The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-03-31
CRIMINAL DOCKET
IS TAKEN Up
One Seizure Case Proves
Interesting
Not Much Else of Interest the Past
Week.

The past week was a quiet and un
eventful one in the Supreme Judicial
Court of Somerset County. The most
interesting case tried was a seizure
case in which Forrest Goodwin, Esq.
appeared for the defendant, Martin p.
j Goliath of lockwood. The defendant
/ is postmaster in his home community.
aid his position together with the
confidence Of the prosecution made
! the trial very interesting. 1t seemed
as if the prosecution had very clear
case at first, and the spectators in
the court room were wondering what
sort of defense could be made, il
any at air when Mir. Goodwin opened
Vergil r. Bell, agent for the SOM
erset r. r. and the American Express
Co at Kineo Station, testified that a
barrel containing 10 gallons of whls-
key was received at his office Feb "a.
A few days later a man called and
asked that the barrel be delivered to
Martin Prescott. AS the barrel was
directed to Martin Goliath, Mr.. Bell
required a written order to be sign
led asking that 1t be delivered to Pres
colt and when he read the signature
found that it was signed Martin Pres
colt. MIR. Bell did not know what
course to pursue but after conferrlng
with his superiors arrangements were
made with the sheriff to have an Off
Cial call made by one of his officers and
on March Charles Chute, deputy,
seized the barrel and the defendant in
the case was arrested, After Mr.,
Bell was dismissed from the stand,
Deputy Chute told of the seizure.
The counsel for the defense, the
jury having retired for a space, held
that since the agent had refused to
deliver the liquor that it was still UNI
der the protection of the Interstate
Commerce Law and hence not with
in the jurisdiction of the Maine pro-
hibitory law. Also that since the pro-
secuton was bound to prove that the
liquor had been kept and with the in
tentions for Illegal sale there was no
case against Mr.. Goliath. After
some discussion and deliberation, the
court decided in favor of the defen-
dant. and the jury was called in and
by order of the court returned a YER
dict of not guilty.
in the Supreme court Monday after
noon. The first case to be disposed OF
was State VS.. Doreus Blair and his
brother Clifford Blair both of Jack
man. They were indicted at this
term of court on a nuisance charge
They pleaded guilty and the cases
were continued. They are now serV-
ing sentences of four months in the
county Jail on a search and seizure
charge. of which they were convicted
in the lower court.
The first jury trial at this term OF
. court from the criminal docket was
in the case State VS. Joseph Bison OF
Jackman. on an indictment for com
mon seller. He was represented by
Hon. S. J. Walton. There were three
witnesses for the State The respon-
dent offered no evidence and was
found guilty by the jury. A sentence
| of 500 and costs. amounting to 81
and 80 days in Jail was imposed upor
! him by Justice Peabody The respon
dent took exceptions on the grounC
= at .Ie state not proving plurality
2 sale and will wit1ott doubt carry
: the case to the law court.
5 Abel Roderck of Long Pond was ar
i raigned Monday on an indictment TO
: single sale. The State put in its evi
e dence and through his attorney, Hon
r S. J. Walton, the respondent retractet
2 his plea of not guilty and entered tn
e plea of guilty. He was sentenced t,
I $50 and costs and 30 days in Jail. Tn
grand jury found another indictmen
against ROderiCk at this term o
court for common seller. The case wa
e continued and placed on file.
e Nede Gilbert of lockwood was ar
raigned before the Supreme cOuT
Tuesday morning on the charge c
S single sale. This was an appeale
i case from the municipal court TIL
S respondent was represented by Ed
$ ward F. Merrill and pleaded nolo con
i tendere. The sentence of the lowe
e court $50 and costs, was affirmed b
Justice Peabody. Gilbert was imme
g diately put on trial before a draw
: jury on an appealed case, the charg
! being search and seizure