Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-09-18
VERDICT GUILTY.
Smith Jackson Gets a
Year in State Prison
For Assault with Intent 10 Kill
Ralph Bolton.
Fred Stevens Gets Year In Prison
For Cider Stealing.

The case continued from Friday in
which Elmer Cote Of Waterville was
charged with keeping a house. of i'll
fame was the first to come before the
superior court Saturday morning. The
jury after being out about an hour re-
turned a verdict of guilty, Exceptions
were filed. The attorney for the de-
fence was Emery o. Beane of Hal
lowell.
The court next attended to the eases
Of John Polisky, Milton Stevens and
Fred Stevens, all of whom were eharg-
ed with breaking and entering and at
tempted larceny Judge Bcane allow
ed John Polisky and Milton Stevens to
go on probation. and sentenced Fred
Stevens to one year of hard labor at
the State prison at Thomaston. Polisky
| and Milton Stevens were placed on
probation largely because the former
had never before been arrested for a
charge Of any sort, and the latter had
a wife and three children to support.
Emery O. Beane and Fred w. clair
appeared for the respondents.
The case of State VS.. Smith Jack
son, charged with assault and attempt
To Kill Ralph u. Bolton with knife,
vas brought before the court immedi-
ately after the noon recess.
The first witness to be called by the
State was Ralph 3. Bolton. who ii is
alleged was stabbed by Smith Jackson
at about 1890 =. NJ. Aug. 10, at the
Capital Driving park, Augusta. Boil
ton testified that as he was about to
enter the stall where he slept that he
was hit by Mr.. Jackson and knocked
down, but that he did not know at the
time that he had been stabbed. He
said that he had a pitchfork in his
hand, but that he had not attempted to
strike Jackson with it at any time.
Joseph Rodrick, who was also car
ing for horses at the park at this time,
testified that as he was sitting in his
own stall he heard a racket and inn
mediatefy went outside to ascertain
the cause of it, He said that upon
stepping outside he saw jackson strike
Bolton and that Bolton fell down with
Jackson on top of him. He also testl-
fed that he picked Bolton up, but dld
not see whether Jackson had knife
or anv other kind OF d weapon in his
hand. In his testimony he brought out
the point that Jackson acted as If he
was drunk, but said that he thought IT
was all put on.
Thomas Holmes, the man for whom
Jackson was working for at the time
of the stabbing ARRAY, was the next
witness to be put on the stand by the
state. He testified that upon coming
back from down town on the evening
of the assault he found jackson max
ing considerable noise, and That ne
told him to keep still and so 10 ped,
because he wanted one OF MS
horses to sleep. as II would
have to race the next day. lie
said that instead of going to bed, as
he was ordered, Jackson went 10 the
faucet near by and got pail OF wa
ter and started back TO the staiIs win
il. but upon seeing Bolton he ran UP
to him and stabbed him without any
provocation whatever lie ALSO teSu-
fed that bolton did not make any at
fempt 10 hit Jackson with the pitch
fork. which he carried in his mana.
Jackson. who was the only person 10
take the stand for the defence teSu-
fled that he had attempted TO enter inc
stall where Bolton slept, ana that BOZ
ton had called him vile ana abusive
names. He also said that Bolton TOOK
after him with n pitchfork, and that
ne had stabbed him in seli-deienee.
He said that he then asked Mr.. homes
fo, some money and that he gave him
80 cents which he owed him. botoh
said that after he had obtained inc
money he went down to the raliroa"
track which is near by, and took the
next freight for Portland. where ne
was caught hv the Portland officers.
and turned over to the Augusta police.
The attorney for the defence was w.
NJ. Sanborn, who had been appointed
.bv the court. as Jackson was unable
to hire counsel,
The case was given TO the jury
which after being out but Il snort uihe
rendered verdict of guilty. jackson
was sentenced to one year at hafo
labor at the State prison at Thomas
ton.