Item

The Scott Act

Beacon
March 20/1890
The Scott Act.
Inspector O’Brien Opens fire on St. Andrews.
He Gains Two Easy Victories but is Repulsed by Pop in Two Other Battles
Among the guests who have been gathered around the board of the International Hotel, the past week or two, has been a tall man, with iron gray hair and side whiskers, keen, yet pleasant blue eyes, and shaggy eyebrows, whose age might safely be placed anywhere between fifty and sixty years. More than usual interest has been taken in this stranger’s advent, from the fact that he is none other than Mr. Edward O’Brien, the Scott Act Inspector for the County.
            Although the general public were not expecting a visit from Inspector O’Brien, there were some people who appeared to know of his coming, and who were closeted with him soon after his arrival. It was not long before rumors of contemplated prosecutions were on the wing, and it became an absolute impossibility to obtain anything stronger to quench their thirst than plain pop or ginger beer.
            Not until Friday was any positive move taken b the Inspector. Then two informations were laid, and summonses were issued for the afternoon of the following day. Mrs. Ann Hatch’s case was the only one tried on Saturday by Justice Hatheway. Mr. Grimmer, the County clerk, appeared in the inspector’s behalf, Mrs. Hatch being undefended. She pleaded not guilty, and intimated to the court that “since the sneaks were going to run the town it was about time to put a fence around it and turn it into a goose pasture.” Mr. Thomas Storr was the first witness. He did not know of Mrs. Hatch selling liquor for a period of twenty years. His business as truckman frequently called him to her store, and quite often he drank pop and ginger beer there. He never got any whiskey, or brandy, or gin there, and as for lager beer, well, his opinion of that beverage was not very high. Mrs. Hatch had a bar, with bottles on the shelves, but what they contained he did not know. As the other witness, Mr. Fearby, was not on hand, the further hearing of the case was adjourned until 8 o’clock. Mr. Fearby’s evidence was no stronger against the defendant than that of the previous witness. He had been in the habit of visiting Mrs. Hatch’s shop, but for six or more months past he had obtained nothing stronger than pop stuff or sarsaparilla. She had refused to sell him liquor, and he heard her refuse it to others. No intoxicating liquor was mixed with the pop or sarsaparilla he drank. He could have detected it if he had been there. At the close of this witness’s testimony, Mr. Grimmer applied for a further adjournment until Monday afternoon, so that other witnesses could be summoned, but the justice would not grant it and dismissed the complaint.
            The other cases were set down for Tuesday afternoon, the defendants being Patrick Donaghue and William Sheehan. The former acknowledged a violation and paid his fine. Sheehan pleaded not guilty and several witnesses were examined without any evidence of guilt being disclosed. The further hearing of the case was deferred until the evening. The witnesses examined in the evening all drank “pop,” so that there was nothing left for the court to do but dismiss the complaint.
            The Inspector went upriver on Wednesday.

Beacon
March 27/1890
A Miserable Business
Rev. A. Gunn Fires a Shot at “Pop” Drinkers
A Danger that Dorchester will Receive some of Our Citizens
When Rev. A. Gunn arose in the Presbyterian pulpit on Sunday evening to deliver his usual discourse, he state that at a future day he proposed to make some remarks upon Sabbath desecration, a sin, he remarked, that appeared to be increasing rather than decreasing in this community.
            There was another subject upon which he proposed saying something about, and that was “this miserable pop business.” On previous occasions he had pointed out that the man who sells intoxicating liquor in the County of charlotte violates the law of the land. He is a criminal. The man who buys the liquor and rinks it has also committed a grave wrong. He is an accessory in crime. In this case the law does not punish the accessory, but there are cases in which the accessory is very severely punished.
            The facts, said he, which have come out at late trials here, show a low state of moral sentiment in certain quarters. They show that some men have lost much of the honor the Creator endowed them with. On more than one occasion, the preacher said that he had shown that drink demoralizes a man and deprives him of honor. If there was false swearing at the trails to which he alluded, he would not say, but this he would say—things do not look well. A man may afford to pay a liquor dealer’s fine, but he cannot afford to get the dealer clear by swearing falsely. The price was too much. It was high time that the moral sentiment of this community was raised. If it does not, Saint Andrews will lose some of her citizens, and the population of Dorchester will be correspondingly increased. There will be a short turn some day. He had raised his voice, he had given a warning. His remarks were not directed particularly to his congregation. We want a high moral sentiment here. It is time the moral sentiment was raised. If a man has done wrong, let him like a man acknowledge his wrong. The law does not punish the man who buys; it does not punish the accessory. The moral guilt remains however. If a man is guilty, let him not attempt to conceal it by a greater crime. When a man takes an oath it requires of him that he shall tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If he endeavours to conceal facts, or employs subterfuges, he has violated his oath, and punishment awaits him.
            The reverend gentleman then proceeded with his sermon, the pith of which was that if men employed the same diligence in seeking after spiritual things as they do in seeking after gold, or silver, or hidden treasure, it would be better for their eternal welfare. During the course of his remarks he stated that if he offered two dollars per day to people to attend church, he had no doubt that the church would be crowded, but, because he had something better to offer them, but few attended. Yet there were people who would accept a dollar and a half per day to go out on the lake at the Sabbath day and work. [directed at the Chamcook Ice business, it seems]