Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-15
ARDONTA CLOUTIER
LARCENY, G E T S
80 DAYS IN JAIL
Edmond Nadeau, Implicated by
Cloutier's Testimony, Is
Given Discharge

Ardonia Cloutier, aged II years, was
arraigned before Judge Lancaster of
the municipal court Friday morning
on the charge of larceny on the aft
ernoon of Sunday. July TO- of a sum-
of money and a silver watch from the
clubroom of the Naturalization Club on
upper State street, the same being
taken from the clothing of one Of the
members of a baseball team which had
on that day come down from Water
vile to play a local team on the dia-
mond at Main Top. Cloutier entered
plea of not guilty and in his statement
to the court implicated two other boys
of about his own age, Louis Betit and
Edmond Nadeau.
In reply to questions by the court,
Clcutier said that at about 2 o'clock
on the afternoon in question he, with
the Betit and Nadeau boys, went to
the clubroom and that Betit, after
climbing in through q window open
ed the door and let him and the Nadeau
boy into the building; that Betit be-
gan looking over some clothing which
they found in the building and upon
going in behind the stage found In
the pockets of some clothing there SO
in cash, also a silver watch, all of
which he appropriated; that soon aft
err this they became scared and left
the building.
When questioned by the court as to
whether the watch had been sold and
the money divided, Cloutier said that
the watch was not sold while he and
the other boys were together. He fur
Their stated that after leaving the
building they came down town and
took trolley car to Waterville, and
that Betlt paid the fare for the three
boys but would not let them have any
of the money or the watch. At this
point, the court being very DESTROYS of
having the Nadeau boy appear, contin-
ued the hearing until o'clock in the
afternoon in order that he might be
present. The presence of the Betit boy
was also DESTROYS but as he Is not in
the city this was not possible
At the hour for resuming the hear
ing the Nadeau boy was placed on
the stand and told his story In a
straightforward way that convinced
the court that he was telling the truth,
although his story differed materially
from tat told by Cloutier in the morn
ing. He said that he was on his way TO
the bail game which was to take place
ct about 100 Sunday afternoon, July
10, and that on Washington street he
met Cloutier and Betit; that upon
Cloutier's suggestion to go to the club
room and play pool the three visited
the place; that Cloutier opened a win
dow near the entrance of the building
and climbed through, after which he
closed the window and going to the
door, which was locked by a spring
lock, he opened the door and let them
In; that they played pool about five
minutes, after which Cloutier and Be-
tit began looking over some clothing
which they found in the room; that
Cloutier had no luck, but that Betit
found 1895 In cash, silver watch
and two cigars; that they then left
the building and took a car for Water
VILE, Betit paying the fares. Nadeau
further said that he did not return to
Augusta that night but went to the
home of an uncle and returned to Au-
gusta the following Monday night.
Cloutier was then asked IL any of the
testimony given in by Nadeau was
true and said that it was, and when
asked If 1t all was true made the same
admission. The court then pronounced
him guilty and imposed a sentence of
80 days in Jail. The Nadeau boy was
discharged.