Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-10-28
ROADHOUSE
RAlDED BY
U. S. TROOPS
Occupants Had Held
Federal Officers
At Bay
CAMP DEVENS
GUARDSMEN
CALLED UPON

0O1ulCIo AO1SC way INV Ao\S
and Effect Arrest of SO Men
and Nine Women - Raid
First of Series Against All
Similar Houses in New Eng
land
Woonsocket, r. l.. Oct. 27.-Lieut.
Hannibal Hamlin and detachment
of provost guardsmen from Camp
Devens forced the way into road
house in Cumberland early tonight
and captured 50 men and nine women
who had refused to give themselves
up. The occupants Of the house had
fired upon the soldiers, and had held
deputies from the United States mar
shafs office in Providence and mem
bers Of the New England Watch and
Ward Society at bay for more than
an hour. Charles Caswell of Lynn.
Mass, an agent Of the Watch and
Ward Society, was hit in the left leg
by a bullet fired from window in
the upper story Of the roadhouse.
Lieut.. Hamlin arrived with his de-
tachment while the inmates were fir
ing upon the federal officers and
Watch and Ward agents who had
taken cover behind automobiles and
trees. He demanded in the name Of
the President of the United States
that all in the house surrender. The
response was another volley from the
roadhouse windows. Lieut.. Hamlin
ordered his men to surround the
house. He went to a window. smashed
the blinds off and broke the glass
Pushing his revolver into the room,
he repeated his demand. The inmates,
who had gone up stairs, refused to
come out.
The soldiers then rushed the house,
smashing in the front door. They
went through the rooms covering men
and women with revolvers. Evidently
frightened by this quick action, the
inmates made no further resistance.
Lit. Hamlin seized man who was
holding a shot gun and turned him
over to the deputy marshal. Several
men in uniform were included among
the prisoners.
A double line Of federal officers, agents
of the Watch and Ward Society and
military police was drawn in the road
outside the houses and the prisoners
marched out, their hands held above
their heads. The lights of AUTOMOBILES
were turned on the line so that none Of
the prisoners could escape in the dark
ness.
Rev. J. Frank Chase of Boston. pres
ident of the Watch and Ward Society,
led the procession of prisoners with NO.
men crying and screaming and men III
uniform looking detected. was pit
liable sight. 1t was upon evidence fur
nished by Mr.. Chase that the raid was
undertaken. Two women in the house
who were found to be seriously i'll IRON
influenza were removed to hospital
in this city. 1t. Hamlin declared that
the sanitary conditions in the house
were deplorable. All of the prisoners
will appear in the federal court in Prov
idence tomorrow charged with resisting
arrest and firing upon soldiers of the
United States. The law provides for
maximum penalty of 20 years impr'son-
ment for persons found guilty of these
charges. Before the raid six deputy
marshals had entered house on Dia-
mond hill, this city, seeking violators 81
the Mann act. Thirty men and seven
women we're found but no arrests were
made. Mr. Chase said tonight that the
raids were the first OF series to be
conducted until every house of the sort
in New England is closed.