Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-12-26
RA|DED.
The Bane Of Official
Wrath Falls Hard.
Eight Places Visited in fairfield
and All Caught.
Slot Machines and Fire Water FIGURE
Prominently in Round Up.

Skowhegan, Me-, Dee. 25.-(SpeciaD -
The official wrath fell or Fairfield,
Friday. with the result that 1e gamb
ling slot-machines. 100 bottles of lager
beer, and a five-ga1lon key partly full
Of whiskey have been captured as con-
traband. and eight violators of law are
held to answer to Indictments which
the grand jury may find against them,
one of them in addition being given a
fine and Jail sentence from which he
has appealed.
The raid was planned and executed
with Sheriff Lang's characteristic ener-
gy and thOroughnesS. He had with him
as aids Deputy Sheriff Duren. and Hor-
ice NJ Weston. Fred c. Dunlap and
w. +. Clifford, police officers of Show
hogan. Eight places were visited. and
at least one slOt-m;lrhine was taken in
each place. In addition to these war
rants warrant for Intoxicating liquors
was issued against the building owned
by Amos Learned and occupied on the
first floor as a restaurant. 1t was in this
building that the liluO" was seized. The
greater part of it was found in a closet
on the second floor. whore Mr.. Learned
lives. This closet was behind the stairs
leading to the attic, and so concealed
that the door leading to it could only
be Getccted by a careful examination of
the wall. which presented to the view
IN even papered sentence. The officers
found a lock under the paper, and call
cd for a key, which revealed the hid
ing place OF the liquor. Here was the
kec Of whiskey. and the most of the
lager leer bottles. 4 few more bottles.
and a number of cmpties and glasses
were found down stairs. Two bottles
were under the loor, and two were
found in n barrel of pr anuts y quant-
" of Iithia beer was found, but not
taken.
On the premises Of Mrs. Selden G.
Scammon three machines were found.
Six Other places w"r" raided. with the
following results: William Wilett, one:
Thor1ae J. Steeib.n3ka. one; Forest Al
len. three: John Mulholin. four; Gil
bert Peters. one: l"rrd Romeo. tow.
T..o or three of those were cigar ma
| chimes. the rest We're money machins
of the common tyne. The abuse to
which they have been put was evidenc-
| ed by the fact that Sheriff Lang saw a
minor PLAYING one Of the dice machines
| for his supper i'll one of the shops
searched.
! All the respondents With the excep-
ton of Mrs. Scammon, were brought -
Skowhegan. Saturday forenoon, whore
they appeared before Judge Bachelor
| in the municipal court and pleaded
guilty, waving the reading of the war
rants. They We're held in the sum Of
800 each. on their personal recognize
ance. to appear before the grand jury
at its next sitting on Tuesday next.
| Mr. Learned he pleaded guilty also
| to the warrant for being the owner Of
! a house in which intoxicating liquors
were kept for illegal sale. but asked the
mercy of the court. through his cOun-
sci George q. Weeks. Esq. in view of
| the fact that he had rad nothing what
ever to do with the sale Of liquor him
self and had repeatedly warned his
| tenant below that lie would get caught
| if he continued He asked that if SEN
tence were imposed, the nlittiirus might
| be suspended. The court failed to see
it in the same light. and imposed q
| fine OF 800 and costs. and a sentence of
sixty days in Jail. with sixty days addi-
tiOnal in default Of payment From this
sentence Mr.. Learned appealed to the
supreme judicial court.
The machines were brought to Show
hogan. Saturday. and are held by Mr..
Lang during the time required by
statute in which claimants may appear.