Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-07
POLICE COURT.
Two Of Thursdays DRINKS Returned,
Yesterday, and Were Jailed.
Both Tried to Explain Their Fall from
Grace but Couldn't.

That history repeats itself there is
not doubt. In the Friday morning
Journals story of the doings at the
| municipal court, there was a brief all1
| sion to the fact that one John O'Hara
and one Chas. b. Leavitt had appeared
before the tribunal, Thursday morning.
on a charge of drunkenness ana that
the charge had been sustained. II was
further stated that Mr.. O'Hara paid a
fine of IS and was allowed to go. that
he might once more breathe the free
air of heaven, while Mr. Leavitt was
accorded the same privilege without
making any deposit Of collateral for the
benefit of the county, or being subject
ed to any greater Inconvenience than
that which might be caused by a sus-
pended mittimus.
From the apparently sincere vow on
the part of one to henceforth spurn the
wine cup and to live in the future a
life of sobrlety, and the ironclad reso-
luton of the other to get out of town
as soon as he possibly could. it was
supposed that the dust of the court
room was shaken from their feet for
the last time for many moons, and nat
urally, the habitues of the court room
We're somewhat surprised. Friday
morning. when the nights roundup
was paraded before the judges desk.
and both OHara and Leavitt We're
found to be in it.
Of course. it is deplorable that men
are compelled to make such sacrifices
as often fall to the lot of those who
become addicted to the liquor habit,
but at the same time it must be con-
fessed that there is sometimes a ludi-
crous side to the situation, and that
the police court is the place where it is
likely to be brought out.
When Mr.. OHara was brought into
court. not many hours had elapsed since
he had been locked up, and it is doubt
full is many men were ever locked up
sobered of, tried, convicted, sentenced
ana lodged in Jail more expeditiously
than was the gentleman referred to
above And it came about in a funny
way. too.
In O'Hara's story to the court, he
said that he had left home early and
had gone down state street for the pur-
pose of taking the pledge, but as fur
Their details of the carrying out of that
commendable impulse must have been
DELAYED in transmission, it is not known
whether he fell by the wayside or was
cnticed away from the straight and
narrow path upon which he had en-
tered Anyhow, he showed up in the |
vicinity of the City building at about |
: o'clock. very drunk, and was prompt |
lv gathered in by the police. He sought |
the clemency Of the court, that he |
might make another attempt at reform. |
but it was no use. for his pleading was
to ears that heard not, and he was SEN
fenced to 30 days in Jail, with guar
anteed course of instruction in the art
of cutting mattress buttons.
From the testimony introduced in MI
Leayitt's case it would appear that he
was more or less handicapped in his |
endeavors to do right by having in his |
possession a four-wheeled vehicle re-
sembline a dismantled carryall. When
he was before the court, Thursday, he
mentioned the carriage. saying that he
wanted to get it to Gardiner, SO that
he could paint it, as he had in mind a
man who would buy it.
If he had been able to carry out his |
plans in this respect, all mlght NAVE
been WELL but he failed i'll his negotia- !
tons to have the carriage towed down !
to Gardiner behind an electric car and
them finding that the tires were very
loose upon the wheels, he finally sue
ceeded in getting the relic hauled down
to the town landing and submerged in |
the waters of the Kennebec. where it
now is.
Mr.. Leavitt was arrested by Officer |
White. at the North end, soon after
o'clock Thursday evening. somewhat |
the worse for wear. When he came into
court. however, he stoutly maintained |
that he was not intoxicated when ar
rested. hut the evidence of the officers
was AGAINST him, and he succumbed to |
the inevitable and went up for 80 days. |