Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-11-04
A BUSY DAY.
Municipal Court Officers Had Some.
thing to Do, Yesterday.
Program Was Varied Between Drunks
and Settling Family Jars.

| lice court, and the hum OF the wheels
of justice could be heard at intervals
from 8 o'clock in the morning until
long after sunset. 1t was not con-
tinuous performance such as one sees
at keith's, i'm Boston, but there was a
change of program often enough to
maintain ripple of interest upon the
minds of the habitues of the court
room. and to prompt them to linger
upon the comfortable settees of the
spectators row, rather than to go out
side and indulge in the more irksome
pastime of holding down the bricks on
some street corner.
Some people foster the impression
that a police court is a place where
there is constantly maintained a per-
sonally conducted crusade against that
| unfortunate member of the human
family, the victim of the liquor habit,
and that to him. and his punishment
| for violation of the city ordinances the
attention of the court is exclusively de-
voted. But this is not so.
/ OF course, the cases of drunkenness
which come before the court form a
proportionate part of it's business, and
attract the public's attention because
of the circumstances which oftentimes
surround them. but really they form
but small part in the years proceed
ings. And then, these cases are apt
| to get into the papers, while the civil
cases and the divers other transactions
| which are consumated within the walls
of the court room rarely find their way
| into print.
Another feature of the unwritten
4 l. Il -
| family troubles, cases which seldom
come to a head of sufficient Importance
to require settlement before the court.
for Judge Andrews is considered a
| general arbitrator, and his tact for
closing and Theoretically sealing, as it
were. the breaches that sometimes Oc-
cur between those who have taken each
| other for better or worse" brings not
small amount of work of this class
| to him. and work which is not gener-
ally productive of much revenue to the
court 1t will thus be seen that drunk
enness does not take up the entire at
tention Of the court, by any means.
The Monday program of the court
contained a variety of business some of
which the judge was able to dispose of
himself, and some. also, where the Gull
prit before the court invoked the aid
of some of the legal talent of the city.
There were three cases of drunken
ness. the victims being Joseph Bishop
and Luke Payson of Togus, and Fred
NJ Buker of this city. When asked
how he happened to get drunk. Bishop
said that he got out with some fell
Iers who were drinking, and stayed too
long" Made a mistake, didn't yOu?"
asked the judge. to which Mr.. Bishop
readily acquiesced. whereupon the
judge continued: well, we all make
mistakes: you can CO." Mr.. Payson
allowed that he also had made n mig
take. and was disposed of in the same
manner as was his predecessor. Ihr.
Buker was not SO fortunate, for it was
no mistake with him, and lie was
Obliged to make a sacrifice of three
hard earned dollars before he was al
lowed to seek the outer air.
The next case was that of Joseph
Bcaudoin, who was locked up, Sunday
night, at the instance of Abram POOler.
Mr.. Pooler did not seem to be inclined
to resort to extreme measures with the
Young man who had stolen the money
from him, and the main object that he
i ndu Ill view WdS " 6CS Ills A'AOiiSS 1850
A man with whom Beaudoin had board
ed appeared in behalf Of the prisoner.
and the court allowed them to settle the
matter among themselves which was
finally done by the third party paying
IS on account and promising to liqui-
date the balance of the debt in the near
future.
John Nadeau was before the court In
the afternoon, charged with assault
and battery upon ]. W. Bernard. Sun
day. Nadeau was found guilty. and
lined IS. He was given until this morn
ing to decide whether he would pay or
Iappeal.
Upon a warrant sworn out by Joe
Carpenter. Philip LeDuc was arrested
and brought before the court in the af-
ternoon. charged with the larceny of
Ian overcoat and watch from the house
of Carpenter, Sunday. A search was
made for the missing garment at the
home of LuDuc. but it could not be
found.
Later, second search at LeDuc' s
! home was made, and the overcOat was
| found concealed under a washing ma
chine. with the watch in one of the
pockets The court will render de-
| cision upon the case. today.