The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-01-08
LIQUOR
DEALERS WERE
SURPRISED
Big Raid Made Saturday Night
In That Town
PARADISE AND LINE HOUSE
Line House Appeared to be Doing
Business on Vermont Side But Pro-
prietor Lived In Massachusetts

The two hotels in Stamford, the
Stamford House and the Paradise Inn
were raided Saturday evening by a
posse of Bennington county deputy
sheriffs and enough liquor was found
at both places to warrant holding the
proprietors for hearing. At the STAN
ford House three barrels of ale or
beer, so quarts Of whiskey and a
quantity of gin were seized A case
Of ale and a case of beer and small
quantity of whiskey was found at the
Paradise Hotel
There has been considerable agita-
ton in Stamford over the alleged vio-
lations of the liquor laws by the two
hotel proprietors and not long ago an
indignation meeting Of citizens was
held to protest against the inactivity
of the authorities.
Immediately following the seizures
Saturday night, Municipal Judge L.
II Holden, who accompanied the raid
ers, held a session of the court at the
Paradise Hotel Harry Heating, pro-
prietor of the Stamford House, and
Frederick NJ. Mather, who conducts
the Paradise Hotel, were arraigned
on the charge of violating the liquor
license law. Both pleaded not guilty
and were held in $1,000 bonds, each
for their appearance next Friday,
Both furnished bail. 1t was 11.30 o.
clock when the proceedings were
completed.
The raiding party consisted Of
States Attorney W. j. Meagher, De
putty Sherlffs Harvey S. Lincoln of
Rupert, ]. d. Purdy of Manchester.
George E. Corey of Manchester and
Frank Wilson of Pownal, II. NJ. Will
son of Pownal and J. NJ. Ayres of
Bennington.
village to North Adams where auto
mobiles had been provided to com.
plete the trip to Stamford The raid
ing party was divided into two parts
so that both hotels might be visited
at the same time. This plan was
adopted in order to avoid any possib-
ility of information being furnished
to either of the hotels that would en-
able the proprietors to dispose OF
whatever liquor they might have on
hand. The amount of liquor found
at the Paradise Hotel was so small
that 1t could have been destroyed in
i've minutes had the proprietor been
allowed that much Of start on the
officers.
1t would have required consider
able time for the Stamford House to
get rid of its supply. At the STAN.
ford House, when the officers came
in one door the proprietor, Harry
Heating. went out through anotner.
lie returned later, however, and ap-
peared before the court for the pre-
liminary hearing.
The officials had their plans well
laid for the raid. Some time ago
States Attorney w. ]. Meagher com
municated with Attorney General
John G.. Sargent of Ludlow in relat-
ion to the complaints being made by
residents OF Stamford and a special
officer was placed at the disposal Of
the states attorney. This special Of
ficer had been in Stamford for five
or six weeks working on the two ca
SEES He experienced considerable
difficulty in securing evidence at the
Stamford House for the reason that
there are no boarders kept at the
house and its position on the line be.
tween Vermont and Massachusetts
works In favor of proprietor who
is disposed to violate the liquor law.
One of the doors to the house is In
Vermont and the other in Massachu'
sets. This arrangement would enable
an illegal liquor seller to size up his
customers by opening the door In
Massachusetts before he would admit
them from the door In Vermont.
According to the officers the liquor
in the cellar at the Stamford House
was all on the Vermont side of the
line.