The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-07-31
Before the Municipal Court
Ssas Is. Emrson York, John York, George
W. York, and Prebe Guiridge.

This was an action against the defendants
for felonious assault, and wounding and
bru,sing James o. White, of this city, on
Saturday morning Of last week, sometime
liter midnight. The complaint was sworn
to by Capt. Samuel White, before S. W
Luqucs, Esq, and the examination was made
by him in the capacity Of Recorder Of the
Court. The defendants were joined in the
same complaint, and examined together
Messrs. Fales, Esq, oil this city, and Rufus
p. Tapley, Esq, Of Saco, appeared As coun-
sci for the Yorks.
The defendants were arraignea on Mon
day, and severally plead not guilty.
The evidence In the case was reported for
our paper, and We give its material parts
Francis Needs was the FIRST witness called
by the government. He testified to being
called up by Albert Watson on Saturday
morning at half past two o'clock, to aid
him in taking care Of James o. White.
whom he found badly hurt, In the street,
near his house on South St. White, he
said, was faint-wanted water-and had
the appearance Of man who had been
drinking. laid he smelt his breath. Saw
blood on White. Saw where he had been
cut. lie helped White home, in sompany
with DR.. Alvan Bacon-aw bis wounds
drcsscd-the cut was on bis left side, near
an inch deep. and half an inch long-did
not think Watson had been drinking much,
If any-white said but little, and he did
not remember Of his telling him where he
had been, or how his wounds were made,
Albert Watson S,vorn. Was in company
with James o. White, on Saturday morn.
ing, on Wentworth St.-went up With him
about midnight to Mrs. Keith's house, in
company with Frank Dudley saw Dud-
Icy up to the stcps-left him there. White
and myself came back to saloon Kept by
Dudley & Lane, in Central Block--stopped
there few moments - came out - saw q
man drunk, down-he had crutches-helped
him up, and into the Biddeford House
urged the man in the bar-room to put him
up. At first the bar-keeper refused, but
finally consented. We then returned to
Mrs Keith's-knocked ut the door several
times. A woman looked out Of the win
dow and asked us what we wsnted-told
her we wanted Mr.. Dudley-do not know
as she made reply-if she did, did not I'M
derstand Heard voices within-sounded
like mems. They damned us sone-told US
to 60 away. We knocked again-'hen saw
four men come round tho house on the side
of the tenement occupied by Mrs. Keith
All they had on were shirts, pants, and
caps. They wished to know what we want
ed. We told them We wanted to sec bud.
ley. One Of them said we must go with
him-asked them what we had dUne-asked
If anything more than knocking ut the door
-one OF them said We had disturbed him,
or thein-said we must 60 with him-askcd
his authority then told our rames-said
We were not ashamed of our rames-had
done nothing. They fell back and held q
consultation. One Of them stopped down
and paved round upon the ground. was
afraid of brick. bats, and stepped back few
PAGES, which LETT White a few PAGES in nd.
van,e. They pounced upon us without fur,
Their ceremony. Saw them striking at White
ono Of them at the same time hit me on
the side Of the head with something In hi'
hand-it felt like q brick.bat-stunned me
and fcll-bruised my knee some, and tore
my pants. When came to myself, could
hear them, but could not distinguish their
faces. Stepped round tie other way, jump
ed over the fence and went into the next
street, and returned the other way for my
friend White. Heard groans across the
street, before getting to Wentworth ST.
Went across-found White, and supported
him to Meeds' was afraid he was bleeding
to death, and called Mr.. Needs up-told
him who we were. They did not get up
auickly-went across the street and called
Mr.. Rufus Small-asked him II he would
not get horse and carry White home, as
he was b,dly hurt. One went and called
DR.. Alvan Bacon, and they carried him
home. | recognized George II. York-can.
not say what he did. They came at us
all four of them-do not know who struck
me-others were striking VIII G at the same
time-do not know who said we must 60
with him-heard no reply when we asked
for his authority-did not hear him proclaim
his authority, or name-saw no weapons, l
think. Mr.. White was not armed. had
nothing in my hand-went back to call out
Mr.. Dudlcy-this was our sole object-made
an alarm by knocking with the knucklcs-
this was the only alarm-the woman lid not
appear alarmed. She told us she had no
girls inside. We said we did not want any.
We wanted Dudley-did not inquire for
any girls No person was near Whin when
| found him.
c oss Examined. Do not think that !
got more than one blow cannot recognize
the man who struck me-struck me without
further talk or parley-was two or three
PAGES distant from White when stru.k-do
not know how he approached-I recognized
George II York when they first came round,
about the time asked by what authority
they were going to take US. When we
went up the first time with Dudley might
have stopped fifteen minutes-saw nobody
was talking with Mr. Dudley-went with
Dudley, had heard it was house Of III fame
and went out Of curiosity. Did not know
whether it was to DO exhibited outside or