Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-09-27
SUPERIOR COURT,
c. E. Sturgis, Augusta,
On Trial for Nuisance.
Will Reach Hands Of Jury
Sometime Today.
Verdict Of Not Guilty in Brann
Liquor Case from Gardiner.

Nearly all of Saturday in the SUI
periOr court was occupied in the trial
of the case of State versus Charles E.
Sturgis of Augusta, an indictment for
maintaining a liquor nuisance, and it
was still in progress when court adj
journed until 10 o'clock Monday morn
ing.
After the disposition of the Sturgis
matter the next case to be taken up
will be that of State versus Charles
Marshall of Waterville, an Indictment
for maintaining a liquor nuisance.
This will be followed by the case Of
State versus Fred NJ Savage of Wa
terville, liquor nuisance indictment.
1t looks as if the case of State versus
Rev Henry n. Pringle of Watervilie,
| one of the secretaries of the Christian
Civic League of Maine, an indictment
| for libel which is on the last of the
| trial list. will be reached by the latter
part of the coming week. Court ad-
journed until 10 o'clock Monday morn
| ing.
| At 1880 o'clock Saturday morning
the case of State versus Charles f.
Brann of Gardiner, an Indictment for
| maintaining a liquor nuisance, was
given to the jury and after deliber-
| alton of half an hour verdict of not
guilty was returned and the respondent
was discharged. Fred Emery Beane of
| HallOwell appeared as counsel for the
| respondent and he was warmly con-
| graduated by the members of the bar
| for his able presentation of the case
I for the defence.
| Fred w. Clair of Waterville, with
an argus eye for flaws and technicali-
| ties, found a defect in the papers from
| the Gardiner municipal court in an ap
| pealed search and seizure case against
Fred Gilbert of Gardiner and the case
| was quashed.
| The first witness called by the State
was Albert r. Buclllin of Litchfield, a
| deputy sheriff. He testified that he
| had searched the place run by the re-
spondent several times since the first
of last June but found no liquor The
place is a stable on the east side of
the river in Augusta near City hall.
| On cross examination the witness
testified that although he made several
searches at the respondents stable no
liquor was seized there. The respond
ent was not in the stable on the occa
sion of the searches since June first
| last On one occasion the witness
found an intoxicated man lying on the
hay
| Frank J. Ham OF Augusta a deputy
sheriff, testified to searching the re-
spondent's stable for liquor since the
first of last June but found no liquor
| on cross examination the witness
| testified that no kpnt nf a
searches made by him at the Sturgs
place as it is his custom to keep
a record only when liquors are found
| and none was seized at these seizures
The witness had never seen men und er
the influence of liquor going or coming
out of the Sturgis place. The respond
| ent was not in the stable on the occa-
sion of the searches.
George r. Vickery of HalloweIl,
deputy sheriff, testified to making sew
era searches at the respondents
stable but on no occasion were liquors
| found.
William H. dreamer of Augusta tes-
| titled to buying liquor of the respond
ent who gave him money on two diff
| ferent occasions with the understand
ing that he Che witness) would keep
away from Augusta until after the ses-
sion of the September grand jury. On
one occasion the respondent gave thu
witness $35 and on the other occasion
| he was given 800 by the respondent.
| The witness was sick at home and
| whiskey was sent him by the respond
| ent.
On crOss-eXaminatiOn the witness
| testified that he had been arrested sew
eral times. He had bought liquor eight
or 10 times from the respondent since
the first of last June. He could not re-
member who was in the stable besides
the respondent on the occasion of the
purchase of a half pint of whiskey in
June last The witness did not remem-
Der who was present in the stable
when the respondent gave him $23
with the understanding that he tho
witness) would remain away until after
the session of the grand jury.
Continuing on cross examination,
the witness testified that the respond
ent gave him 800 at Winthrop where
they met by appointment.
Deputy Sheriff John a. Davidson of
Watervlle testified to searching the
respondents stable once since the first
of last June. but found no liquors.
Martin Nolan of Augusta was called
as the next witness. He testified that
he has bought Whisl<ey OF the respond
ent several times since the first of last
June by the pint and half pint in his
stable on Willow street. on Aug y
last he purchased a pint of whiskes
from the respondent, paying 20 cents
for it.
On cross examination by Attorney
Beane the witness said that it was
about noon on Aug. u last when he
purchased a pint of Whiskey from the
respondent.
Mrs William II. Dreamer Of Augusta
testified that once she went to the re-
spondent's stable and procured liquor
for her husband. The respondent told
the witness that her husband could
have all the liquor that he wanted.
The State rested at this point and
after the opening by Attorney Beane,
the respondent, Charles E. Sturgis,
took the stand in his own behalf.
The respondent testified that the day
before he was arraisned in the NUM-
cipal court on the charge preferred by
Dreamer, Creamer was in his stable