druggists who have sold
liquors only In the line Of their business.
and the hotels have been indicted, the
same as the dives. 1t is reported that
one Of the prominent druggists of the
city Is going out of business on account
OF being indicted. He claims that the
only use no has made Of liquors has been
in the compounding of medicines, that
be paws a United States tax and that 1t is
not just TO fine him at every term OF
court AZ though be was common seller
of liquors IL is stated that the whole
sale Indictment at this term of court OF
every one who had paid q United
States tax, is due to the efforts OF the
fireman of tine grand jury. who Is an ag-
gressive prohibitionist, and was elected
to the state legislature at the Sentember
elsction.
1t is claimed by the Prohibitionists
tnAt as u ulrsCb TeSuIb Oh tud iast tuuiCt-
ments, many OF the rum sellers have be en-
given such a scare they are giving up
their United States licenses and are go-
ing out OF the business. In Wateryille
alone, 1t is said, eight liquor saloons have
been closed. On the other hand, those
who are opposed TO prohibition assert
that this latest movement has helped the
cause OF resubmisslon and that 1t is car
tain this matter Will come before the leg
islaturs which meets In January, and In
a manner that Will attract the attention
OF the tax payers; that In the ranks of
the re-submissionists will be found some
of the most prominent business and pro-
fessional men in the state. 1t is probable
that the unusual activity of the PRO-
hlbitinnists In this county at this time Is
done in the belief that it Will help the
case among the Legislators soon to assem-
BILE, but Its effect may be just the oppo-
site.