Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-09

MckINDsLEY BLOCK RAlDED.
Proprietors Pierce and Colby Get Four
Months for Liquor Selling.

AS the result of a search and seizure
made, early yesterday afternoon, by Dep
uty Clifford and Officer Locke at what is
known as the Mckindsley block. 40 Wa
ter street Philip ]. Pierce and Willis Col
by. formerly of Boston, will languish for
the next four months in the I>enncbec
county jail.
The seizure was made in apartments on
the second floor of the building. There
were several gallons of liquor found. Mel
Their Pierce nor Colby denied ownership.
Immediately after the raid hearing
was held before Judge Larrabee. At the
station the seized liquor was displayed.
| There was a four-gallon jug nearly full,
| a smaller jug containing a considerable
| quantity, a pint flash, full, which was
| taken from Pierce's pocket, a decantcr
!, containing about a gill. seven wine glass
es and several TASKS which obviously had
| contained liquor. At least one lot of
i whiskey came labelled "P. ]. Buckley
Il In their testimony. Deputy Clifford and
| Officer Locke related the details of the
/ raid. and said that in watching the Nc
1 Iindsley block for several weeks they
had seen a number of apparently dissolute
people enter the place. Marshal Andrews
also testified that people of bad repute
had frequented the building.
H or the two prisoners. Pierce did the
Il greater part of the talking. He denied
II that he had ever engaged in the illegal
II sale of liquor. When asked If Colby own
II ed a share in the liquor that was seized
II Pierce stated that he and Colby had come
II from Boston, last September. and ever
n since then there had been between them
II an understanding to the effect that all
II they had should be under joint owner
III ship and that they should stand by each
II other in success or in failure. Pierce
said that If all he had was dime, Colby
| would be welcome to it, and that he knew
! Colby under like circumstances would
show equal fidelity. There seemed a pos
sbility for Colby to clear himself, but
he made no attempt to do so.
Pierce said that he had been in the
liquor business for 10 years in Boston He
declared. however, that the liquor he had
here was for legitimate use, saying that
he had always drank and would as long
as he could get the stuff. When asked
how he had supported himself since COM
ing to Gardiner, he named several jobs,
| all of short duration, which he had held.
I Tie admitted it was not long ago that he
had another large lot Of liquor come. and
said the decanter and glasses which were
| seized had been given to him a pre-
MUM from a wholesale liquor house.
1t seemed that the defendants either did
not object to being found guilty or were
less intelligent than they appeared. for
with the exception of saying they had not
made illegal sales they made no defence
whatever. Upon request of Officer Locke
they were even accommodating enough to
y surrender the bills for what liquor they
N had received in the last few days. From
these bills il was discovered that Pierce
and Colby had bought eight gallons of
whiskey i'll eight days. An average of Il
/ gallon a day is certainly considerable Ii
quor for two ordinary men to drink. Per-
hape after ALL the defendants lacked hope
rather than brillancy.
IN summing up the evidence. the judge
said that the great quantity of the liquor
which Pierce and Colby had received
within short time made it seem improb-
able that the stuff had been used for prf
vate purposes, and that this point