Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-12-24
DAILY KENNEBEc JOURNAL. FRIDAY. DECEMBER "a 1897.
GRAVE CHARGES
Continued from page -

hou ucSIi dl lac 3STk1OS uOuSS' {" So
resided the young woman with whom
Judge Fosters name had been con-
nected; that the next day the judge
made voluntary promise to make
public confession to the church; that
on March 8, he made such q confession
to the church.
This did net, however, end the mat
ter, and gossip continued to connect
Judge Fosters name with matters
which the church membership resent :.
ed, and. Sept. 2. 1896, the followin.;
resolutions were adopted by the execu-
tive and church membership commit
tees of the First Congregational church
of Bethel, Me-:
informed that, unless before Sept. ., nc
shall signify to the church clerk his
wishes to meet the church to answer 10
charges OF un-Christian conduct or a
most scandalous nature. his name will
without further notice be dropped from
the church rolls
Resolved. that the church clerk be In
structed to inform him of this concurrent
and unanimous action of the executive
and the church membership committees.
The following appears on the records
of the church,:
Sept. 3, 1S96.-By vote of the church,
Judge Enoch Foster was dropped from
church membership.
The feeling in this town, among all
classes. is very intense against the
judge, and the sympathy for Mrs. Fos-
ter and her son runs correspondence
high.
The Herald correspondent has had
an interview with Judge e. w. Wood
bury of Bethel, who is about so years
of age, but in the best of health and
intellectually as bright as he ever was.
and it is said that it was through hi
solicitation that Governor Robe finally
decided to appoint Judge Foster to the
supreme bench.
Judge Woodbury., who is a membe!
of the Congregational church of Bethel,
said to The Herald correspondent:
This is very painful subject to me-.
and it is only because feel l am doing
an act of justice that l will have any
thing to say or do in the matter ]
have known Judge Foster since he was
boy, and always had the highest re-
gard for his ability and his upright
ness. Indeed, i might say that l loved
him as a son. and 1t was a matter OF
pride with me when he was appontec
to the bench. because | felt he woul1
reflect honor to himself and to tn
State.
But knowing what do. cannot d.
else than to oppose his reappointment
to the supreme bench. Some of tn
leading members of the Woman
Christian Temperance Union have adj
vised me in regard to this matter. AMI
have told them that. as they profess
ed to be working to abolish not onl!
the liquor curse, but the social evil.
their duty is plain in this matter, ana
that they should present a petition
Governor Powers, protesting against
his reappointment.
Il have received letters from prom
inent men of this State in relation
his after, and l have written. an
shall continua to write my views franK
~ and without fear. l consider that Il
is the duty of the Chief Executive IL
this State to refuse to reappoint per-
son who has so conducted himself as 10
defy the moral sense Of this enti"a
community.
Il have know the present Mrs. Fostei
since she was a child. She was tn,
daughter of an old and tried friend O.
mine. and after listening to her story.
! have many times; knowing what I q
from my wn perS raj observations; know
ing the sentiment of this community, am
knowing the action of the church ci
which l am a member l could only us
my influence and my voice against this
reappointment.
II have no feeling of bitterness agains,
Judge Foster. and hoped that after the
action of the church. and promises whit h
he made, 1t would forever end the mat.
ter. Even now l wish the thing could b.
changed, and that Judge Fosters good
name could be returned and that b.
could continue to occupy the high posi-
ton which his talents and ability so EN-
inenty fit him to adorn. 1 wish thai
whatever is to be done in this matter
could be done without such publicity. ana
had hoped that Judge Foster would not
be a candidate for reappointment."
The young woman whose name has
been connected with that of the judge is
the daughter of q barber in Bethel anc
was about Is years old when the rumors
began to circulate. She is now q or 20
She is rather pretty. quite stylish and of
fair education. having attended Gould's
Academy. She is said to be at present
boarding at hotel in Boston. pursuing
a course of study in music. 1t is said
that she is in daily receipt of letters from
the judge.
Some time ago movement was started
to circulate petitions among the members
of the bar in some of the counties OF tho
State, asking Gov. Powers to reappoini
Judge Foster. This is very unusual
proceeding. The petitions have been cir
culated in Aroostook and Sagadahoc
counties. and perhaps with one or two
exceptions were generally signed.
Judge Foster is now presiding over the
supreme court of Sagadahoc county,
which opened. Tuesday. in Bath
Judge Foster was born in Newry. and
received his early education in the town
schools in Goulds Academy. Bethel. in
the Maine State Seminary. now Bates
College. Lewiston, and took partial
course in Bowdoin College, by which in
stituton he was afterward given the de-
gree of A. NJ.
He read law i'm the office of Hon. Reu-
ben Foster in Waterville. was graduated
from the Albany Law School. New York.
was admitted to the Oxford county bar
in 1865. and commenced his law practice
in Bethel. He served two terms as county
attorney of oxford county. in 1874 was
elected to the State Senate. and reelected
the following year. In 1854 he was ap.
pointed as an associate justice of the SUI
preme judicial court by Gov. ROBBIE. who
short time before had refused to ap-
point him. He was reappointed by Gov
Burleigh in 1891.
In addition to these honors. Judge Fos-