Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-07

that point. but we did introduce 1t
for the purpose of showing that there
was a source of information that was
open, not only to Mr.. Ballou, eut 10
his deputy sheriffs, from which they
could obtain some knowledge, If they
had been diligent in enforcing the law,
| as to what the conditions were IN
their city, if they had desired to know
them.
But we did introduce testimony here
of citizens of Bath. Mr.. Oliver, MI.
Atherton, Mr.. Parshley, and Mr.. Fur
| inton. and not only that, but Mr. Bal
LOUIS own deputies. who testified that
there were at least twelve runs shops
in the city of Bath that had always
been known as places where the law
against the sale of intoxicating liquors
was violated. Now, there was no
question in the testimony of these
gentlemen but what liquor WAS solo
openly in these places Mr. PARSLEY
saws he went into this place called
"The Ram" two or three times
week. ard ne found the bar with the
bar tender behind it, and liquors in
bottles on the shelves. and everything
most all of the places, so far as he
went. into them.
Now. gentlemen, as / have said be-
fore / don't care to spend any time
in discussing the evidence as to
whether there was open violation OF
the prohibitory law in Sagadahoe
county during the past three months.
Now to come down to the question
of whether or not the sheriff OF the
county of Sagadahoc has performed
his ditv in relation to the enforce
ment of this law The law says that
his duty is faithfully and diligently TO
INQUIRE into the supposed violations OF
this particular. Well, now, what mas
been done. 1t is undertaken mere To |
claim that because Mr.. Balleu ap-
pointed his son, a man whom ne
thought he could depend upon, to en-
force the law. that he had performed |
all the duty that the statutes placed /
upon him. Well, now / don't believe
that that question appeals to this con-
yention with a great deal of force;
that sheriff can simply appoint
somebody for the purpose, and then1
sit back i'm his office and it be
l
into supposed violations of any par
iicular law. Mr.. Ballou himself made
he statement that with all his ex-
)erience in the Office of sheriff. eter-
nal vigilance is necessary in order To
Keep down the traffic in Intoxicating
iouor. He knows very We'll that IN
rider to keep down this traffic he
must keep up a continual inquiry. and
ee to it, it is his business ard that
f his officers, to find who are the Vio-
ators of this particular law /.
Now what did he do? AS q matter
f fact it was undertaken to be put
n here. in order to get the burden Off
MIR. Ballou, that there was a sort
{ gentlemen's understanding between !
i'm and the police department of Bath
hat the police department should en-
orce the law AS matter of fact il
idn't seem that Mr.. Ballou himself /,
ad very much confidence of the police
apartment, because there were sew
raj vars that he had tow or three
equities trying To enforce the law III 6
ath, and then he took the two men
If and had his son and the two de-
uties who appeared on the stand this
fternoon enforcing the law during
he last six or eight years.
New ] submit to you as to whether
n not the appointment OF such -men and
he making of no inquiries by himself !,
II the investigating of none of the re-
,oIts that came to him. so far as any
lid come, is diigent inquiry into the
Tiolations of any of the laws of this
state. His son, whom he says he plac- !.
ID in charge of this department lastl :
summer, and who it seems with all thel
)ther officers he had they have not
made a single seiZukre in any of these
liquor shops, which he HIM
self says he knows existed there and
we're usually selling-not made single
seizure during all that time-and do ,,
you suppose Mr.. Ballou was faithfully
and diligently inquirng into violations
Of the liquor law when he knew that
sort of thing was going on? And if lie
didn't. gentlemen, if he sat hack and
allowed this condition to exist there in
Bath, when these complaints were COM ;
ing out-and he said he saw them-thatI ;
Mr.. Oliver made, and he knew that I
the police department was making seiz-
ures, and hauling off two jigger loads
OIL StuH from one place, ana he sat
back and did nothing, and never made
a single move to see whether his depu-
ties were enforcing the law until about
a week ago-don't you believe that his
action in that respect was wilful and
that he had thrown off this
burden, as he says. and that so far as
he was concerned he was making mol
effort to enforce the law?
Why. gentlemen, the very absufdityI
of calling down these four Liquor depu
ties on Sundays, when there was not q
rum-shop open except the hotels, ane
those two men walking the streets both
together, and never visiting a single
place, except the American House, .nd
enc of them went in there on business!
What sort of a performance is that for
a sheriff in the enforcement of the
Prohibitory law? Do you suppose that
that thing could go on, and nothing be
done, no seizures taken out, no COM
plants made before the Municipal |
Court of Bath by any of his deputies, |
and Mr.. Ballou be ignorant of what |
was going on, or be Indifferent about |
it, and be able to convince men that |
he was diligent in the performance OF
his duties? Is that what appeals to