Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-18

pher Smith was a man easily infiu-
enced, but was a good man to work.
Asked if he had ever seen him under
the influence of liquor witness testi-
fed that he had seen him when he had
Attorney Harrington asked witness If
he had ever sold Smith cider and he
replied that he had. Witness also tes-
titled that Smith had purchased sec
ond- hand harness for SIS when S.
would have been good price.
Leo Dunn, young man ~ years OF
age, who said he was studying for the
ministry, testified that Smith was de-
cidedly unfit to do business. Witness
remembered distinctly that on several
occasions 10 years ago when he asked
Smith to go to places with him that
| the man although then past 50 years of
age, was obliged to ask his mother
| before he could go. He remembered
asking Smith on one occasion to go
to Readfield fair with him and the man
was obliged to ask his mothers per-
mission and also ask her for money
before he could go. He also testified
that several years ago Smith bought
a boat for S. and traded it for five
gallons of cider. When brother of the
witness bought wood of Smith the
money was paid to Smiths mother.
Smith did the work at his place, but
his mother did the bossing. Cross-ex-
amined witness testified that he was
one Of the movers in the matter OF
putting Smith under guardianship.
Witness testified that Smith had told
hot hn a
away both places and had nothing for
security.
Christopher D. Smith, the party for
whom the guardian is asked and who
is a small man about 60 years OF age,
took the stand and appeared to nave
a great deal of difficulty in recollectlng
his own age and that of his father and
mother. When shown his signature IN
the deed conveying the property ne ac-
knoWledged it in one place. Where II
was signed, christopher D. Smith.
out in another place, where 1t was
:ipned &C. D. Smith he at first de-
lied it, but afterwards admitted IT. lie
testified that he signed the deed in
Nr, Strickland's office in Augusta, but
didn't know what he did sign. II guess
{ came down because | didn't know any
better" said the little old man with a
SIGH. He further testified that he didn't
know where he got the property tnat
nobody had ever given him any deed
of it. He testified that Mr.. Strickland
was his wife's cousin and that MI
strickland had told that if the proper
ty was not decided to him three men,
William Dudley, Christopher Wadlelgh
and William Spaulding. would ask to
have him put under guardianship. Il
thought when I signed the deed J.
would get a bond or security for my
self, I felt then 1 would like to have
Mr.. Strickland take the farm, but as
things have gone now / don't know as
l want to-" said Mr.. Smith, in response
to further inquiries of Mr.. Leigh. Wit
ness testified to selling farm in Man.
chester five years ago, the money Tor
which was no on deposit with the Au-
gusta Savings Bank and Augusta Trust
CO. His father went with him to see
that the business was properly trans
acted.
ross-examined by Attorney Earring
ton, christopher Smith admitted that
he told Hiram Gilman that he wanted
a guardian appointed so that he could
get his property back.esAt the close OF
Smiths testimony Attorney Leigh ask
ed for continuance in order that he
might get dispositions from Mrs. De-
borah Smith. the mother of Joseph
Smith and from Fred Wing, who was
with Smith when he sold the farm at
Manchester. Judge Cook granted con-
tinuance of the hearing until June 20
at 10 A. M.