St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1916-07-26
PMVER FOUND GUILTY
Exceptions Taken Preparatory to an
Appeal-Many Witnesses Called
In Trial Before Judge Frye.

III DGAOAC rye
Joseph Pilver was found guilty of
selling Jamaica ginger as a beverage
after trial by jury heard before
Judge G. c. Frye of the municipal
court at the court house Tuesday af-
ternoon. Exceptions were taken by
the respondents counsel, D. E. Porter,
of Porter, Writer'S and Harvey. in pre-
paration for an appeal of the case to
a higher court.
The warrant for the arrest of Pill
yer came after a raid made by the
local officers on the respondents store
on Railroad street, opposite the corner
of Portland, in which raid about four
dozen bottles of "Jaikie," were found
hidden in various parts of the store,
other than on the shelves.
The raid came as the elimination
of the large number of arrests made
for intoxication within the past three
or four weeks. The parties arrested
had invariably loaded up on "Jaikie"
and in many instances bottles of goods
were found on them. These cases set
the authorities on the lookout for the
source of supply and led to the raid
and arrest of Joseph Pilver.
Sheriff Worthen was the first witness
called by the States Attorney Norton
and he testified to finding the bottles
of Jamaica ginger in various places.
This testimony was corroborated later
by Chief Finley and officer Coburn,
who were present at the raid. Testi-
mony was given as to finding bottles
of Jamaica ginger in a bin covered
over with shelled pop corn. Bottles
of the goods were exhibited of differ
ent brands containing from so to 80
per cent alcohol. Bottles of winter
green, peppermint, cough syrups and
even liquid veneer were used as ex-
hibits by the defense to show that the
officers Disseminated in their search,
and even though some other essences
containing alcohol were nearby the
admission was made by the officers
that they did not see these but were
only on the lookout for "Jaikie."
George Hull was called and testified
to having been arrested Saturday for
intoxication and said he purchased
Jamaica ginger from the respondent,
but was unable to state what happen
ed after his first two trips to the store,
and could not remember when ar
rested, or by whom. He admitted get
ting it before at Pilver's, and said
when asked as to the procedure of
getting it, that he asked for it and
got it. When called to the stand a
second time the defense tried to get
an admission from Hull that as his
case for intoxication was not settled
and that it might go hard with him
for the offense, that the state had
impressed the fact upon him and that
it was with the hope of getting off
with light sentence that he was Civ
ing this testimony. The witness de-
MED emphatically that he had any
such intention or had had any such
talk with Sheriff Worthen.
Practically the entire family of
David Lamere was called to testify
from the father down to Esther La
mere, about nine years old, whose
testimony was given in French and
interpreted by one of the jurors.
David Lamere acknowledged getting
Jamaica ginger at Pilver's and made
statements that were fatty contra
dicted by the rest of his family, who
testified later as to his sending the
children to the store for the Jamaica
as many as three or four times a day,
even when there was other liquor in
the house.
DR.. Tierney testified that there were
cases where a doctor would prescribe
Jamaica ginger for a patient. When
asked in what case such dose might
be given he said delerium tremens.
The defense placed witnesses on the
stand to show that when Jamaica gin
ger was sold from the store it was
with the idea that it was to be used
for medicinal or home purposes and
that in no case was it sold otherwise.
The jury hearing the case was as
follows:
w. +. Welch, Thomas Rickaby, A
F. Lawrence, p. A. Fletcher, George
H. Morrill,, B. G. Sheldon, G. E. Peck
H. w. Blodgett, George Cobleigh, Ar
thur Stevens, T. J. Tierney and A W.
Flint.