Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-03-16
justice for ASSAULT on one Of her scholars
o.>I i-..~lA a. k~..Al. iako Ala sanl.

Justice for ASSAULT on one Of her scholars
first brought that trouble into tho pub
lie eye.
There being no civil cases for trial on
Friday, work on the criminal docket
was Immediately begun.
E. B. Knox Of Rumford, indicted for
selling diseased milk, pleaded guilty,
and after remarks by his attorney, Mr.
Mccarthy, to the effect that he may
have been technically guilty but was not
willfully so, he paid fine OF 500 and
costs of $40 80.
A number of respondents pleaded not
guilty, and then the trial Of John Barrett
for assault on Walter j. Russell began.
The alleged assault was committed at
RumfOrd Falls, near midnight one night
during the International Paper Co. strike
last fall. The evidence was very short,
aud after the states evidence was In,
Barrett. by advice of bis attorney, Mr..
Mccarthy, retracted and pleaded guilty.
He also pleaded guilty in another case
charging assault upon David Isbester.
this being practically a part OF the same
act. 1t appeared in evidence that Bar
rett was picket Of the strikers, but
that the assaulted men were wOrkmen In
the Oxford mill, and that all three had
been drinking. Judge Cornish imposed
the same sentences as in the lower court,
IS and costs in one case, and thirty days
in Auburn Jail in the other.
COMMITTED FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT.
1t is something rare to see man sum-
marily committed to Jail for contempt of
court; indeed, some of the older men,
bers of the bar have never happened to
be In court when the thing was done.
Therefore an occurrence of Friday after
noon partook of the sensational. At the
opening of the session County Attorney
Parker stated that an attempt to tamper
with witness had been called to his at
tention. The man charged with this
was L. P. Merrill, formerly Rumford
Falls police officer, who has been in
capitated for service by rheumatism for
the past eleven months.
Hugh McKinnon, called to the stand,
stated that he was here as a witness
against Henry Gauvin, manager OF
Hoyt's Express agency at Rumford; that
at noon of that day he met Merrill and
Gauvin in company near the railroad
station; that Merrill told him II he testi-
fed against Hoyt's Express Co. some old
indictments against him (McKinnon)
would be pressed and Deputy Sheriff
Elliott would arrest him Immediately;
that he had better accept some money
and get out.
Merrill denied the statement, aud gave
different version of the conversation,
in substance as follows:
81 asked him what he was over here
for. He said on the Hoyt's Express
case. told him, didn't know but 1t
was on the old cases against him. He
said, There amt any old cases. The
county attorney told me if I'd testify in
the Hoyt's Express case, there'd never
be anything done with those cases. "
Judge Cornish asked Merrill:
show did you happen to be In COM
pany with Hoyt's Express agent?"
81 wasn't in company with him. l
came over from Norway on the same
car"
"What were you here for ?"
81 was at Augusta yesterday, and
thought would come around this way
and see the boys on my way home"
Judge Cornish stated that he believed
McKinnon told the truth, and with some
emphatic remarks as to the seriousness
of the offence, sentenced Merrill to ten
days in Jail for contempt of court, and
he was at once committed. Merrill was
evidently painfully affected.