Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-16
JOSEPH THEpERCE
HELD IN A SEARCH
And SEIZURE CASE
Trcffle Croteau, Who Was in
Store at Time, Is Held on the
Charge of Illegal Possession

In consequence of the finding of
some liquor Friday Afternoon at the
drug store Of Joseph Theberge, at 1913
water street, by Deputy Sheriffs
Buchiin and Bullock, acting on
warrant sworn out by the former off,
Ger, Mr.. Theberge was arraigned be-
fore the municipal court Saturday
morning to answer to a charge of
search and seizure. He was represent
ed by Former Judge Benedict T.
Mah4r and when by advice of his
counsel he waived examination and
pleaded not guilty the court declared
him guilty and imposed a sentence of
500 and costs and so days in Jail and
in default Of payment of fine and costs
so days additional, from which an APP
peal was taken and bonds furnished
in the sum of $500 for appearance at
the January term of the superior
court
TREBLE Croteau, who was in the The
berge store at the time of the SELF
ure. was then arraigned on the charge
of illegal possession, to which through
advice of his counsel, Mr.. Maher, ne
pleaded not guilty.
The testimony of the sheriffs was in
effect that they visited the store at
about 4 o'clock in the afternoon and
as had been pre-arranged Bullock re-
manned upstairs TO see what nap
pened in the store while Bucilin did
the searching; that "A long necker bot
tie of whiskey was found on a shelf
in the store, after whieh Mr.. Bucklin
went down stairs to CONTINUE the
search; that he had been tnera d few
moments when Mr.. Bullock started
down the stairs, but before reaching
the foot of the tight he heard quick
footsteps on the floor above, and on
hur~ying upstairs he saw Mr.. Croteau
going toward the entrance 10 the store
with 8. suitcase in his hand; that ne
called to Croteau ID sto9 but that the
latter Gid not stop until Bullock over
took him at the door of the store; tha-
Mr.. Eucklin then came up, and the
she-tfs took the suitcase and ON
opening il found it TO contain 10 quart
bottles Of whiskey, the bottles being
of the long-necker type. the same as
the BOTTLES which had been f und on
a shelf in the store; thai half of the
bottles taken from the shelf five Were
without labels and caps.
Mr. Croteau's testimony was in eff
feet that he was friend of Mr.. The
berge ard was in the latter's store
nearly every day and was there on the
day and time of the search; that he
did not know the officers were there
until Mr.. Bullock spoke to him: that
from where he was sitting he could not
see who came into the store; that Mr..
Begin, the clerk, said to him: GO out
there and bring that dress suit case
in back here" and that was what he
was doing at the time that the officers
took the case. According to the tes-
timony of .. the sheriffs, Mr.. Croteau
and Mr. Begin were in the back room
of the store when the officers enter
ed. the clerk sitting at the desk, but
Mr.. Croteau claimed that the latter
was standing at the prescription case.
The claim of the defence was that
some one opened the store door and
after setting the suit case inside went
away; that Mr.. Begin asked Mr.. Gro
teau TO bring the suit case in. and
that while the latter was doing so the
officer took it, Mr.. Croteau was ad-
judged guilty and the court imposed
a sentence of 500 and costs and 60
DAYS in TAIL and in default Of payment
of fine and costs so days additional. An
appeal was taken and bonds furnished
in 5000 for his appearance at the jan
uary term of court.