Well, if nothing else, we at least have the problems of public drunkenness and houses of ill repute under control today in Holliston.

Criminal – Milford vs. Holliston.

May 24, 1856 – Some few weeks since the Milford Journal  in an article of some length in noticing a few cases of a criminal character – which by the way, comprised nearly all that had transpired in our midst for the previous six months – took occasion to comment rather severely upon the increase of crime in our village.  At the time, we deemed the matter thus hastily brought to our notice of slight importance, and passed it over in silence.  In looking over the Journal  of the 17th instant, the long calendar of Police Court matter and the like – occupying something less than one half of the inside, and the whole recorded in the news record of only one week  – suggest to us the idea which we have often heard expressed, and with which, at least in the present instance, we heartily coincide, viz: that “persons who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.”

On Saturday PM last 20 inst., Charles Crosby, a lad of 12 years of age, was brought before Justice Sabine of Framingham, on complaint of Mr. Abel H. Perry of this town, for assault and battery upon the person of Miss Adaliza M. Perry, teacher in school district No. 8, while she was in the act of correcting him for disorderly conduct.

He was fined $3 and costs, amounting in all to $13.38, which was paid by his father. He was let off with this small fine in consideration of his former good conduct at school.

Andrew Fitzgerald, breaking into and stealing in an oyster saloon, in Holliston, 1 year hard labor in State Prison.

WM. JEFFRIES. – This man, who escaped from arrest for keeping a disorderly house in this town, where, if report speaks true, more than one commandment was broken, was tracked by our police to Rhode Island.  A requisition for his return to our jurisdiction was made out, but we learn, has not been successful in reclaiming the accused, the offense being deemed of not sufficient seriousness to warrant the step.  We fear that our sister, little Rhody, is growing rather loose in her habits.

LIQUOR. —  We are glad to find that our neighbors of Medway and Milford are putting the screws so snugly to the liquor-trade in those towns.  “Retiring Sales” of fixtures, etc., will become frequent, we hope, in all these parts, so far as such establishments are concerned.  Why men or women should wish to put red-hot fire into their veins with the mercury plus 96 deg. is a mystery to us.  We recently saw two persons helplessly drunk about noon during a short drive in the vicinity – a respectably dressed man and woman.

The Holliston Transcript     July 25, 1857  Justice’s Court

September 26, 1857 – James Mehan was found lying in a state of beastly intoxication near the canal on Church Street on Thursday night. He was furnished lodgings in the lockup.