The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-06-06

representation in that branch of the
legislature. There he served two
terms.
Next he was elected as attorney
general, succeeding Hon. Frederick
A. Powers of Houlton. This office he
held for four years, during which
time, in addition to the vast amount
OF civil work which the attorney gen.
eral had to transact for the state, he
tried six important murder trials In
the following counties, Androscoggin
Aroostook, two; Penobscot, Piscata-
quis and York counties.
Asked Verdict of Not Guilty.
In one of these cases Mr.. Haines
made a motion which is seldom re-
corded in a criminal case. Arthur
Sargent of Stetson, Penobscot county,
WAS indicted at the term 1900, for the
murder of three boys while on a fish
ing trip to Stetson pond in the town
of Stetson. The trial of the case oc-
cupied four days, the state resting
its case upon the night of the third
day. 1t was one of those cases where
there was absolutely no positive evil
dence.
The four young men, Sargent being
little more than a boy, were on a fish
ing trip. They drank some hard cider
and in some way the boat was cap
sized and the three boys lost their
lives. Sargent got ashore and in
some unaCcountable manner became
lost and wandered about for four
hours. Immediately the news of the
accident was received and the story
told there began talk of murder At
the conclusion of the coroner's inquest
Sargent was arrested, taken to Ban
gor preliminary hearing held and
he was held without bail for the
grand jury at the February, criminal,
term of the supreme court for the
county. At that time as stated, an
indictment was returned and the trial
began.
There was no direct evidence as to
murder. The contention of the pros
ecuting officials of the county was
that there had been fight and that
Sargent killed the others, that they
were dead when they went into the
water There was a contention that
the backbone of one of the dead
youths showed signs of being fractur-
ed or injured The whole theory of
murder rested upon what medical eX-
perts should say.
When the respondent had been up
on the stand and told his story, both
upon direct examination and cross eX
animation, and the defense was about
to proceed further, Mr.. Haines arose
and addressed the court.
He said that in his judgment the
evidence which the state had present
ed was insufficient in Earranting any
jury to return verdict of guilty and
that it was the judgment of the coun-
ty attorney and himself that the court
should instruct the jury to return a
verdict of not guilty and he would
make a motion to that effect
The motion was greeted with APP
plause by the large audience in the
court room, which had heard the case
tried out
Judge Frederick A. Powers was
presiding, it being his first term Of
court as a judge his appointment hay
ing been made on the second day OF
the preceding January. He commend
ed the course taken by the attorney
general and ordered the jury to re-
turn in finding in accord with the mo-
ton, which was done.
In 1908 he was seeker for the re-
publican nomination as governor, be-
ing opposed by Hon. Bert M, Fernald
of Poland The campaign was one OF
the memorable ones of the State,
eliminating in the great convention
of June 30 at Bangor, that year.
When the nominating speeches had
been made and the convention was
about to ballot, he requested permits
sion to address the convention. 1t
was granted and he came upon the
platform and stated that being con-
vinced he lacked a sufficient number
of votes to be elected and feeling to
save time, as well as to do that which
to him seemed to be for the best in
terest of the republican party, he de-
sired to withdraw from the contest
and moved the nomination of Mr Fer
maid by acclamation.
Immediately after the convention
he got into the fight and stumped the
State in support of Mr.. Fernald and
the republican ticket as a whole. In
1910 he repeated his effort.
Work Done for State.
Following his term of office as at
torney general MIR Haines was for
two Terms the member OF the eXecu-
tive council, which served during the
administration of Gov Hill
1t was during this term of office
that he started in the work which
he's since resulted in the survey of
Maine rivers and the securing of the
data, which has been compiled. He
wrote to the photographic depart
ment of the Department of Agricul-
ture at Washington and got them to
send a surveyor or engineer to Maine
with a view to securing definite in
formation concerning the WATERPROOF
ers of the state. They did so, but it
was found that they could not do the
work. 1t was suggested to Mr..
Haines that if the State could con-
tribute something say $500 the ma
tional department would help, and,
once the work was begun, would con-
tinue TO carry it along. The State
did not have the money which 1t
could use for that purpose. Mr.,
Haines realized the importance Of
the work and went about securing
the necessary funds He succeeded
in getting the desired $500 and went
with the engineer who placed the
first weir in the Kennebec river.
Since then the work has been con-
tinued. with the splendid results
which those who have read the re-