Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-13
Federal Officers Arrest
Thompson for Smuggling.
Man Wanted for -Four Years
Taken Near Mars hilI.
Large Quantity Of Liquor Found In
His Wagon.

Portland, Me-. Sept. 12.-What is
considered by the Federal authorities
to be enc of the most important cap
lures for some years IN this State
was made early Monday morning near
Mars Hill in the town of Blaine. Aroos-
took county, when Deputy United
States Marshal Ferd E. Stevens of
this city and Deputy Collector of
Customs w. B. Burns arrested Samuel
Tompk!ns, who has been wanted on an
indictment for smuggling for about
four geafs during which time it is
claimed he has been across the border
in open defiance of the officers against
whom he has made repeated threats
that he wouldn't be taken.
When arrested, which was after con-
siderable resistance, Tompkins was
found to, have concealed on his per-
son murderous looking Black jack
besides heavy SO calibre revolver
which he was attempting TO draw from
his pocket before he was subdued by
the officers.
TompkinS was arrested in Septem-
Der. 1907, ON several charges of Snug
Cling and was sentenced to six months
in Cumberland county Jail on one of
these indictments: the Others being
placed on file on his promise of good
behavior. 1t is said by the officers that
Immediately upon being released from
Jail he again began to engage in the
same business going into 1t on a much
larger scale. 1t is claimed that he has
been for some time now doing an ex-
tensive business in liquor selling on
this side of the boundary, bringing
over from Canada large quantities of
liquor which he disposes of both at
wholesale and retail.
Within the past year three teams
have been taken at different times by
The customs officers, but each time
Tompkins was successful In saving
himself from capture. His operations
are said to extend over considerable
territory: and his entries into the State
may be made at st. Francis on one
day and then the next time that he
has been heard from would be at q
point 40 miles away.
Deputy Stevens has been working on
the case for some time, and ON Satur-,
LAY last went to Mars Hill, where with
Deputy Collector Burns he laid in
wait for his man on an old wood road
which leads across the line, at the BACK
side of Mars Hill, and at point about
40 rods from the line. A rail had been
removed from an old fence so as to
allow teams to pass at this point and
this rail was put on again SO as to
the removal before a team
could pass through. The officers then
concealed themselves in some straw
on the road side. They stayed there
Saturday night and again
through Sunday night up to- about 2
O'Clock Sunday morning when Tomp-
Sins showed up driving in his team. He
was allowed to go to the fence, and
when he got out of the team to remove
the rail, he was told to surrender by
the officers. Tompkins' attempt to
draw his gun was frustrated by Depu-
ty Stevens, who grabbed him by, the
wrist. He resisted arrest until 1t. was
thought necessary to use billet, and
it was then not until after quite,
struggle that he was ironed and nfted
bodily into the team.
In the wagon was found 40 quarts
of gin and four of whiskey The black
lack was a home made affair and CON
sisted of a canvass bag in which "A
stone weighing 1lh ounces was tied
lin one end. At the other end a but
tonhole had been made SO as To but
ten the implement on his coat sleeve
10 have in a handy position when at
tackled
The revolver was fully loaded when
taken away from the prisoner,
Tompkins was brought to this city
by Deputy Stevens this morning and
taken at once to the county JAIL. where
he awaits the arrival of Judge Hale,
who is now holding court in New
Hampshire, before being arraigned in
the district court I