Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1910 — A BOLD SMUGGLER [ARTICLE]

A BOLD SMUGGLER

Fifty years ago Ben Trimhorn was • daring smuggler on the Maine coast. He was so desperate that custom house officers were prone to let him alone. One day a new man, Jim Apherson, was appointed to the district where Trimhorn lived. Apherson was one of those men who are always in a state of unrest and consequently liable to overreach themselves. He could see no reason who Trimhorn should be let alone while others were hunted down. Besides. Apherson had ambitions to do something remarkable just to show the other men at the custom house what an inefficient lot they were; Trimhorn with his daughter occupied a cottage on the rocks overlooking the ocean. It was an unfrequented place, and no old customs man would think of tackling him there without assistance. Apherson resolved to search the bouse, saying nothing about his feat till it had been accomplished. One evening he walked off’ alone and knocked at the cottage door of the redoubtable smuggler. It was opened by a young girl, and Trimborn was seen sitting by a table reading a newspaper. *Tve come to search your house," said Apherson. “Search it.” replied Trimhorn without looking up from his paper.

The customs man went down into the cellar, then through the closets of the main door, and all the while the smuggler sat apathetically reading his newspaper, never so much as deigning to look up at the officer. At last nothing remained but to search the space under the roof. Looking up, the customs man observed a square trapdoor “1 want to go up there,” he said. “Well, why don’t you go?” “No conveyance.” “That's easy enough to get. Kathleen, bring the ladder for the gentleman.’’

Kathleen obeyed. The ladder was brought, and Apherson was putting his foot on the lower round when Trimhorn stopped him. *TII trouble you for the fare for the conveyance. You can search my house as an officer of the law, but Um not bound to furnish you transportation." “How much?” “A nickel.” Apherson produced a nickel and handed it to Trimhorn, then proceeded to mount the ladder. After making a careful examination and finding nothing he returned to the trap and was about to descend when Trimhorn called to him: “Throw down the fare.” “I’ve paid the fare.” “For going up.” “Oh, well, here’s another nickel for going down.” He tossed a nickel down on the floor. •

“Stop !” cried Trimhorn. “I want the rest of the fare. The government regulates the nation’s duties. I regulate tolls In my own house.” “Well, how much more do you want ?” “Ninety-nine dollars and ninety-five cents. That, with the nickel paid, makes the fare to come down.” “Tush, man! You’re joking.” And the customs man stepped down to the second round. Trimhorn reached to the wall beside him and from a rack took down a short, ugly looking gun. ‘’Stay where you are!” “Do you mean to interfere with an officer of the law in the performance of his duty?” “No. You have been free to search my house, but you must pay my price for using my ladder.” “And if I decline?” “You can do as you like about that” And, resuming his chair and his paper, with his gun in the hollow of his arm. Trimhorn looked prepared to keep watch till the day of doom. Apherson began to wonder how he would get out of the difficulty. Since he had not told of his intention to make the search, if missed no one would look for him at Ben Trimhorn’s. An hour went by, when he decided to propose terms. “I’ll give you $10,” he sakL “All or nothing,” replied his jailer. “I have only that with me.” “You can sign a check on the bank.” It was not till noon the next day and Apherson had become faint from hunger that he capitulated and signed the check, which Kathleen took to the bank for payment. When she returned with the money her father permitted the searcher to descend. “Now. my man,” said the latter, “what’s to prevent my proceeding against you for this?” “Nothing, and you’ll get nothing if you do.” “Why?” "No witnesses.” “Your daughter." “Was not present during the transaction.'’ Apherson, who was somewhat versed in the law, saw that his case would be a doubtful one. “However.” said Trimhorn, “compromise is go<»d policy, and to save the stuff from the lawyers I’ll divide with you on your giving me a bond of Indemnity.” Apherson went away without manifesting a disposition to settle on these liberal terms. but on-consulting counsel he .was advised to take his SSO, lose SSO and when he again made his raids make them in com]>any. He took the advice and called < n Trimhorn for SSO. but while he had been considering the matter the smuggler had vacated his premises and <lisa{»peared from that part of the coast. A

Trimhorn accumulated quite a pn’perty. but was at last taken in the act and sent to prison. He died before recovering his liberty.