A Career in Jeopardy
When Wilton B. Hudson, editor of the Pawtuxet Valley Daily Times,
wrote of High Sheriff Michael B. Lynch in 1932, he concentrated
on the Warwick officer’s many successes. Hudson said very
little, however, about the problems Lynch encountered as a “Special
Liquor Constable.”
Michael B. Lynch’s difficulties in this area began in 1886
when sufficient pressure had been exerted on the state legislature
to force a constitutional amendment that prohibited the sale of
alcoholic beverages in Rhode Island.
“Boss” Brayton against prohibition
By this time, Charles R. Brayton of Apponaug was not only the political
"boss" of Warwick, but controlled the State Legislature
as well. Brayton was against this legislation and, according to
William G. McLoughlin's Rhode Island, A History, decided
to sabotage the bill. McLoughlin tells us, "...he had the legislature
appoint him chief of the state police (a newly created post) with
a large staff, …second, he had twelve new judges appointed
to try those he caught." McLoughlin points out, "Being
a noted tippler himself, he (Brayton) reported a year later that
the law was "unenforceable." Brayton won out on the state
level and in 1888 the prohibition law was repealed.
The law in Warwick
To appease those who were strongly in favor of prohibition, however,
the legislature passed a local option law the same year. Some bad
publicity stemming from Brayton’s handling of the situation
resulted in the “boss” keeping a low profile on the
issue. As a result, local laws against the use of alcohol were passed
in Warwick. The Town Council, which was controlled by Charles B.
Brayton, appointed Michael B. Lynch and Michael H. Riley "Special
Liquor Constables." Brayton, the staunch anti-prohibitionist,
exerted his political power to get Lynch and Riley appointed and
also influenced their performance.
Teetotaler P.H. Quinn
According to Warwick Town Council Records dated July 1899, Town
Solicitor Patrick H. Quinn challenged Lynch and Riley's performance.
Quinn, a leading Democrat from western Warwick and a teetotaler,
charged that Riley and Lynch failed to perform their assigned duties.
Quinn said, "Lynch in his said capacity as Special Constable
has neglected to close unlicensed saloons...has neglected to prosecute
persons selling liquors ...without a license." He also charged
that Lynch, "...has neglected to enforce the provision of ...closing
of saloons on Sundays...."
P.H. Quinn was well noted for seizing every detail and he did in
this instance. He asserted that if it were possible to look into
the windows of a saloon, anyone drinking illegally would be exposed.
Taverns, realizing, this often put screen on the windows to block
the view. Quinn charged that Lynch, "...has neglected to enforce
...the General Laws relative to the removal of screens and other
obstructions from the windows of licensed places on Sundays ...which
prevented a clear view of the premises from the outside...."
Lynch removed from office
Michael Lynch was defended by John H. Flanagan, (a colleague and
mentor of P. H. Quinn) who declined to produce evidence on Lynch's
behalf and Lynch was removed from office. In later years, Lynch
regarded this as a severe blow to his pride, for he strongly asserted
that he always tried to do his duty as he saw it. In this case,
perhaps, his loyalty to Brayton and the general disregard for prohibition
in the Pawtuxet Valley seems to have affected his judgment.
It seems obvious that Quinn, who was a constant thorn in the side
of the Republicans who controlled Warwick, may have seized upon
the issue for political rather than moral reasons as Quinn and Lynch
were lifelong friends. The episode did not hinder Lynch's career
for very long, however, and it certainly aided Quinn's struggle
to get recognized as a potential political leader. Within a few
years Quinn became a probate judge, a Democratic National Committeeman,
and was successful in helping to create the Town of West Warwick
in 1913.
Lynch, in 1901, was again appointed Special Constable under the
Liquor Law. Lynch also served as deputy sheriff and High Sheriff.
In the years following Charles B. Brayton's death, Lynch became
well known for his efforts to suppress violations of the liquor
and gambling acts.