New-York tribune., 1902-08-10
.NAINE'S PARSON- SHERIFF.
PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE
LATE REV. MR. PEARSON.

Portland. Me. Aug. 9 CspeciaD.-Under the laws
OF this State, the death. resignation or removal
OF a Sheriff dismisses his entire force or criminal
and civil deputies The Sheriff is the countys
executive officer All the DEPUTIES appointed
by him. and he is responsible for their acts. Hence
the wisdom OF the statute terminating their
vice the moment he quits the office.
But this system has its disadvantage a fact
fully appreciated this week by the frendds OF
temperance in Portland. Within half an hour
after the death OF the Rey Samuel +. Pearson
Cumberland County's Prohibitionist Sheriff on
Wednesday morning every saloonkecper I'm this
city of his demise. and before noon
places that have been for nineteen months hound
ed day and night by the Sherinrs force Of Iounr
seizers. Were running off beer and selling hard
liquors with impunity.
Until the appointment by the Governor of a sue
| cessor 10 the deceased Sheriff. and confirmation
of the appointment by the Governors council
Cumberland County. the largest county IN the
State, viii be without the wherewith enforce
the prohibitory liquor law. \ coroner Is in tenn
porary charge OF the administrative affairs of the
Sheriffs Office but he has authority 10 serve
criminal warrants The rumselIers are holding
high carnival. a performance which is the
strongest kind of testimonial OF the efficiency
OF Sheriff Pearsons service. PortIands police
force, which hitherto has let the Sheriff and his
deputies do practically all Of the prosecuting OF
violators Of the liquor law has been ordered to
look after that branch but liquor sellers have
such fear Of uniformed patrolmen they en-
tertained toward the deputy sheriffs.
The funeral of Sheriff Pearson took place to-day
the principal being held in the little hail of
the Gospel Temperance Mission which he estab-
lished a quarter of century ago. and has ever
since been pastor of. 1t was there the funeral OF
his wife took place two years attended by
hundreds of persons whom she and Mr.. Pearson
had been instrumental in extricating from the
slough of poverty and despondency.
Sheriff Pearson small in stature and physi-
cally fran. but he had will of iron and heart
! .1vI4t
in vain his assistance. He had the pluck and
courage of d giant Many time when called upon
by bury saloon man with a grievance against
the deputies a claim for liquors he alleged
had been illegally confscated the Sheriff would
coolly inform his visitor that he might consider
himself lucky In not being behind the bars.
II have spent most of my life selling and
/ intend 10 keep on as long as / live" declared Il
notorious Portanad saoonkeeper, in conversation
with the Sheriff
Jim. that dogged determination of yours ought
TO be harnessed to a plough legitimate in
dustry," Sheriff Pearson replied. Il want a whole
lot of just such pluckv fellows you punching
boothees in the jail Workshop and nothing will
give greater pleasure than to see you registered
in my jail crew..
To another saloonkeeper who used 10 he we'll
rated financially but had lost money under
forcement the Sheriff said: II will make you spend
your last dollar in defence what you call your
personal rights, and when you are too poor to
Rns meal 'Hut in the is'ls5 County JAM 'V"'
To the rumseler who showed serious willing
ness to go of the business the Sheriff ever
blow after catching sight of white flag. AS
county jailer he often spent hours with prisoners
whom he believed his advice and kindly ministra-
tion would help Before he Sheriff he often
took to his own home men too drunk to walk un-
aided, and allowed them to remain until they had
sobered off and reached condition in which they
could appreciate kindness. AS keeper of the
crate. Every Sunday morning. when he was in
town and his health would permit. he would ad-
dress the county jail inmates assembled in the
little chapel that institution.
He knew from experience what IL meant to be
dragged from the gutter. He addicted to in
ebriety almost the point of hopeleSsness. when
rescued by General Neal Dow and some OF his fol-
referred to those old days, but always with re-
morse.
one day last June. when testfyng witness in
the trial of one of his deputies who had been
charged with accepting bribes, Sheriff Pearson was
asked why he felt that the beverage he saw
some drinking In a Forest. saloon on certain
occasion low grade beer;
close range" the preacher-sherif replied II used
to be able to. / have been both sides OF the
bar" ,,<
He didn't know what 1t meant to give up Before
he had been in Office a month murder was com
mitted In Cumberland County. An aged woman IN
a Gorham farmhouse brutally beaten with q
club her son killed in his struggle to defend her
The woman recovered consciousness, walked IN ner
nightclothes through the deep snow an eighth or
mile to her nearest neighbors and gave descrfp-
| tion OF the murderers,
Within twelve hours from the time the murder
was committed one OF the muTdersrS. negro was