Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-05-11
Mr.. BERRY REPLIES
TO ARTICLE IN
BANGOR DAILY News

Rev. Wilbur +. Berry head NJ -,
Christian Civic league, under who,.
direction an investigation into -,
liquor and gambling conditions in ~,
city. was made short time ago 1,
which a large number of offenSs,,
against the laws of the State va.
brought to book; when asked in :.
gard TO the article in the Bar,o,
Daily News OF May :, run under tbs
caption. Drinking Whiskey 10 II,
force the Law" said that it was ~.
tirely misleading.
The article in question bemoar.s
tive drinking of whiSkey by a Sta.
employee detecting violations OF Il,
liquor laws and his sitting in at,
good many card games, playing 81,
machines and taking chances =,
punch boards" Reference was as
made TO an expense list filed hv n
investigator" and particularly .,
item of $685. for whiskey, soft drinks
and expenses. In speaking Of the mat.
ter Mr.. Berry said that the impression
was distinctly given that the invest.
gator drank in - DAYS. $3.50 worth
Of whiskey. He then made this state.
ment
Liquor selling and gambling ver
going on in Waterville, which an il
yestigator was sent 10 detect and ST.
He must secure legal evidence Of bot
offences He must gain access to places
where LIQUOR was sold and samhhn,
was carried on. An an onlooker
open spy he could not do this.
With a companion as witness he
PLAYED slot machines and tried his
luck on punch boards. so gained legd
evidence that the machines were II
working order. with his companion b.
also visited a poker Joint and toosi
hand. otherwise he could not hae
secured the needed legal evidence
With his companion he visits!
places suspected Of selling intOXicanu
bought and drank soft beer and whis
kew. treated persons found In these
places. purchased 4 pint or quart d.
whiskey where possible and treatst
from the bottle hangers-on about
these places. All this was necessaT
To avoid the suspicion that they We're
spoilers" and TO secure legal eN.
dence against the offenders
There were purchased during the
DAYS three quarts and eight pntrS
whiskey which. az 81 quart, accouS
for SIS OF the $3.50. A consderabi
number of persons drank Of this wins
KEY. some of which still remains IN
bottles. which are in my possession.
But what resulted from the work
this Investigator? OF that the artic
did not speak. Gambling devices WEI
put out of SIX places; a poker joint va
lroken up for a lime at least, its keep'
ard FIVE other gamblers we're fined ar
some Of them promised Jail sentences @
the next offence; nearly 500 in fines an
costs were paid into the county treas
urv: Eve persons were let off on pay
ment Of costs with the warning not I
repeat the offence.
Five persons were prosecuted n
violating the liquor laws. They wer
found gui!ty on the charge Of single 50.
and appealed. Four of these are houH
over 20 the superior court on a nuisane
complaint and are under $40 each. an
the fifth is under $500 bonds on his ap
peal.
Finally, for the total expense nams
in your articles, 5000, nearly $50 has al
ready been paid into the county ,reaslr'
and four men are under bonds to pay
minimum of slcco more and costs, hu
as most of these are old offenders III
fines will doubtless be many times mort
than $1,000. From an outlay Of sS5
then. there will be returned TO the cogr
" At least $500 in collected fines. vhc:
from a purely financial standpoint Is q
fairly good return.
But there are other results Of "a
more Importance. Watervile lawbreak
ers know that they have State author.
ties to deal with. Respect for law hal
been promoted. The dignity Of law hal
been maintained. The public has heer
protected from persistent lawbreakers
through the fear inspired among TIL
lawless by the investigators and TN
knowledge that If the offences coatnui
the work Of other investigators is sur.
to get them again.