Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-05-19
FOR ILLEGAL POSSESSION.
Charles E. Stursis Held for Septem
Der Term of Superior Court.

Charles +. SturgiS was arraigned,
at $50 Saturday afternoon. before
Judge Lancaster. charged with the il
legal possession of intoxicating liq
ours. The history of the case is in
teresting, on Wednesday, May =
Deputy Sheriff Bucklin was notified
to be on the lookout for a certain trunk
which was supposed to he in transit
ON Train No. ., which goes east from
Augusta at p NJ. Upon hearing
of this the deputy acted at once, by
going to Halloween ana boarding the
train, which arrived in that city about
5.50 In the course of his travelling
through the different cars the deputy
noticed the respondent Charles +.
Sturgis who WIS on the rear scat of
the smoking car The deputy also,
upon Visiting the baggage car round
the much wanted truak. which bore
no Other than 4 eheek showing that
il had been shipped from Portsmouth.
y. H.. to Riverside. Maine.
The deputy continued his ride II
Riverside, where the trunk was put
off, but the respondent, Sturgis. did
not get OF at that station, To which
he had bought a ticket hut immedi-
ately purchased Il ticket TO Nassal-
boro, the next station above River
side. Deputy Sheriff Buckin, however,
got off at Riverside, and proceeded
10 open the trunk There he found
what in large measure he expected
to discover, two kegs of whiskeH and
IA bag of cork shoppers.
The train had been out of the sta
ton but short time when n horse
and wagon appeared at the station.
in all probability for The purpose of
conveying the wet goods to their des-
stinaion, Deputy Baeklin at once took
The goods. into his possession. and re.
turned, Thursday morning, to Au-
susta, q
Proceqiings were at once instituted
10 connect Sturgis with the liquor.
which was. as very evident satisfdc-
terily accomplished. He was arrest
ed and tried, Saturday Conductor S.
b. Ham and Brakeman +. Casey e
Train % We're summoned as witnesses
as was also George +. Rand, the sta-
ton agent at Riverside Sturgis was
represented by ex-Judee Benedict F.
Maher, while County Attorney vii
liam II. Fisher conducted the States
side Of the case.
\ peculiar incident concerning the
Identity Of Stnrgis WAS discovered as
he made his appearance in court,
some of his old friends being scarce
ly able to recognize him at the first
glance. When seen nn the night of
May on Train %, he was wearing
a moustache, as has always been his
custom, bat when he appeared in
court Saturday. his moustache had
and he was wearing spec
tacles On account of the great
change in his looks Brakeman Casey
was unable To identity him positive
iy as the man who gave him the
trunk check.
The case was very brief, as the
counsel submitted no evidence. He
eontended the State had failed 10
show that tho liquor was in the pes
session of Sturgis but that il was in
reality in the possession of the Maine
Central Railroad. Judge Lancaster re-
fused to agree with this. and there
upon imposed fine of 500 and costs.
and so days in Jail and in default of
payment of fine and costs, 60 days ad-
ditional. An appeal was taken to the
September term Of the superior court.
and the required bond furnished.