Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-01-18


jury and the jury retired to decide up
on the case of Black We. Stevens.
The second jury then took its place
and the first suit, Raught VS.. Bean
was begun. The attorney for the
plaintin, B. F. Maher, explained the
nature Of the case, stating that it was
case in which Grace A. Raught Of
Sidney sued Madison Bean of Sidney
for the alleged striking Of Mrs.
Raught and injuring her to such an
extent that she was incapacitated for
work.
At this point the grand jury entered
and made its report. as has hitherto
been stated. This jury vas then ex-
cused Until the first Tuesday in April.
The case was then resumed and nine
witnesses for the plaintiff were sworn
in. The plaintiff. Mrs. Grace A.
Raught OF Sidney, their took the
stand. According to her testimony, she
has lived at Sidney two years this
coming May. The trouble at the time
the alleged striking took place, was
concerning q well, which was near the
Raught house and which both the
Kaught and the Bean family used for
their water supply. The plaintiff spoke
of the change made by covering the
well and later by putting In pump,
all OF which was done. according to
her testimony. with the consent of
Madison Beane, the defendant. She
stated that the night before the trouble
occurred. Oct. l6, 1914, Mr.. Bean came
into her kitchen and drew two pals
Of water from the pump. The next
morning he came and drew two pals
moro and at noon two pals more,
and then she told him that she could
not spare 80 much water. He said that
he would not come In the house again.
About / o'clock that afternoon Mr..
Bean came with two pals and
crowbar. Harold Bean. Mr.. Beans
son. was standing behind a tree. He
came over and stated that there was
to be no trouble, but they must have
water enough to drink. Mr.. Raught
said that they could have it. Mr.. Bean
then raised the crowbar and jabbed it
into the foundation OF the well COW
ering. Harold Bean then grabbed Mr..
Raught. AS Mrs. Raught ran to get
between them Mr.. Bean hit her with
the crowbar, grabbed her by the right
arm and threw her into the road.
where she struck on her hip. She rose
and went into the store and very soon
began to realize that she had been
hurt. Mrs. Raught then spoke about
the pain which she suffered from the
injuries she received.
The first jury returned at 11.25 A.
NJ, and gave the verdict in favor OF
Black in the Black VS.. Stevens case,
This Jury was then excused until 10
o'clock this morning.
Mrs. Raught was cross-examined by
Emery o. Beane. the attorney for the
defendant, and stated that at times
water could be drawn from the pump
in her kitchen, when it could not be
drawn from the pump outside. She
also spoke of the wire which had been
put np to keep the we'll more private
and to keep her baby from falling in,
And she spoke Of the medical attend
ance which she had received from her
injuries. The morning session was ad-
journed at 1890 P. NJ.
Witnesses were then called. who
stated that they had seen Mrs. Raught
at the store soon after the alleged
striking, and had seen spots or bruises
On her arm.
DR.. l.. J.. Mann of Augusta testified
that when he was called to see Mrs.
Raught he found her suffering much
pain and upon examination he found
an injury to the covering OF the lung
that caused Inflammation, and he
found bruises and scars upon her arm
and on her left ankle.
Emery o. Beane. the attorney for the
defendant, then stated the nature OF
the defense, which in brief, was that
Mr.. Bean did not strike Mrs. Raught
but rather that Mrs. Raught tripped
upon the crowbar and fell Seven wit
nesses were sworn in for the defense.
Harold Bean, the son Of the defend
ant, was called and testified that upon
the day Of the trouble Mr.. Raught said
to Mr. Bean, TN smash your old face
if YOU touch that we'll" Harold then
said, I'VE must get drinking water.
And MIR. Raught said, You will new
er open the we'll: I'll smash your old
face" MIR. Raught then kicked Mr..
Bean and Harold Bean then hit Mr..
Raught in the face. Mrs. Raught then
interfered but fell. Her falling, how
ever was not due to her being hit by
either Mr.. Bean or Harold Bean.
Madison Bean then testified as to
the trouble between the two families
concerning the well which he claimed
to own, stating that the Raught chill
dren sat over the well often. Ills tes-
timony as to the trouble on Oct 10,
was practically the same as his sons
testimony.
The Jury was excused at 4.25 p. NJ.
and court was adjourned. The case will