SCOTT ACT SCANDALS

Did you know... that the tension between pro and anti-Scott Act supporters reached its boiling point on Good Friday, 1888?

In 1878, Canada was presented with a conundrum: to ban the sale of alcohol or not. The Canada Temperance Act of 1878, more commonly known as the Scott Act, allowed counties to decide for themselves if the sale of alcohol was permissible. Dufferin County chose to outlaw the sale of liquor, however that was not a popular decision among some of the residents. In fact, the Scott Act led to some tumultuous times in the county with the issue of prohibition splitting families and friends.

An article in the Shelburne Free Press makes the paper's stance on the Scott Act clear. They argue against the Scott Act citing the failure of successful prohibition in Halton County. The article calls out the hypocrisy behind the Scott Act stating that everyone is capable of violating the law and all class levels in society were breaking the law to obtain liquor. The paper goes on to state that friends and neighbours have been divided over the issue, to the point that the rifts will take generations to heal.

In the very same issue of the Shelburne Free Press, they have a tale of violence in Shelburne and the catalyst was the Scott Act. The day started out with “law enforcement,” known as the Laurel Lambs, coming to Shelburne to charge Mr. George Thompson, who was working at the Mansion House, with violating the Scott Act. Mr. Thompson managed to evade law enforcement, so they came back in stronger numbers, this time supported by the citizens in support of temperance. The constables broke down the door to the hotel and detained Mr. Thompson. The constables made an error in not transporting the fugitive right away and remained in the hotel for several hours. The delay in transportation allowed a crowd to form outside. Naturally, the crowd was made up of people who supported and opposed prohibition. The crowd naturally grew restless and some of the anti-Scott Act people began to throw snowballs and firecrackers at the horses and sleighs belonging to the Laurel Lambs.

Mr. William Johnson, a magistrate, tried to get the crowd to disperse, and failed. Mr. Thompson was fully cooperative with the constables and said he would go without a fight and even offered to pay the fine to them right there, which was refused. Mr. John Jelly then addressed the crowd telling them of Mr. Thompsons decision to go quietly, this temporarily calmed the crowd. However, Constable Alfred Finbow struck first, in an attempt to get the crowd back. This led to an eruption of violence between the Scott Act men and law enforcement against the Anti-Scott Act spectators. No one in the crowd was armed and those who were unlucky enough to face off against a constable came away very injured as the constables were armed with batons. No deaths were reported however many people were injured, with reports of broken bones. This all happened on Good Friday in 1888. Constable Alfred Finbow was later charged with embezzlement in 1889. It was alleged he pocketed $93.00 worth of fines during his time as a constable enforcing the Scott Act.