Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-28
Last Hou|ehan Case Goes
To Jury Today.
One Single Sale Case Thrown
Out Because Of Misn0mer.
Jury Brings in Verdict Of Guilty in
Liquor Nuisance Case.

Liquor cases against Peter A. Houle-
han of Farmingdale occupied the at
tention of the kennebec county SUI
perior court during the entire day
Thursday and at the time of adjourn
ment for the day the arguments had
been completed in the fourth and last
case, which will go to the jury this
morning. The jury brought in a verdict
Of guilty Thursday afternoon in a liq
uor nuisance case, the jury was di-
rected by the court to return a verdict
of not guilty in one single sale case on
account of misnomer, and the last
case, which also alleges single sale.
awaits the action of the jury. But one
more case remains on the criminal
docket for jury trial and it is likely
that the docket will be completed to-
day.
The presentation of evidence for the
State in the second liquor nuisance
case against Peter A. Houlehan of
Farmingdale was begun at the open
ing of the superior court Thursday
morning. Exceptions We're taken by
Hon. George w. HeSelton of Gardiner,
attorney for the respondent, to the
trial of the second indictment on the
ground that it was one and the same
nuisance with the other and the time
included the time mentioned in the
previous Indictment. Motion to quash
the indictment was overruled and the
trial of the case proceeded.
Martin Burns of Gardiner testified
that he had been deputy sheriff for
two years and constable for many
years in Gardiner. Witness had known
p. a. Houehan ever since he was
born. The respondent kept saloon
on Water street and was an agent for
automobiles. Witness visited the
place in June 1908 in company with
D. C. Jewell and officer Wakefield of
Gardiner. The warrant was sworn out
by Jewell. A basket of beer was
taken from the counter. "Was it in
toxicating liQuor?" asked County At
torney Hildreth. 81 do not know, |
didn't taste of it, replied the witness.
Witness testified that tobacco and
cigars were sold in the front part of
the store and in the back part was
counter, which they called a bar. The
basket containing the beer was on the
counter. William Houlehan "a brother
of the respondent was in the saloon.
Witness searched the place at an
other time in 1908 in company with
City Marshal Andrews and Deputy
Sheriffs MeaGy and Marshall. Found
two barrels OF bottled beer in the sta
bic, which were seized. The bar room
opened into a yard between the stable
and saloon. The two buildings We're
10 or 20 feet apart. Witness on cross
examination testified that when lie
got the basket of beer there were no
peoHle around the bar. Could not tell
whether or not there We're any bottles
on the shelves behind the bar.
Officer Michael Cusick of the Gardi-
police force testified that he had been
night officer for the past II years
witness had seen Frank Goodne and
Harry Merritt coming out of the sa-
loon. Had seen Billy" Houlehan in
his shirt sleeves standing in the door
of the saloon. Witness had seen men
who were intoxicated coming out OF
the Houlehan place since Jan. l, 1905.
Witness on cross examination teSti-
fled that the Thorne stable was sep
arated from Houlehan's stable by
Pal lllloh VII NlIt ItlC sac Oh lilt Nh7
trance. The partition was composed
of rough boards. No other way was
found of getting the barrels from the
Thorne stable except to saw out floor
timbcrs. The stable door was secure
Is fastened on the inside. Witness
had seen Frank Goodine going into
other places besides Houlehan's sa-
loon. Did not know what he went in
for Witness had seen tag marked
wv. H. Trask. Gardiner Me- pulled
through the wall from Houlehan' S
shed or the occasion of the raid on
the Thorne stable. The tag was found
snug up to the wall OF the Thorne
stable.
Officer Walter X. Wakefield of the
Gardiner police force testified that he
had been a night officer in Gardiner
for the past two years. Had known
the respondent for the last 20 years
Was in the saloon of the respondent
June 3. 1905 when he visited the place
in company with Deputy Sheriff Burns
and d. c. Jewell. Witness found 10
battles of heer i'll a basket on the bar.
The bar was 10 or L feet long and
Az feet high. There was a shelf I'M
der the bar Did not notice any other
Iiouor. Witness had seen people that
used liquor coming out of the Houie-
han saloon. Peter and Billy Houle-
han were both in the saloon at the
time athe witness visited it. Witness
on cross-examination admitted that ne
md seen men who used liquor galnS j
in and out oof churches and hotels IN
Gardiner. A
City Marshal Frank z. Andrews OF