Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-08-10
Bouchafd and King Held
for Grand Jury for Assault
on Police Officer Wiue

Joseph Bouchard. Omar King and
George Morrow were before Judge
Matthew Monday morning on the
charge of assaulting Officer Willett
while in the discharge of his duty. Aft
er lengthy hearing. Bouchard and
King were held In $500 bonds for the
action of the grand jury and Morrow
was discharged. Bouchard and King
were represented by Attorney Fred ~.
Clair and Attorney Frank Plumstead
appeared for the State. Morrow was
without counsel. declaring to the court
when asked if he wanted an attorney
that he did not need any.
All three young men pleaded not
guilty and Officer Willett was called as
the first witness for the State. He said
that he was standing in front OF the
| Daviau drug store at about 1920 when
he was accosted by Bouchard. He told
the fellow to go home, and then the
man attacked him. This was followed
by scufflle and while it was in pro-
gress a man ran up behind him and
grabbed him and threw him down. He
turned as he went down and saw that
it was Omar King. In the scuffie that
followed he was getting the best of
King. who then jumped up and ran
away. Willett followed King and cap
tured him and brought him into the
station. Willett remembered of being
struck several times while down on
the ground. Saw Morrow standing
about % feet away with his coat off.
Did not see Morrow while the trouble
was in progress.
| On characterization by Attorney
| Clair he said that he saw Boucha I'd
! first at about $50. Bouchard was talk
| ing loud at that time and he made him
shut up. Next time he saw him was at
1920. when Bouchard came up to him
and told him he was pretty rough.
They had a little talk and then he
started to take Bouchard. Bouchard
| grabbed him around the waist and
tried to throw him down. He used his
| club three times, then a man grabbed
him around the neck and when he
went down saw it was King Got
blows when down, thought he hurt his
! shoulder when he turned to get up.
Trouble occurred about 90 feet out in
the street.
/ Philip H. Cutie was the second wit
ness. He had started for home and
| met Bouchard, who asked him if he
was arrested. Cutie told him to go
/ home and keep still, saw Willett grab
him and then they went around into
! Gray street and out of sight. On cross
| examination he said he met Bouchard
! in front of Dubord Brothers store and
i that after the conversation Bouchard
went directly to where Willett stood
and that the trouble followed immedi-
atelv after a crowd collected and he
went along home. Questioned by the
court he said that Bouchard appeared
to him to have been drinking.
| DR. j. G.. Towne testified that Will
! lett came to his house shortly after
midnight Sunday morning. His right
shoulder blade was fractured aad he
complained of great pain in his side
! between the seventh and eighth ribs.
1t was a complete fracture of the
shoulder, but it might possibly be only
a tearing OF the muscles in the ribs.
The break on the shoulder could only
come from a direct downward blow and
it would have to be severe one. Will
lett would probably be unable to re-
sumo his work for five or six weeks.
On cross-examination he said that he
did not believe that the break on the
shoulder could come from anything
except a direct downward blow. A
kick might cause it. but it could not be
done with the fist in his belief.
| On redirect he said that it might
have been caused by falling against
the curb or pole.
Odium Liberty told of seeing Willett
and Bouchard struggling and then of
seeing King come along and grab
Willett and throw him to the ground
and Of the struggle on the ground. He
was positive that Willett was thrown
against the post at the corner. On
cross examination he stuck to this
story. although given a hard grilling
by Attorney Clair. On a question by
the court he said he saw Morrow walk
through the crowd but did not see him
do anything.
Alfred Kings story was similar ex-
cept that he said that King was hold
ing Willett down. He did not see any.
one else mix in the trouble On cross
examination he said he saw Wnlett
club Bouchard. Saw King and Willett
on the ground. their heads were away
from the sidewalk and the pole there.
| Edward Repprecht saw Bouchard
and Willett wrestling about the street.
Saw King come down Gray street
and grab Willett and throw him to
the ground Saw them struggle there
and then King jump up and run and
Wiliett go after him and catch him.
King threw Willett in the road about
10 feet from the sidewalk. On cross
examination he said that he was in the
front rank, that there were very few
people on his side of the street. He
did not see Morrow.
Joseph Lessard was the last witness
for the State. He did not see the
trouble. but Morrow came by his
house and showed him his hand on
which was a number of scratches. said
that he got them hitting Willett.
The case OF King and Bouchard was
rested there by Attorney Clair. The