Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-04-21

but at the opening Attorney Heath
requested IN AZ that was fair T.
humanity To have the curtains re
moved and have 4 little light ard
mir. The court room was crowded
man" Ieopic standing. TIC jury were
escorted To the Ward room. the seen"
90 the crime. ana after viewing the
room returned t. the court room
where Attorney Williamson mauc 81.
very able presentation of the case for
the State.
In presenting the case Attorney
Williamson said:
"A very serious crime which involves
tn" nsf's of every citizen was corr
lnlticd not stones throw from this
tours room, in the municipal election
INST saring. After the counting of the
ballots in Ward :, someone wiilfuilv
d"ia'e6 by erasinS from four ballots.
the name of j. w. Beck, the Demo-
"ratlI candidate for alderman. An at
tempt to defeat the will of the PEG
pie vas nearly accomplished. and tie
r0'Ne for the crime was primarily to
d"'t&; the election af Mr.. Beck and To
elect Mr.. Barbour. But in addition to
tHdt there was another important OBJ
l"rt IND that was in the end to not
merely defeat the election of Mr.. Beck.
hpt u entirely change the city COY
ernElent of Augusta. I'll" result of The
clrcten i'll Augusta for the past three
wears has been close. In 1908, Democrat
lc by small majority: in 1909. Re
publican and in isle. Democratic by Il
small majority"
Mr. Williamson gave his view of ti4l.
object in committing the crime, and
said:
''of three men this man was picked
ont by the grand jury as the guilty
one and we shall bring evidence to
prove it," In closing he begged the
Jury 20 dismiss from their minds any
partisan prejudice, and not be inilu-
.nced by any political faith.
TW.ntS-one witnesses wer" called
ty the State, ami tire first to take the
81 tnt WaS Warn Trask. city engl-
ncer, who testified he had drawn a
plan Of the W:,ritoum, as it WAS on the
day Of election. He stated that the
room was Wei lighted with The IL
bles in plain view a. those outside, III.
rail lie gay" :he measurements al th,.
room. Of tie windows and stated chat
anNwRere along the rail any person
could have fun NieH Of the tables.
IN Walter q. Thomas. Il practicing
dentist Of this city, testified That TOR
t." rast seven Years ne had boarded
at the home OF the respondent. He
stated that he voted in Ward 3 al lie
last election ana When shown his bal
lot Identified it by his handwriting and
stated that it had been tempered Will.
On cross examination he was asked
by Mr. Heath: What did Bangs say
as to recount for Barbour"
Mr.. Pattangall. II object"
Judge Hall decided it was not adj
MISSILE.
Edwin C. Dudley. q former member
of the city government said that he
had voted in Ward > for the past 80
years and he voted last election. He
was shown ballot which he identi-
fled as his. and on which he said he
never erased the name OF James w.
Beck, and that the ballet had been de-
aced. He WAS not crosse examined.
elmer +. NeWbert. city clerk of Au-
Susta, testified that on the morning of
election day, he placed that ballot box
in the care of officers Sidney and
Dauteuil and in the evening II was re-
turned by Charles \. Wadsworth and
George II. Bangs, at about $50. The
,ox was locked when returned, and he
left it on the floor of his office while
he went to supper; that it was not
opened until the Investigation and that
II was then opened in the presence of
Doth candidates and others. He said:
AT the investigation, my attention
was called to the peculiar marking of
HE ballots. Witness said the ballots
We're not out of his care, only when the
county attorney had them, and the
photographer.
ON cross examination Attorney
Heath ask:
Mr.. Bangs record taliies with the
count doesn't it," Yes"
And the record was locked up in
he box wasn't it, and he delivered to
Nr. Beck his certificate within the Il
hours, didn't he?" Yes.
Did You take the ballot box to City
aail: George Mansell, the cab driv-
er, did, and preceded him on foot
and reached the hall before he did"
Didn't YOU leave the box on the
moor or the City hall" Yes, and l
went to notify al officer. to tell Charlie
Dostie to put it in the vault when he
came in" You left it on the floor and
You don't know how long it remained
there do you?" No"
At this point court adjourned until
$50 this morning.