Daily Kennebec journal., 1897-12-14
SUPERIOR COURT.
December Term, Hon. Oliver @. Hail
Presidinq.


George W. Heselton, County Attorney.
w. s. Choate, Clerk.
A. l.. McFadden, Sheriff.
F. A. Small, Stenographer.
Augusta. Dec. 13.
State VS.. VIM. Cripps County Attorney
for State, A. c. Stilphen for respondent
Indictment for breaking and entering the
store of l. NJ. Levin in Gardiner. on the
night of Sept. last. and carrying away
jewelry of the alleged value of $40.
The testimony on the part of the gov
ernment showed substantially that the
clerks of the complainant who was at the
time about, left the store on the evening
in question. securely locked and gas jet
burning; that in the morning they found
an entrance had been effected by way Of
basement window which was broken
and the catch raised: watch chains and
sleeve buttons We're missing, and also
about SCI which had been left in the money
drawer by the chief clerk the drawer
being found broken.
Some of the missing jewelry was sub
sequcntly found in the possession of a
Dill girl. given to her by Cripps A bar
to watch chain was found under the
broken window. and this was found to
have been broken from chain worn by
Cripps. Upon being charged by Marshal
Drake with having committed the Of
fence, Cripps confessed to going into the
store and taking the jewelry mentioned
in the indictment. but denied taking the
money.
Upon the coming in of the court in the
afternoon Mr.. Stilphen stated to the court
that the respondent would retract his
plea of not guilty and pleade nolo con-
tendere. He had thought the cause of
justice would be better served by taking
out the testimony, because he thought
there were others more guilty than
Crlpps. and this fact would not have ap-
peared upon simple plea of guilty. He
was willing the boy should take the
stand and divulge all he knew in regard
to the matter
The case was accordingly withdrawn
from the jury and the respondent pleaded
nolO contendere.
Cripps then took the stand and stated
that he was 10 years of age; that he went
into the store at the instigation of George
Jones. one of his associates. who accom-
panied him on the raid. He stated that
they first effected an entrance to the
banking room of the Oakland National
Bank. but the vault was locked and they
came away without anything. They then
entered LAWNS store, Cripps put out the
chains and sleeve buttons: that together
they forced the money drawer. but found
no money in it. except a check for small
sum which they did not take He ad-
breaking into cottage at Fort Popham
for which he had served sentence i'm
posed in Sagadahoc county.
Jones was present in court in charge
of an officer and heard the statement of
Cripps. BY request of the court A NJ
Spear appeared for Jones.
Jones then took the stand and admitted
the truth of Cripps' statement. He also
denied that there was any money in the
money drawer.
Cripps when 15 years of age pleaded
guilty to breaking and entering store
in Gardiner and was then allowed to go
on probation. upon representation of re-
spectacle relatives and friends. Jones'
who is 10 years of age. was also out on
probation. having pleaded guilty to
similar offences.
The court imposed upon Cripps a SER
tence of one year at hard labor in the
State prison.
Upon request of Mr.. Spear sentence of
Jones upon the old Indictment was sus-
pended until morning in order to give his
parents who live in Gardiner an oppor-
tunity to be present.
The case of State VS.. Herrck for as
sault and battery was continued until
April
No other case was ready for trial and
court adjourned until morning.