Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-30
POLICE COURT
A Bolton Hill Assault and a Case Of
Pocket Pedd|ing,
Two Interesting Matters Before JUDGE
Andrews, Saturday.

After Il lull Of several DAVIS in no.
lice court matters, there were two in
teresting cases before Judge Andrews
Saturday, and they occupied the at
tention OF the court for the whole fore
noon. The first was that of Eugene
Emery Of Bolton hill, arrested on the
charge OF assault and battery on Jud-
son Robbins. who lives in the same part
Oh the city. The alleged assault took
place, Friday afternoon, and the ar
rest was made, Saturday morning, by
CITY Marshal Breen. The scene OF the
affair was across the road from EN-
ery's home and near the Bolton hill
schoolhouse, and the alteration was
caused by words over the Gesire of
Emery to have some waste drained off
which stood near the highway and ran
into his well. Robbins is the highway
surveyor OF that district.
Both of the principals bore the scars
of the encounter on their faces. They
told their stories on the stand. and
Loyal L. Robbins, E. Fl. Ingraham and
Daniel Young, all of whom were pres
ent, were called as witnesses. In the
main the stories agreed, and as there
was no doubt that each took an active
part in the fight when it was once start
ed, the trial became an inquiry as TO
which was really to blame for starting
it. r. j. c.. Little, Esq, appeared as at
torney for the respondent. After sum
ming up the testimony, the judge said
that he would be obliged to find EN-
cry guilty of technical assault, and he
closed the case by giving both parties
some good advice.
The second case was that of John
Stevens, alias Jack" Stevens of this
city, arrested, Friday afternoon, by
Officer White on the charge of pocket
peddling. Officer White had seen
Stevens with \several parties, mainly
Togus Veterans, under suspicious cir
cumstances. and by looking from the
rear window of the store of Staples,
Smith & Moody had seen Stevens pass
q half pint bottle of whiskey to a vet
eran named Michael Gallagher and re-
ceve Il silver coin in return. Both Gal
lagher and the half pint We're in court
as evidence.
Stevens was defended by George c.
Sheldon, Esq, and his defence was that
he had not sold the liquor TO Gallagher,
but had merely acted as his agent in
getting the liquor from another party.
He did not know the man from whom
he bought it, but the transaction took
place in Il stable on upper water
street. The money which Gallagher
gave him in the rear of the stores was
simply q loan of q quarter to en-
able Stevens to take in the play at the
Opera House, that night. Gallagher,
who was very deaf and consequently
not a wholly satisfactory witness, tes-
titled that in the matter of the liquor,
Stevens had simply done an errand for
him, and had not been the seller of
the liquor or the agent of the seller,
but only the agent of the purchaser.
He had been drinking much Friday,
and his memory was poor on some
points, but he was sure that the quar-
ter was only a loan to Stevens to al
low him to go to the show.
Judge Andrews wanted more time
to investigate the business of pocket
peddlrg, as now said to be carried
on to some extent in this city, and
particularly Stevens connection with
it. and SO the case was continued, the
prisoner being allowed to go free on
his promise to appear when wanted.
During the waits between the two
cases, t. r. Davis, who happened to
be present, entertained and mystitied
the Judge and police officers with some
of his wonderful card tricks. 1t was
q feature not on the court docket, but
It furnished lots of fun for all con-
cerned.