Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-22
Sanford Pratt Is Guilty Of
Cheating by FaIseP Pretences.
William Shaw Is Acquitted on
Charge Of Single Sale.
Case Of Samuel Snow, Breaking, En-
tering and Larceny, Unfinished.

Wednesdays session of the superior
court opened with the trial of San
ford Pratt, charged with cheating by
false pretences. The nature Of the case
as was shown in County Attorney
Fishers opening was that the respond
ent Pratt exchanged a motorboat
which was the property of his father,
Sanford L. Pratt, with George F.
Carleton for a horse, harness and
wagon, and that later the respond
ent's father came and claimed the
boat.
George f. Carleton, the plaintiff in
the case, was the first witness called.
1t came out also in Mr.. Fishers open
ing that the respondent had been in
dicted or the above charge at the
April term Of court but that the re-
spondent skipped out and was appre-
hended only recently. Mr.. Carleton
testified that he had had the boat
about month when the respondents S
| father came and claimed it. Witness
| testified that the elder Mr. Pratt al
| lowed him $50 for repairs on the boat
and then he (Mr. PratD took the boat.
Witness thought that the boat was
was valued at S130.
At this point the jury brought in a
verdict of not guilty in the case of
William Shaw, charged with single
| sale.
The next witness to take the stand
was Sanford L. Pratt, father of the
respondent Witness stated that he
paid $50 for the engine in the boat
and that the respondent had put in
some labor on the boat and also $50
in money. Witness further testified
| that the respondent boarded at his
house from January, 1912, to April,
1913, and that he figured that the
board would more. than offset the
amount put in the boat by the son.
Witness had never given the son au-
isthority to sell the boat
Sheriff Getchell was the next wit
ness and testified that a capias writ
was issued for the respondent but his
wherea bouts We're not ascertained.
Witness testified that Pratt was final
| ly located in the town of Carthage
and arrested The State rested at this
point.
Attorney Titcomb opened the case
| and introduced the respondent as the
| first witness. Witness stated that his
father bought the engine and paid $50
for same, with the understanding that
the respondent should pay him back.
Witness had practically paid for all
of the craft with the exception of the
engine and that he always considered
il his property Witness testified that
he worked out and supplies the Pratt
homestead with food as his father
had no income. In cfoss-eXamination
witness stated that the team was
worth about s25, the horse was kick
er, and the old top buggy was prac-
tically worthless. 1t was brought out
that the respondent had served time
in Thomaston for larceny and that
he had also been convicted of drunk
enness Witness testified that the
statements made by his father in re-
gard to labor on the boat were un-
true.
Frank Webber of Bowdoinham was
the next witness called. He stated that
he was foreman of a mill in Bowdoin-
ham and that the respondent had
bought lumber there. A bill of the
lumber was introduced by Attorney
Titcomb. 3
When the county attorney asked
counsel for the defence for the bill
for inspection of same the latter hesi-
tated but finally allowed Mr.. Fisher
TO look at it. Both counsel engaged in
argument on several occasions on ac-
count Of the form of testimony intro
duced.
Eugene Wakefield of Hallowell was
the next witness. The direct examina-
ton of the witness was brief. On
eross-eXamination County Attorney
Fisher asked, II suppose you are pret-
ty chummy with the respondent?
We'll, no. just know him."
Got acquainted with him over here
in Jail, didn't your
Yes"
That's ALL" replied the prosecuting
attorney.
Clarence r. York of Halloween was
the next witness and stated that he
heard certain conversation between
Ahe RESPONDENT and his son on a GER
tain trip down the river in regard tc
the selling of the boat and also that
the elder Mr. Pratt got angry because