Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-02
Lester Aodgdon On Trial
Trial on Serious Charge.
16-year- oId Girl on Witness
Stand Several Hours.
Mother and Teachers Testify to
Good Character Of Girl.


WEIGH was disposed of. This Is an ap
pealed case from the Waterville munic
ipal court in which Allie WeIch o
Rockland was charged with the il
legal transportation OF liquor IN Wa
terville at the time of the Central Main,
Fair in September last. Fred Eme-!
Beane of -Hallowen appeared for the
respondent and plea Of nolO con-
tendere entered and the case placed or
file on payment of costs of $9.H.
Lester Hodgdon of Clinton was Their
placed on trial upon the charge OF rapt
upon the person of Annie d. HodgdoE
OF Clinton, then Is years of age, al
Clinton Aug. u, 1906. The case was
tried before drawn jury. County At
|ltcrney Guy A. Hildreth OF Gardiner ap
peared for the State and Thomas
Leigh of Augusta for the respondent.
The first witness called was George
II. Hodgdon, the father Of Annie D.
Hodgdon. He testified that Lester
Hodgdcn had been at his house fire.
quently. His attention was called t.
intimacy between Lester and Annie il
March, 1908, in conversation with
Annie and her mother. He first saw
County Attorney Hildreth in regard t.
the case about Jan. 1, 1909. On cross.
examination by Attorney Leigh Mr
Hodgdon testified that Lester Hodg-
don ceased to come to his home abou.
Jan. Is, 1908. 1t was about this time
that he had William McNally, {
neighbor arrested on the charge OF
rape upon his daughter.
Attorney Leigh-Did you make any
complaint to Former County Attorne!
Beane in March or April last against
Lester Hodgdon for raping your daugh-
ter?
Mr.. Hodgdon-No.
Attorney Leigh-After your daughter
had tod you that Lester Hodgdon had
raped her why didn't you swear out II
warrant against him as you did Will
McNally?
MIR. Hodgdon-Because 1 had not con-
sulte1pthe county attorney.
Mr. Hodgdon also testified that in
conservation with Marley Morrison he
told him that he intended to take up
tie case against Lester Hodgdon and
that Morrison stated that if he took
up the Eodgdon case in addition to the
other it would make out that Annie
was bad girl.
Attorney Leigh-Did you tell Manley
Morrison that you would settle these
two cases for $500?
Mr.. Hodgdon-I told him that would
not settle them for $1,000.
County Attorney Hildreth-Did you
ever make any offer of settlement in
the Hodgdon case to any man, woman,
child or company?
Mr. Hodgdon-No.
Annie d. Hodgdon, who is a slight
built but rather attractive girl, now
16 years of age, testified to the cir
cumstances of the act alleged in the in
dictment, telling the story in a simple,
straightforward manner. She stated
that the alleged act took place when
she and Lester went on a carriage
ride to the home of George Weber,
either the last of August or the first
of September.
Cross examined witness was unable
to fix the date of the ride any more
definitely than the last of August or
first Of September.
The cross-examination of Annie Hods-
don was continued at the afternoon ses-
sion. She acknowledged four other cases
of improper conduct on the part of the
respondent prior to November, 1907. She
told her father and mother of these oc-
currences in April 1908. She admitted that
at hearing before Trial Justice Foster
in Waterville in an action of similar
nature brought against William McNal-
ly she had made the statement that no
improper conduct had taken place on the
part of any other man except McNally,
and said that she so testified because
Lester had told her not to tell
Mrs. Ida Weber testified that Annie
and Lester called on her one evening
about the last of August. 1907, and that
they listened to the graphophone as the
girl had testified. Mrs. Lucy Hodgdon,
mother of the girl, testified that she had
sent Annie to school and had tried to
bring her up properly. Lester had often
asked the girl to go to his house.
Ethel Mckenney, Nettie Weymouth
and Blanche Roundy, teachers in the
schools of Clinton, testified that Annie
was a well-behaved girl at school and
attended school regularly.
Manley Morrison of Clinton was the
first witness called by the defence. Mr.
Morrison is extremely deaf and it was
| with difficulty that the questions We're
put to him. He testified that Mr.. Hodg-
| don. the father of the girl, had talked
with him in regard to both the McNally
and Hodgdon cases Cross-examined by
County Attorney Hildreth he said that
| the only offer of settlement that was
| discussed was in regard to the McNally
case. Fred Emery Beane testified thai
I'LL, fo% IT.
was county attorney in regard to the
McNally case. The defence rested with
| this witness at adjournment. The tria
| of the case with arguments of connse
! will undoubtedly consume the greater
part of today's session. The court room
| was we'll filled with spectators, most OF
| them from the northern part of the
county, during the day Monday