Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-12-06
More "Spotter" Testi-
mony 10 Liz .or Cases.
Court Finds -Four Of Five
Respondents Tried Guilty.
Bissett Placed Under Heavy Bonds
As Material Witness.

Seldom have liquor cases in the
municipal court been 50 closely con-
tested by counsel as the single sale
cases. which were heard Saturday be-
fore Judge aher. These cases. five in
number, depended upon evidence fur
nished by Harry Bissett, who is en-
ployed by Sheriff Getchell to secure
the same. Bissett was on the stand
the greater part of the time from 10
A. NJ. until p. M. and notwithstand-
ing the most scathing denunciations
by counsel for the respondent and at
tacks upon the reliability of the men,
oranda, which he kept in the cases,
the States witness held up to the end
and made a much better witness than
in the cases, which We're tried on Fri
day depending upon his evidence. The
most remarkable feature of his testi-
mony was his oft-repeated statement:
Il got this evidence for the State
simply because | wanted to squeal on
somebody"
Bissetts testimony was OF sufficient
weight to cause the court to find four
of the five respondents against whom
he testified guilty and impose sentence.
Sheriff Getchell was an interested
spectator of the proceedings, The war
rants in each case We're sworn out by
Deputy Sheriff George R. Vickery of
Hallowel who stated at the opening
of each case that he swore out the
warrants upon testimony furnished
him by Bissett.
The first of the cases to be heard
upon the opening of court Saturday
morning was the single sale case
against Bernard E. Getchell of Au-
gusta. The respondent was defended
| by Hon. Fred E. Beane Of Hallowell.
Bissett testified that on Nov. he pur-
chased a quart of whiskey at the drug
store OF the respondent on Water
street. Witness saw the respondent
behind the counter and asked him If
he had any booze" Respondent told
witness that he had no pints or half
pnts and the best he could do was a
''lOngnecker" Witness testified that
after telling him that the respondent
was gone two or three minutes and re-
turned with ''longnecker" for which
the witness paid him S150 Witness
| thought until the previous day that
| the man Of whom he bought the liquor
was the clerk at the drug store, Joe
| Young and told Deputy Sheriff Buck
| lin that he had bought the liquor of
| Young. He supposed that as Getchell
was the .youngerNman, of the two he
must be the clerk and did not find out
| his mistake until he saw the two men
in court Friday.
Mr.. GetChell took the stand in his
| own behalf and denied that he had
ever sold a drop of liquor of any kline
| to Bissett and never saw the man be-
| fore. and when asked what he had t.
| say about BisSett's statement replied
| He lies from start to finish" Attor.
ney Became in his closing argument de-
nounced BiSsett's character in the
strongest terms, calling him con,
| temptible creature in human form
The respondent was found guilty an(
fined $50 and costs or 80 DAYS in Jail
He appealed and furnished sureties fol
his appearance at the January term OF
| the superior court.
| j. Henry Gregoire was arraigned up
on the charge of a single sale of Liquor
on oct. is to George Turner in the
|
sett testified that he went into the
drug store of the respondent in the
| forenoon and saw George Turner
there. Witness saw Mr. Gregoire pass
a bottle to Turner containing a reddish
liquor appearing like whiskey. Tur.
ner passed over bill and Gregoire
passed him back some change. Wit
ness told Mr.. Gregoire that he would
like to have "a half pint of the same.
Respondent got witness a half pint OF
whiskey for which he paid 40 or 81
cents. Witness testified on cross ex.
animation that the bottle which he
saw Gregoire pass to Turner was un.
wrapped: that he was sure that the
liquor he bought was whiskey for he
had tasted Of it: that he was % wears
! of age and had not been naturalzed
| The respondent was defended b,
Thomas Leigh. Mr. Leigh. like Mr.
| their certificates of organization at th,