The Republican journal., 1903-02-12

The Bangor system Yet in Vogue in
Waldo County but Ultimatum Has Gone
Forth That it Cease March 81.
Correspondence of The Boston Globe.
BELFAST, Me-. Feb. s. In Belfast liquor
is openly sold in a number of places. Most
of the saloons have fine bar, beautifully
furnished. and some of them are stylish and
costly. Customers are served with any
kind of liquor by brisk and polite barten-
ders.
There is always, however, the danger of
liquor is usually kept behind the bar, but
any considerable demand for almost any
kind is soon supplied. Some of the dealers
have large stock in reserve outside of
their place of business.
The dealers say they will close up March
81, and it is reported that the sheriff and
his deputies will be alert after that date to
detect the slightest infringement of the
law.
The reason of this is that what has been
known as the Bangor system" has been
practiced here for number of years, and
that it must absolutely come to an end on
March 81.
The dealers have no assurance that it will
be allowed up to that time only that 'such
has been the custom"
To explain the matter briefly, there are a
dozen or more places in this city of 4,6l5 in
be bought openly and without reserve by
any ordinary appearing man. The dealers
are all prosecuted and pay Il fine, usually
$40. including costs. The supreme judicial
court is in session here in January, April
and September
All the dealers are not fined at each ses-
sion, and sometimes one is fined on two OF
more counts at one session; but on the
whole, each dealer pays d fair price for the
amount of business done.
1t has sometimes happened that an obSti-
nate liquor dealer has been confined in Jail
for several months. Such is the So-caled
"Bangor system as carried out in Belfast.
At the last September term of court S5,240
were paid into the county treasury by the
liquor dealers in fines and costs. All of the
! cases were not settled, some being carried
over to the January court.
Prosecutions are made in two ways. BY
one method evidence is presented before the
grand jury and an Indictment is found. The
accused is arrested. and if he wishes can
usually evade trial for a term or two by
giving bonds for his appearance,
The other method is the ''search and sez-
ure" process The officer must have war
rant, and appears Unexpectedly at the sus-
pected place. If LIQUOR is found it is libeled
and becomes forfeited. The dealer is ar
rested, taken before the judge of the lower
court, usually convicted and sentenced to
pay fine of 800 and costs, and be confined
in the county Jail for 80 days.
The prisoner appeals to the supreme judi
cial court and gives bonds. When his case
is called the fine and costs ($11O) is confirm
ed in nearly every case and the prisoner re-
leased from the Jail sentence.
At the January term of court this year
| there was new county attorney who be-
gan his term of service Jan. l, and no in
dictmentS were found. The court cOmmenc-
ed its session on the first Tuesday, which
was the 9th, and there had been no time for
| the new officer to procure evidence, but the
sheriff was reelected, and during the last
month of his old term had made "search and
seizure" in all the saloons.
| The prisoners were all found guilty in the
| lower court, and sentenced to fine and i'm
| prisonment They all appealed to the su-
preme judicial court and gave bonds.
The sheriff in the first month of his new
| term of Office brought them all into court
by order of the judge, and they all paid
| their fines and were released from their jail
sentence. They all went back to their places
of business and continued to sell liquor: In
| fact, their bars were all open while they
were paying their fines.
The chief justice presided at the January
term, and at the time tie fines were paid
said that for offences committed after March
| 81, 1903, the fines would be accompanied
with Jail sentence. A Jail sentence may
| be given for any offence committed before
years.
Liquor dealers say that they will close up
on March 3ist. The sheriff says that he
| shall enforce the law against liquor selling
| to the best of his ability.