100 Years Ago: 1924

Wholesale seizures of slot machines were being made by Capt. Picard and a detail of Lewiston policemen in various Lewiston stores on Friday afternoon.

At 3:15 o’clock 16 machines alleged to be gambling devices were brought to the Lewiston police station. No arrests were made. The officers accompanying Captain Picard were: Arthur Lebrecque, A. J. Petropulos, P. M. McGillicuddy.

The Lewiston police had not seized any slot machines for seven or eight years said Capt. Picard. The devices resemble cash registers except that there are no keys to press.

In most of the machines a nickel is deposited, a lever pulled and a dial points to a triple design which varies on different machines, upon a revolving plate. A specific combination of designs would win a confection or some gum.

50 Years Ago: 1974

Steve Bernard, son of Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Bernard of Pinewoods Rd., Lewiston, and his friend Smitty are currently doing a ventriloquist act in Lewiston public schools on the topic of drug abuse. The 14-year- old ninth grader from Lewiston Junior High School has been practicing ventriloquism for one year.

25 Years Ago: 1999

Maine hunters better set their sights on using non-violent ways of dealing with their spouses and families. Otherwise, they will not only end up in jail, but they’ll put an end to their hunting pursuits.
That’s the message in a new informational campaign by the Abused Women’s Advocacy Project in Auburn.

“There really needs to be responsible gun ownership just as there needs to be responsible relationships that don’t involve violence,” said Chris Fenno, AWAP executive director. “Just like you respect your gun, you need to have respect in your relationship and make sure it doesn’t involve violence. Period. You lose the privilege to hunt or own that gun if you’re convicted of domestic assault.”

The campaign is new; the federal law that prohibits convicted abusers from owning any type of gun is three years old.

Fenno said her organization’s campaign is a direct result of the Carole Cross murder earlier this summer. Cross was murdered by her longtime boyfriend, Kenneth Emrick, outside their Lewiston apartment Aug. 10.

Fenno said she wants to get the word out to gun owners, many of whom, she said, are not aware of the federal law.

The material used in Looking Back is produced exactly as it originally appeared although misspellings and errors may be corrected.