Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-30
SIDNEY HAY CASE +.
CLAIMS attention
OF MUNICIPAL COURT
Hon. Martin Reynolds and Frank
CLARK of Sidney Invoke the
Law, the Latter Bringing Suit
for $35 in Connection with
Cutting Hay on Reynolds
Farm-Court Finds Judgment
for Defendant

Martin L. Reynolds of Sidney was the
defendant in an interesting hay case
Saturday afternoon in the municipal
court in which the plaintiff was Frank
Clark of Sidney. who brought suit for
S33 in connection with the cutting of hay
on farm in Sidney owned by Mr.. Rey-
nolds, Clark and his crew having been
stopped from the work after it had gone
on for three days, the claim being made
by the owner that the hay was too green
when put in the barn, while the plain
tiff demanded what he claimed was the
proportionate part due him of the $40
for which he contracted to cut the hay.
as he was ready and willing to go to
work, according to his version of the
story, when stopped by Mr. Reynolds.
James L. Boyle appeared for the plain
tiff and Hon. Frank L. Dutton for the
defendant. y
The case opened at 245 and it was 6
p. NJ. when it was completed Frank
Clark the plaintiff. was the first wit
ness called. He stated that on July 10
Mr.. Reynolds first spoke to him about
cutting the hay Witness and his faith
err talked with Mr.. Reynolds, who Of
fered them $40 and they took the job.
Witness testified as to the progress of
the haying work by himself, his father
and Henry Thibodeau. About o'clock
Sunday afternoon Mr.. Reynolds told them
not to haul in any more hay, said that It
wasn't fit to haul in. Charles Nichols.
who was working in a neighboring field,
told him it was drier than any hay he
had seen put in that year. Hauled in
three or four loads after Mr.. Reynolds
told him not to haul in any more Con-
sidered the hay in as good condition as
that he had put into his own barn.
On Monday Mr.. Reynolds stopped them
from hauling in more hay, although he
was ready to haul it in again. Mr.. Rey-
nolds told them again on Tuesday not 70
haul in any more hay, saying that the
hay in the barn was rotten" Witness
afterwards asked him to settle for s3s
and Mr.. Reynolds replied forcibly that
he wouldn't. There were about seven
loads of hay in the field when Mr.. Rey-
nolds stopped them on Tuesday from.
hauling in. Witness, his father and Hem
ry Thibodeau with three horses worked
on the hay and his sister raked the
scatterings. He figured that it WOULD
cost about 81 to haul in the seven loads
of hay left and so reckoned that out Of
the contract BY days work it would
have cost considerably more.
Other witnesses for the plaintiff were
Judson Clark, his father and Ira Foss.
both of Sidney.
Attorney Dutton in opening for the
defense claimed that the contract was
made with Judson ClaNk and not with
Frank Clark and that Mr.. Reynolds
objected to the shape in which the hay
was put in and because they couldn't
get the hay in as they wanted to the
Clarks lacked the job and left 10 acres
of grass down fiat. He declared that
no trade was made with Frank Clark
and that his client did not owe Frank
Clark anything. If he owed anyone
anything over and above damages it
was Judson Clark.
Mr.. Reynolds. the defendant, gave his
version of the transaction. Had no con-
tract with Frank Clark in regard to
cutting the hay. Judson Clark told wit
ness he had been out looking over his
field. Asked witness how many acres
there was in it. Told him there was
probably "a acres OF grass land. De-
PENDANT said he would pay s4o( the
same as he paid last year. Said he
wanted the hay cut in workmanlike
manner, not all moved down at once.
Said he had never had it cut in less
than three days. Judson Clark told
witness he would guarantee to have it
under the shingles in three days; re-
piled that he couldn't do it and that if
he could he wouldn't pay him $40. Told
Clark he would throw in on the job an
acre that he had already cut and rake
it up.
Mr.. Reynolds said that Clark moved
ali the grass in two mowings except
an hour and a half cutting on Sunday.
Went to the farm on Sunday. 1t was
quite foggy and the weather didn't
look very good. The Clarks were get
ting in hay. Told them he didn't think
the hay was in good condition to get
it and that it wanted more sun but did
not forbid them. Went to the barn and
they came up with load OF damp hay.
Passed a box of salt to Thibodeau,
asked him to sprinkle it on because the
hay didn't look very good. 1t took two
IN unload if and il came off in little