New-York tribune., 1902-08-10
uursKEY HIDING PLACES.
.o,,r OF THE QUEER "FINDs" OF
NAMES OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
PFDLERS' DEVICES.

,,r+land Me Aug 9.-The death on Wednes-
a., Of the Rev Samuel T. Pearson. the famous
1,robibitionist Sheriff of Cumberland County.
-,oves from the scene of Maine politics the
or who perhaps more than any other caused
10 rrohibftory liquor law to be rigidly en-
torced in the State. He clergyman Of
o,lv local reputation until he came into prom
;nence two years ago through his unexpected
araction as Sheriff by the Prohibition party on
nlatform of strict enforcement. He lived up
"a his pledge and devoted himself to the task
rsth all the spirit OF a fanatic. and the energy
of a man who was ready to sacrifice his life,
a. necessary, to the success Of his endeavor.
ue met with a large degree Of success. but was
much saddened of late months by serious
charges of corruption against his deputies,
which seemed 10 have some foundation in at
least one case. He had not been in robust
health when elected, and the strain upon mind
and body was too severe for a weak constitu-
-ion TO endure. He had been nominated for a
second term, and 1t is expected that his dying
wish will be respected. that his party should
take trusted deputy in his stead. but the cam
paign will be a different thing with this fiery
spirit out Of it.
Prohibition. as enforced by Sheriff Pearson,
has so effectively driven the liquor traffic out of
its former haunts in this city that seizures of
grog in any considerable quantity becom-
ing rare. a large part of the time of the Sher-
ifs special deputies is spent in hunting hides"
and chasing pocket pedlers.
hide is what the liquor seizers call any
port of secret repository for liquors. The term
,ame into use here ten years ago when Leander
Gram, as Sheriff of Cumberland County, was
aoing his best 10 enforce the prohibitory law
here. For two years he made Portland about as
dry as the parson-sheriff did, but almost failing
sr o+ Tra ovS Of Iie frc+ l,o
made shift, and in his last two years of office
carried half hearted kind OF enforcement.
which disguised temperance ''cranks' and
pleased one in particular.
After Sheriff Grams retirement Cumberland
County had six years of free and easy enforce
rnent. The so-caIled Bangor plan" which de-
rived its name from the second largest city in
Maine, where thirst never goes unquenched. pre-
vailed here. Three times a year. at every crini-
ual term OF the Superior Court, the rumsellers
used 10 contribute to the county treasury, their
contribution being nomnally fine, but practi-
raly low license fee.
Under the parson-sheriff's administration a
great deal has been heard about hides" The
first one OF any consequence found after the
sherifs force was installed was in the stable of
one OF the biggest liquor wholesalers in the city.
Ee was believed to be having large shipments
delivered semi-weekly, but the officers
puzzled over the question Of where he kept 1t
stored BY little detective work they learned
the secret. Backing out his span OF horses they
touched g secret spring ane the whole floor Of
the double stall rose, disclosing a capacious
storeroom. filed with barrels. kegs and jugs of
every description.
That misery likes company was repeatedly
demonstrated to the Sheriff in his first year
of serzice. When a rumseller gets caught
and relieved Of his stock without money and
without price, it grieves him to know that some
competitor of his is still outwitting the officers.
Many a straight tip that has led to the finding
Of q liquor hide has come from some saloon
keeper or wholesaler whose ingenuity has been
baffied by the Sheriff's seizng squad.