Aspinock Memories
Detectives 'spotting' illegal liquor sales mobbed in 1896
By Terri Pearsall, AHS Curator
In light of current events, I found this article in the Putnam Patriot on September 18, 1896 very interesting and I type exactly from the paper: “Quite a sensation was created in this city on Sunday by a mob of over 50 persons who followed two men from the Elm Street House to the station, hooting and threatening the strangers, until they took refuge in the cars and held their tormentors at bay until the train started for Hartford.
“The men had arrived from New York this morning; one being James Hanse, superintendent of a Detective bureau in New York; the other was named William Hennessey, brought here by the former to assist in “Spotting” illegal liquor selling. They arrived by early boat train and put up at the Elm Street House. During the day the two detectives made good time and saw a score or more of people enter the house and ascend to an upper apartment, which they readily guessed was to get drinks. At any rate they followed the crowd and were at once supplied when they asked for liquor.
“Thus fortified with evidence that the law forbidding the sale of liquor on Sunday was being broken, they notified the agents of the State Laws and Order League, under whose orders they were working. Incautiously for detectives, they gave the landlord notice that he would be arrested for selling liquor illegally and what their mission was. At once there was an unpleasant rumpus for the “Spotters”, a crowd in the house joined in threating looks and language, and they hastened away to the station to get out of town. But they had a lot of hornets to follow them desirous of giving them some “Stinging” blows. The mob seemed eager to reach Hennessey who entered a car, but in desperation he fought off his assailants. Hanse had sought safety in a forward car.
“The troubles of the pair were not over, however. When they arrived in Willimantic, they found the police officers waiting for their arrival, having been telegraphed to by some parties in Putnam to apprehend the two men and hold them as prisoners. Chief of Police Hillhouse obeyed the message and then conferred with Captain Longden of this city. On learning the facts from him he saw he could not hold these men, and he let them go. Hennessey was thoroughly frightened, and it was his first experience as a “Spotter” and would not go into the streets of Willimantic, fearing some of the Putnam mob had followed him and might “do him in”.
“Second part came off Monday and was the innings for The Law and Order League Detectives. Secretary Thrasher of the State League arrived here and proceeded at once to ferret out the assailants of his agents. Warrants were issued against Charles A. Piper, landlord of the Elm Street House, Levi Smithe and Luke Gibney, who were brought before Judge Warner, who, at the request of their counsel, Attorney Torrey adjourned the case to Tuesday September 22nd and bound them over for trial at $200. A man named Ryan is accused of being one of the assailants, but no the pugilist Ryan who came here to be trained for a fight he is engaged to have with another noted bruiser, as was reported, but another Ryan who was not to be found; but he too will be arrested if he returns to this city. The third part will be anxiously awaited by all good citizens.
“September 25, 1896 – We said last week the men who mobbed the detectives of the Law and Order League had their innings on Sunday – Secretary Thrasher had his inning Monday, and the city, so outraged by a law defying mob on a State officer, on a Sunday too, was to have it’s innings this week, Tuesday, and was anxiously looked for. The ending is quite satisfactory to all who respect the laws of the land. The two principals engaged in the attack on the officers were Levi Smith, who keeps a saloon and Luke Gibney, a tinsmith. Gertrude Warner’s father, Judge Warner, fined Smith $40 and court costs for assault on Henessey and J. Hanse, the detectives. Both men appealed and furnished $200 bonds.
“It is not likely these men realized the enormity of their offense. They simply allowed their hatred for the “Spotters”, as they call the detectives, to over master their judgment. They think it is no worse to sell liquor on Sunday as on any other day, and when they don’t believe a thing is wrong in itself; they don’t care about any restrictive law. And because they think this way, they feel wronged to be exposed by detective work, and thus their animosity against “Spotters”, who are State Officers employed to guard the laws from being violated. The men acted under a sudden impulse of feelings, and there was no reason to believe they intended to do the men any great bodily harm, indeed, they could have no definite purpose, except to express their feelings of indignation, shared in by many in the crowd who respected the law too much to do or permit bodily harm being done. The officers of the Law and Order League will not likely be molested again for doing their legitimate duty in this city.”
Apparently, some things never change. People do not change no matter what era they live in, and it doesn’t take much to get a mob going. I found words like innings, describing the court hearings, Spotters (is that like undercover agents or snitches?) to ferret out and the detectives being molested by the mob very amusing.
I remember as a child when I lived in New Jersey there were blue laws and you could only buy certain things on Sunday. Such as you could buy canned dog food on Sunday but not a can opener to open it to feed your dog. It didn’t make sense to me then and still doesn’t now. And as I recall liquor stores were all closed on Sunday in Connecticut until 2012. So, enjoy your glass of wine or adult beverage at your favorite restaurant this Sunday and be glad you live in this day and age.
This article is thanks to the archives of Aspinock Historical Society. Aspinock Memories graces the pages of the Putnam Town Crier to keep Putnam’s history alive.
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