Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-04-26
SUCCESSFUL JOINT RAID
Notorious Line House Put
Out of Business.
DESPERATE STRUGGLE.

: Essex county, Harry b. Amey. went :
Sherbrooke and visited the office OF MOI
: kill 4 Lefebvre April 10th. At th.
place he met Mr.. Morkill, collector q
provincial revenue, aud high coustabl
4 Moe. Both these officers were williu.
aud Jealous to assist in a raid. and grea
credit is due to them for suggestion
made and assistance rendered in dill
cult aud dangerous task. Agreeable
to an arrangement between the state
attorney ami the above mentiour,
gentlemen, our first constable. Charlie
r. johnson, went to Sherbrook,. ou tH.
night Of April 18th. armed with a searci
warrant and "A warrant for the arrest ut
Mr.. Chouinard, the keeper of the Lin,
House. At Sherhrooke, Mr.. johnson
met Messrs. Morkill and Moe, and. ur
the morning OF the 18th all took the
$50 train for Cookshre At Cook,hirr
a Maine Central train was taken aud Oh,
party arrived at Chouiuard'> place "i
business about 3.3j =. NJ. Mr.. ChouiuaId
met them cordially, told them he had
been expecting them, and discussion
began in the hotel office about the Local
ton of the line between Vermont aud
Canada. In his desire to protect him
self from the Canadian officers, Mr..
Choninard was not watching the Saxon.
with fair complexion, who was leaning
against the counter. In preoccupi-d
moment Chouiuard stepped into Nrg-
mont. Although johnson Is slim m
stature, aud Chouiuard strong. athletic
man. weighing over two hundred pounds.
with muscle of iron johnson was
/ upon him like Il lion from the Jungle.
and made a touch down rs far iuto
| Vermont as the walls of the room
would permit. \ fierce struggle began.
/ High constable Moe came to johnson p,
relief. Mr. Morkill, after getting tkick
III the head from Chouiuard. pat.p..rd
the Canadian line with an iron poker
over his shoulder to keep away a mob pt
men who wanted to do desperate things
to aid their fellow countrymau had they
but dared. They were meuaciug look
ing set OF individuals. Anger, hatred.
aud revenge were firmly fixed in their
faces, as they watched johnson ANA Moe
In Vermont trying to suhdue Chouiuard.
who was desperate in his eudeavors to
reach Canada again. Ia attempting 10
adjust them, Johusou'S handouts he
came locked, but the timely appearance
of an American customs officer afforded
relief, aud the handouts and twister>
were put on. Mr.. Johnson's hands were
scratched aud bleeding but the struggle
had only begun. Mrs. Chounard began
to throw hot water, some of which hit
and scalded her husband She also
threw billets OF wood some of which hit
but did not produce serious injury. Mr..
Morkill, with the iron poker OCCASION
ally threw the missiles out Of direct
course, and one dipper OF hot water pro-
ceeded back to the Canadian side OF the
house at a lively pace.
Presently, the States attorney with
deputy sheriff, F.. A. Bemis OF Island
Pond, Henry Duff, constable of Canaan,
Garlic n Green, the magistrate who
signed the warrants, the Boston Herald
reporter, with John Carbee AS driver, ar
rived from Canaan. Mr.. Duff, large
athletic man, was placed in charge OF
the prisoners and the other officers made
search. Mrs Chouinard refused to open
the door leading to the bar, but by order
of the States attorney Mr. BemiS quick
~ demolished it with the iron poker.
Forty-fve gallons of liquor was taken
from the cellar. the entrance to which is
on the Canadian side OF the line.
Chouinard had loaded revolver in his
pocket and loaded rifle behind the
bar. He offered three hundred dollars
to anyone who would rescue him. Hand
cuffs were kept tight about his wrists
until his hands were swollen to twice
their natural size. Tie was taken to
Canaan aud bound over by Justice Green
to county court.
He is not inherently a bad fellow, but
seemed like one who had read dime nov
els and whose mind was impregnated
with wild west scenes. He was i'm
pressed with the idea that he had
little world of his own on Canada line
through which no one might enter with
out his permission. He is, now, a wiser
and sadder man. 1t will probably
cost him eight hundred doIlars-all he
has--to pay his fine aud costs. He with
his wife and ten children will have to
begin life over again. We hope he will
start right next time.
States attorney Amey is to be con
graduated upon his success in closing
this place, securing his man and the
latter's stock of liquor. There is no let
up when Mr.. Amey gets after evil doors,
and his zeal in this respect is very COM