St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1911-04-19
BAD JOINT CLEARED.
Clever Device For Hiding Liquor
Found at JOS. Legendre's Place.
Fined And On Probation.

Joseph Legendre who for long
time has been outwitting the officers
of the law in the illegal sale of
liquor came to grief last Saturday
morning when Sheriff Worthen,
States Attorney Simonds and several
deputies visited his barber shop and
pool room on Bay street. 1t was the
fourth official visit they had made
to the place, it having been sus-
'pected for long time that intoxi-
eating liquors were being sold there,
but on all previous visits they fail
ed to find the hiding place. 1t was
only thorough knowledge of de-
vices adopted IN other states that
suggested to the officers the inspec-
ton of what was a most innocent
looking piece of timber four by four
inches in dimension.
This timber was upright going
from what looked to be the bed
piece of the counter to the top of
the counter. On the back side of
this was discovered a slot and in
this a faucet. This was attached to
a piece of small rubber tube and
when pulled out and the faucet
opened States Attorney Simonds did
not find gasoline, as the clerk said
he would, but genuine alcohol. 1t
seemed nearly as miraculous as
drawing water from solid rock and
the other solid looking timber was
investigated. 1t was found any
thing but solid 1t was a case around
tin tank about three inches in di-
mension and about IL feet long.
There was about gallon of alco-
hol there at the time but it would
hold nearly five gallons. Out in
the shed was found "a pints of
whiskey in bottles.
The officers had already taken the
clerk in charge of the place, Edmund
Liberty, into custody and when
they found the goods decided not to
release him but took him to jail
where he stayed until this morning
whenhe will be given ahearing before
Judge Porter in municipal court. He
will plead guilty to the charge of sell
ing and be placed in charge of the
probation officer.
Joseph Frutta, Moses Dubois and
Arthur Lavoir were witnesses of the
search and were arrested as witness
es. Moses Dubois found the neces-
sary bail for his release but the other
two were taken to jail and held until
the hearing.
Mr.. Legendre was in Brattleboro
where it was said he was receiving
treatment at the time of the search.
Sheriff Worthen started for him and
at 315 Sunday morning the two ar
rived here and Legendre was placed
in jail Monday morning Legendre
was taken before Judge Porter and
pleaded guilty to the charge of keep
ing liquor with intent to sell. For
this he was fined $500 and costs,
amounting in all to $41.57 which he
paid. He was then arraigned on the
charge of selling and pleaded
guilty. For this he was sentenced
to serve from six to eight months in
the house of correction but for this
offence he was placed on probation
on condition that he take the Kelley
cure and obey the laws during his
liberty. The liquor was condemned
and ordered destroyed. So Legen-
dre has lost his liquor, paid the state
the sum of $34157 and must walk
straight to boot.
An application has been made to
the village trustees to revoke
Legendre's license to operate
bowling alley and to sell soft drinks.