Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-05-22

Vickery of HalloweI and A. r. Buck
lin of Litchfield Tuesday of this week
Probable cause was found in liquor
nuisance charge based upon the same
raid and Pomerleau was held for the
September term of the superior court
in the sum of $500. Pomerleau took
an appeal from the sentence of the
municipal court in the illegal possess
sion case and in both this and the
liquor nuisance case furnished as sure
ties William G. Moody and Charles E.
Daggett.
Testimony was taken for two hours
hours Friday forenoon by Judge Maher
of the municipal court in the illegal
possession c1se against Marshall Pom
erleau, the steward of the 1906 Club,
and then the hearing was adjourned
until P. NJ. Friday in order to give
members of the club who were not
present in the forenoon an opportuni-
ty to testify.
At the opening of the hearing At
the 1906 Club, suggested to the court
that a place might be maintained as
a liquor nuisance without the liquors
found there being intended for lille
gal sale. He also argued that the 1906
Club was an organization run by rep
utable citizens of Augusta as a place
where they might come together for
reading, pool playing and other pur-
poses and that whatever liquor was
found there was there as the property
and for the use of individual members.
He stated that the respondent was the
steward of the club, hired by the week
to look after the pool and club tables
and serve liquor to members, who de-
sired it,
The first witness called was Charles
e. Daggett, a director and charter
member of the club. Witness testified
that tickets had not been issued in ex-
change for refreshments for 21% years.
The liquor seized was not intended for
sale and witness knew personally that
large proportion of it was for the
use of individual members. The club
had no stock of liquors for sale. Pom
erleau'S duties were to take charge Of
the room, keep it clean, have charge of
the pool table and cigars and serve
people from their own stock of liq
uors if they desired Each member had
steward. Witness stated that the
names on the lockers were those of
bona 1ide members of the club, but
some lockers on which no names were
found also belonged to members of the
club. No member had a right to inter-
fere with liquor in locker other than
his own. The two cases of wine seized
by the deputy sheriffs were in no sense
the property of the club. Witness fur
Their stated that the officers sought to
the best of their knowledge to conduct
the affairs of the club lawfully The
printed house rules, which were
seized by the officers, had not been in
force for two years. No liquors had
been served except from individual
lockers. Witness never heard of any
complaints being made in regard to
the manner in which the place was
run. Persons not members were not
allowed in the room except that
member might invite in nonresident
from out of the State.
Cross examined by the court witness
testified that the slot machine profits
went towards paying club expenses.
These profits were small and did not
average over 81 a day. In all the club
had about so lockers, but not all of
them were returned by the officers.
The whiskey and beer glasses belong
ed to individuals but were paid for at
the expense of the club The rule that
no outsider should be allowed in the
club was in effect April l. Witness re-
Piled to question of the court that it
would be impossible for a resident of
A ,yfn nt &C.
take a man from Belgrade into the
club rooms and treat him. Witness de-
MED that beer and ale had ever been
sent out from the club room to coal
vessels and sold. He stated that he
knew that three barrels of beer and
ale had been seized on the day the raid
OF the club rooms was made. addressed
to the 1906 Club. Daggett testified that
he had ordered the beer and ale in his
own name for club members as was the
custom. In regard to club membership
and dues witness said that the mem
bers paid $3.50 for admission and Is
cents for key to locker. Dues We're SO
cents per month and the club had a
membership of rs. The profits from the
slot machines, which were owned by
the club, did not amount to more than
$40 per month on each machine. The
club paid 500 for rent of rooms The
receipts just about paid expenses. The
profit on cigars was between SO and 81
a week and the pool and billiard tables
in the winter gave receipts of from 81
to "a SO a week. Witness at close of
cross examination testified that Pom
erleau had been steward from three to
five weeks.
Col. Oliver n. Blackington testified
that two of the club lockers were his
The liquor seized in one of them was
for his own use
William G.. Moody testified that the
liquor found in locker opened by key
No. was his personal property in
tended for his own use, as was also
case of wine outside the locker.
which was marked for convenience
1906 Club He never heard of any
complaint Of the place.
Frank r. Rice testified that he had