The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-01-14
WHisKEY AND KEROSENE.
A Chapter In the Official Life Of Dep
uty Marshal johnson.

BIDDEFoRD, January 13-At 4 o'clocl
Saturday afternoon the case Of Richard M
johnson VS.. U. S. Marshal Charles Il. Har
mon was begun. This case was not Ions
ago tried in the Biddeford municipal cour,
and verdict was rendered in favor of Har
mon. From this decision johnson appealed
N. b. Walker and Fl. Fairfield appear fol
plaintiff, and Geo. F. Haley and Wilbur f
Lunt for defendant. For some time past
Mr.. johnson and Mr.. Harmon have beer
anything but friends, and it is thought by
some that this action was brought more t
worry the marshal than anything else The
amount sued for is little over $50, and il
for the board OF horse, provisions, pay fol
the services of a guide, and other expense;
OF trip taken by johnson in February,
1886, at Mr. Harmon's request and while
johnson was in his employ as deputy mar
shall.
Today, johnson was on the stand and wa:
subjected to searching cross-examination
by Mr.. Lunt. johnson stated that he sup
posed that he gave the items Of the bill to
his counsel. but would not swear. He
thought perhaps he had been to Presque
Isle. but couldn't tell. He thought that the
Items OF the bill were correct, but wouldn't
swear. Mr.. johnson couldn't seem to un-
derstand questions and his counsel frequent
ly attempted to coach" him. which drew
from Mr.. Lunt the sarcasm that perhaps il
would be well for them to take Mr.. johnson
in their lap and guide him. johnson con-
fessed that he had kept his accounts rather
loosely and he wouldn't attempt to swear
whether his bill was too large or too small.
He also admitted that he received S25 ON the
account from Mr.. Harmon, but after thought
said he guessed 1t was $50. He answered to
questions, that he didn't feel very sure, but
was as positive of that as he was of any
thing he had testified to-.
II told the owner of the team" resumed
Mr.. johnson, that he might not see me for
ten or fifteen days; told him where was
going, but did not say which way / should
come back +; / told Mr.. Weeks, when he put
up my. supply. of food, to put me up quart
thought needed it,
"Did you only have qusrt, Mr.. john
son?"
upon second thought think ne put me
up two quarts"
"He knew his man, presume"
"Yes, sir. But the whiskey l found had
been in kerosene bottles, SO l had to buy
five or six half pints when l got up little
farther"
whiskey?"
up on the road?"
bottles"
sit was sort of jollifcation because the
deputy marshal was going through, was it
Mr.. Johnson?"
mo, sir; drank to keep from freezing,
and gave to the driver just as you would"
Possibly. Did you renew your supply Of
fire e water when you got to Ok Bow?"
"And you didn't drink the whiskey and
kerosene?"
mo sir; gave the hostler at Ok Bow a
bottle on the return trip"
supplies? Now didn't you buy quantity Of
gin after you left Ok Bow?'
buy any"
What was the reason when you got by Ok
Bow that you took the road to Houlton in
stead of to Presque Isle? Didn't the driver
say that he had some orders for money
down that road and he wanted to collect it !?
Wasn't that the reason of your going that
PARTLY
Now, Mr.. johnson, during that trip did
you meet with any accident?"
"Yes, the horses -
THAT isn't what asked. Didn't you fall
off the team several times by reason Of drow-
Yes, sir. l fell off when the pung
slewed."
"The fire water didn't have anything to do
with it?"
mo, SIR"
"Did you prisoner buy any gin?"
Yes, sir. he did,"
Ibid he give you any?"
"No, sir l never drank any gin in my
life."
II see; you simply allowed your prisoner
to console himself without taking any conso-
lation yourself-is that it?"
II suppose So"
The case is still in progress.