Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-01
PROPER SUSTENANCE
VS.. BALANCED RATION
Hearing at Gardiner, Friday
Morning, in Case That Has
Attracted Much Attention
Court Reserves Decision.

q. Frank Brown of West Gardiner,
was arraigned Friday forenoon at nine
O'Clock before Judge Atkins, on COM
plant Of humane Officer r. H. Willis,
charged with failing to provide proper
sustenance" for his domestic animals
Associated with Officer Willis in press
ing the case was State Humane Officer
Hiram Walker of Brunswick who has
been working in this vicinity recent
ly. After hearing the evidence Judge
Atkins reserved his decision until Sat
urday forenoon at 9 O'Clock.
Mr.. Browns interest We're we'll look
ed after by Hon. George w. Heselton
who. after the witnesses had testified,
made no plea.
The officers testified to going to the
Brown place on last Monday. At this
time Mr.. Brown was not at nome.
They said they found &c head of stock
in the two tieups. three horses and 100
hens. They hunted about and found no
hay and but little straw. They We're
able to find but a bushel and a half
of grain and some ensilage of poor
quality. They stated that the cattle
rather "thinish" They resented an in
timation from Attorney Heselton that
they might have their eyes on the fees
they obtained by bringing charges and
said that it, was entirely from hui
name standpoint that the charge was
brought.
Mr.. Walker has been State humane
officer for six years and in the employ
of the Pennington society for period
Of one month. Mr.. Walker said that
he was accustomed to live stock, hav-
ing been brought up on farm ana
being a butcher by trade. Both agents
were firmly convinced that the animals
suffered from lack of nourishment.
Brown testified in his own behalf.
That he was away when the officers
came on Monday. but was at home
when they came Tuesday. When they
came on Monday he was in town pur-
chasing grain. six bags of Gray-Hil-
dreth Co. Under oath he stated that
at the time of the officials visit there
was three bales of straw. % tons OF
ansilage and from one to two tons OF
hay in the barns. Since housing his
cattle he had fed about IS tons OF hay
and now fed n foddering of enSllage
and grain morning and night and q
fodderinG Of hay or straw at noon. AZ
times he weighed the ensilage and
found that he was feeding from 40 to
so pounds of ii per day per animal.
This he considered 4 balanced ration.
He refutcd the testimony of the officers
as to the poor condition of his tleupS,
saying that they were Sheathed with
matched boards, both front and back.
had a plank flooring which was double
boarded For bedding ne used shaw
ines and cleaned the tieups out twice
a day.
Fred y. Trafton. summoned by the
STAKE. gave testimony regarding the
feeding. said that he fed his own
growing Young stock in Il manner SIM
! liar to Brown. and thought that the
latters stock showed that Brown fed
as he said he did. The stock was IN
good condition. fully up TO the average
+; He had Just bought a COW from Brown
for which he paid s35, would have
bought more if Brown would have sold
Rev. L. II. Clark. neishbor Of
| Browns, stated that he visited the
Brown barn quite often. Was there
! last Thursday and was somewhat sur
prised that the charge had been
brought as the stock was in good con
dition considering the character OF the
stock. which was about what he should
buy to winter on ensilaSe, grain and
straw. He considered the stock in
good condition. He had sold Mr.
Brown some straw recently MIR. Clark
gave description Of balanced ration
in which straw entered as the rough
age. He further said that so of similar
stock in the West would be wintered
on like ration. In response to the
question "Outside of the business and
economical question would the feeding
of straw with ensilage and grain be
sufficient to give proper sustenance?
he replied: decidedly it would"
Mr. Lovejoy. an elderly man in the
employ of Brown, testified as to the
feeding, the condition of the animals
and the condition of the quarters
where they were housed. S. o. Green
another neighbor, gave like testimony
saying that the cattle quarters were
better than was to be found in his
barn. Messrs. Thornton, Hodges. Ira
CIV and Knox gave testimony favorable
| to Brown.
The case has attracted much atten.
ton and the court room was filed will
! interested spectators. Many com
plants have been received regarding
Browns care of his stock. the officers
state. Judg Atkins said that the Off
! GERS were fully warranted in making
the investigation and withheld his de-
cision until o'clock Saturday morn