The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-12-09
Why Brown Was Acquitted.
Enoch Foster, Judge; A. S. Kimball, Pros
ecuting Attorney. Onington M. Hans
COM Deputv Sheriff

Enoch Foster, Judge; A. S. Kimball, Pros
ecuting Attorney. Onington NJ. Hans
com, Deputy Sheriff.
About the time when Charles F.
Browne, better known as "Artemas
Ward" was born in Waterford, quiet
hamlet in Maine, another branch of the
family produced Charles Browne, who
in later years became famous throughout
New England under the stage name of
THAT Comical Browne"
Recollection is that the man who
Showed was fggers" and the man who
''made faces at folks" were second
cousins.
Early in his career THAT Comical
Browne" was suspected of selling intox-
Slippery Cuss," as ARENAS Ward called
him, always eluded conviction.
In the neighboring town of Oxford
lived a bright, young deputy sheriff,
Orrington M. Hanscom, who was weary
of work in a wooden factory and was
fired with an ambition to prove himself
great detective. 1t was the same
Hanscom who long afterward became
deputy superintendent of police in Bos-
ton.
He went to Waterford and watched
around the house of the booze suspect
day and night, hardly getting wink of
sleep for week. At last he caught
sight of That Comical Browne" driving
toward home. He stopped him in the
highway, searched the wagon, and, I'M
der buffalo robe, found a three-galon
jug filled to the neck, which he immedi-
ately seized in spite of vigorous protests.
The Jug was taken to the law Office of A.
S. Kimball for safekeeping.
The trial of Browne, charged with the
illegal transportation of whisky, was ar
ranged to take place the next day before
Enoch Foster, youthful justice in a
nearby village, who was destined at ma
turity to sit upon the supreme bench of
his State 1t was Mr.. Fosters first i'm
news, and from all directions people
hurried along the country roads, afoot
and ateam, to attend court.
Young Kimbal opened for the prose-
cution by arraying the evidence against
the defendant with his usual clearness
and precision.
The deputy sheriff gave his testimony
with pardonable pride.
Then Judge Foster asked the accused
man if be had anything to offer in his
own defense.
In very meek and humble manner
THAT Comical Browne" arose and, look
ed at the young Judge with smile that
was childlike and bland. How innocent
and childlike he looked as he stood first
on one foot and then on the ether and
fidgeted with his hands.
Il come before your honor" he said
slowly, with the feeling that | have not
been used right; really and truly your
honor, | do feel as if | had not been used
right. l feel as though this court and
these officers ought to make an apology
to me; really and truly, your honor, do
feel as though they ought to make an
apology to me.
The prosecuting officers gazed at each
other in amazement. With this amaze
ment there was blended the shadow of
some underlined fear. Even the stern
young judge appeared somewhat uneasy.
Browne had the reputation of uneX-
pectedly springing practical jokes of
hair-raising and blood-curdling character
upon all sorts of people; What did his
strange words portend? Were there
sharp claws under those fidgeting velvet
paws?
With melting meekness he continued
the most unique defence ever offered be-
fore any court 1t was not so much the
few simple words which he said as the
manner in which he said them; the eX-
pressive gestures and the wonderful
changes of expression which We're con-
tinually Transforming the most mobile
face in New England. In his care his
face was literally his fortune. Under
the marvellous magic of that matchless
countenance the most common words
seemed to be fairly bubbling over with
delicious humor.
Your honor, - he said, 'my poor fam
lily enjoy poor health; really and truly,
your honor, they do enjoy poor health.
The doctor declared that the poor health
that my family enjoy was caused by the
poor water in my poor little well.
ION Bear mountain there is a blessed
spring; and truly, your honor, it is a
blessed spring. the water is so sweet and
pure. Every day | went to that blessed
spring and filled that jug pointing to
the Jug in court with sweet, pure water
for my poor family who do enjoy poor
health.
Yesterday, as ] was returning from
that blessed spring on Bear mountain
with that Jug filed with sweet, pure
water, my team was stopped in the road
by Deputy Sheriff Orrington M. Hans
com of Oxford He seized nv jug of
sweet, pure spring water and took 1t
away from me; really and truly, your
honor, Orrington NJ. Hanscom of Oxford
did take away my jug of sweet, pure
spring water.
Il tried to reason with that head
strong man.
He laughed in my face. He said that
the Jug was filled with whisky
''Orrington M. Hanscom has watched
around my house so many nights without
sleep that l believe he has gone crazy;
really and truly, your nonor, do believe
that Hanscom has gone crazy.
1.-The liquor in that jug was only the
wild dream of detective who needed
rest.
''All night long saw my poor family
dropping around me; really and truly,
your honor, did see my poor family,
who do enjoy poor health, dropping
around me for want of sweet, pure
water from the blessed spring on Bear
mountain.
II could get none for them, for l had
nothing to get it in.
4 beg and plead with your honor to
give me back my only jug. Spill, if you
will, the sweet, pure spring water in that
Jug, but beseech you to return the jug. -
Ac ssTbat Copj al BROWN 81 resumed his