Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-04
SENSATIONAL CASE.
Oxford Liquor Dealer Fined by
Webster Court.
H. Frank ribbetts, An Old Offender, Must
Settle or Go Oyer-Various Webster
Matters Dug from Drifts.

lengthy liquor cases that have occurred
Tor several years was tried in the Web
ster district court Thursday forenoon
and afternoon. H. Frank Tibbetts was
the one that came before Judge Barthol-
omews judicial MILL and the sequel was
a $3.50 fine. Tibbetts is the proprietor of
the Glenwood House, which is situated
within the corporate limits of the town
Of Oxford. The trial was the result of
many midnight peep" by the cops"
which materialized in a raid last Friday
evening.
There were two charges preferred
against Tibbetts. They were the illegal
keeping of liquors with the intent to
sell, and Of maintaining a tenement
which was a nuisance,
Officer Albert j. Moon, one of the raid
ing officers, was first to take the stand
He testified that he lay behind banks,
concealed himself in the rear of trees
and used other devices too numerous to
mention to secure good view of the
mouse and It's occupants. Said that on
the nights of-Sept. l. 1897 Sept. and
Oct. 16 of same year he, accompanied by
Qfhcer Byron Clark, had watched the
house. Had seen men and women enter;
seen them come out at midnight in
and out; heard singing and the use of
profane language. All persons entered
the house by the back door, after ring
ing electric bell.
The defendants counsel, during the
offering of the testimony, remarked:
That house was not such a serious blot
on Oxford's fair name" but the judge
thought entirely different, as his juris-
diction in the case showed.
Witness continued. VNhpn raid
made defendant was asked by Officer
Clark If there was anything to drink in
the house. Reply came, There's the
pump, help yourself but the indulgent
officers politely informed him that they
were not very dry. In answer to ques-
ton if witness had searched for liquor,
he replied that he did not, he having no
search warrant. AT the conclusion of the
cross-examination the dial on the court
clock pointed to a few minutes Of
O'Clock, so court adjourned until half an
hour later
When court reopened officer Clark
another raiding officer, took the stand
and was put through fire of rapid
questions by defendants counsel. In
substance his testimony corryobo-
rated officer Moons. Telesphore
Bolduc said on Sunday, Jan. 20, he visit
ed the place and purchased liquors, pay
ing 60 cents for it. When asked If he
had been offered money to testify, or
whether he would lose his job if he did
not, he replied in the negative.
Telesphore Chaoinard said that on
same date he bought whisky at prison
ers house and paid so cents for same.
John Delair testified that he was at
house, same date, and received whisky
to drink, but did not pay for it, nor did
he see any one pay. George Patenaude
was another man who visited house on
same day, and got whisky to drink, but
did not see any one pay for it. The
testimony Of James Adams, who had re-
Gently purchased liquors at defendants
house. completed the governments side.
The judge, in summoning up the evil
dence. said that the place had been long
considered a very bad nuisance, and
the proprietor had openly time and time
again defied the law. He said that the
prisoner had been convicted once before
and had paid $50 fine. The judge up
held the officers for their perseverance
and good work in securing evidence
substantial enough to warrant a convic-
ton this time His disposal of the case
was a 500 fine for the illegal keeping Of
liquor and $50 fine for maintaining
nuisance. This, however, is optional,
and if the defendant closes his house to
business or leaves the town, the DISPOSE
ton will remain as stated above; but if
he does not move or close his house for
business the judge will fine 5000 and SEN
tence him to term in the state peni-
tertiary.
The Judge gave him until Saturday.
Feb. H. to make up his mind, and bonds
in the sum of $1,000 was given by Ezac
Joslin for his appearance on that date.
Henry King, of the law firm of Rice,
King & Rice of Worcester, appeared for
the defendant, while Lawyer Frank E.
fnrstf I1ne
BEGINNING TO BREATHE.
webster is slowly recovering from its
Klondike isolation, and Thursday the
passenger trains ran on much better
time. The first through Boston freight
that has gone through Webster since the
big blizzard commenced, was at $50 this
forenoon. 1t was the freight from Wor-
cester to Norwich Big gangs of men
were set to work on Main street early
this morning, and now ii is beginning to
assume once more its natural appear
ance. For tie past three days there.ha
been only a passage in the middle Of the
street, just wide enough to allow one
team to pass at time, as the snow
was piled UP on the sides ten and twelve
feet high. By this evening the street
will be in good travelling condition, and
traffic will be once more resumed. The
night lunch carts are still stalled, and
4hey present picturesque appearance,
although the eatables are just as hot as
formerly.
A COMING FEAST.
grand public literary and musical
entertainment will be held under the
auspices of the Webster High School
Debating Society on the evening of Fri
9
has been held, and final voting will
occur on this Friday evening. These
pupils chosen are supposed to be the
best in the school, but many who are
better qualified to fill the positions re-
signed, and substitutes We're put in their
place. The program is as follows: Mu-
sic, vocal, Miss Georgia Fits; music,
instrumental, Miss Gertrude Giroux,
Henry Steinberg; debate, subject will be
assigned later on; disputants, j. w. Gill
les, Forrest Larehar, Peter Authier, My
it's Mcguire; defamation, p. E. Quinn,
James Grady, Edith Reed, Aline Cowie;
five-minutes' speech, A. "A. Arnold, I'M
ogene Cowie; criticism, Miss Flora
Burnham.
PROBATION. OFFICERS REPORT.
Probation officer e. B. Wakefield has
submitted his monthly report to the
Spy: Whole number of criminal cases,
s.; common DRINKS, 8; simple. 80; taken
on probation. A; discharged from proba-
ton, 2; committed for breaking terms
of parole, 1; civil, 8.
N r. HurIbut is in New York city on
business this week.
Wednesday evening Frank x. Kier-
nan came the nearest to winning a S.
gold piece by rolling nine consecutive
mines. Proprietor Weaver offers that
compensation to any one rolling at cam
dlepins ten consecutive boxes of any
dannmina finn