The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-12-16
ASKED FOR LISK'S PARDON


| Continued from First Pave
claims that when he fred three shots
from his revolver, he used only blank
cartridges and was attempting merely to
brighten Turner.
. Mr.. turner and a third party were
stanolng SO near to each other that had
the cartridge been loaded it would seem
1ha1 somebody would have been injured.
BIT Llsk has always claimed and row
Claims that he fired blank cartridges
only He filed demurrer to the charge
Oh assault and it was thought that the
demurrer might be allowed to stand on
the records and Mr.. Lisk to give his re-
cognlzance. He was sentenced to year
In jail, however Mr.. Lyons said that
the CITY of Westbrook had been for 40
years greatly indebted to Mr.. Lisk. He
went to Westbrook when the wator pow
er IN the Presumpscot was used only by
Few saw mills. Mr. Lisk built the first
brick mills there and was prosperous
man until oyertaken by reverses due to
| unfortunate investments in the South.
The occurrence with Turner happened
when Mr.. Lisk was desperate and when
his troubles may have made him mental
ly irresponsible.
Mr.. Lyonss presentation of the case
was listened to with marked attention.
The matter was then tabled.
THE LAFONTAINE CASE q
The case of Anna Lafontaine was pre-
II
ESQ.,, of the firm of McGillicuddy Il
Morey OF Lewiston. Anna Lafontaine
is the is year old daughter of Mrs. Joseph
Lafontaine of Lisbon Falls, Mr.. Lafon.
taine being her stepfather. On the Goth
day of last July, Lafontaine was arrest
ed for keeping house of ill fame He
was taken before Trial Justice Ii. E.
Coolidge, tried .and''sentencedsto 80 days in
jail. An appeal was taken and when the
mattr was presented to the grand jury
they did not return an Indictment. At
noon of the day on which Lafontaine was
arrested, Anna was also taken into Gus
tody. She was given a hearing in the af-
ternoon by Justice Coolidge on the charge
that she WAS In danger of falling into
habits of vice and immortality. Justice
Coolidge sentenced her to the industrial
school during her minority and sent her
there on the afternoon train, although
her mother begged that the little girl
might be allowed to remain with her I'm
til she could consult a lawyer. Mr..
Morey claimed that the rights of the
child had not been guarded; that the re-
quired notice had not been given of the
action against her and that the proceed
ings were not in accordance with the
statutes. Mr.. Morey cited a decision by
the late Judge Libby in support of his
contention. He presented the affidayits
of number of citizens to the effect that
they knew of no evil practices at the
house of the Lafontaines, and believed
Anna to be a good girl. An affidavit
from Mrs. Lafontaine denied that there
was any truth in the charge against her
husband or that her child was in danger
OF falling into vice. A picture of the little
girl in the dress she wore when she made
her first communion, two letters by her
and letter from the sister in charge of
Lewiston school, stating that Anna had
been pupil there, were also presented.
Joseph Lafontaine was the only wit
ness. He is French Canadian and earns
his living as laborer. He said that when
arrested by Deputy Sheriff Huskins he
was told that he was wanted as wit
ness and would be away from his work
only few minutes. Instead he was
tried and locked up. He den ed that there
was any truth in the charge against
him.
Asked about a young woman who at
that time was boarder in his house, he
said that he had not up to the time of his
arrest heard she was bad girl.
Trial Justice Coolidge then addressed
the Council. He said he appeared not to
keep Anna where she should not be but,
because his action as trial justice was
called in question. He said that the ar
rests followed numerous complain is
about the Lafontaine house. Tt was re-
ported that the young woman who board
ed there was sESeen to commit indecent
actions, and Deputy Sheriff Huskins and
other citizens had heard improper pro-
posals made to the boarder in the presence