Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-16
AUGUSTA LOCALS
SIDNEY PEOPLE
IN COURT over A
DITCH BY ROADSIDE
~ j. "
Gustavus Sawtelle Is Fined for
Filling in Ditch Which Road
Commissioner Davenport Had
Dug - c. H. Crowell Is Ar
raigned on the Charge of
Abetting Truancy in Viola
ton of School Laws - Case
Continued One Month

At the municipal court Friday morn
ing Gustavus Sawtelle of Sidney was
given a hearing before Judge Lancas-
ter on complaint Of Road Commission
er o. II, Davenport Of that town. who
alleged that Sawtelle had filled up
ditch which the complainant had IN
his ofncial capacity had caused to
be dug along by the side Of the River
road. so-called. in Sidney for facili-
tating the drainage Of the locality.
From what was learned at the hear
ing the trouble grew out Of the fact
that the ditch was dug along for some
distance by the property occupied by
Sawtelle, who filled 1t in. and 1t fur
Their came out that Sawtelle had for
hidden tho road commissioner to dig
the ditch and that the latter had for
hidden Sawtelle to I'LL it in, but that
the latter disregarded the commission
er's orders. When 1t came to the mat
ter Of a plea Sawtelle said he was not
guilty but he was found guilty and
given d sentence of S. and costs or 30
days in Jail, and the case was closed
by the payment Of the fine and costs.
Tho only other case for the day came
Supt. II. H. Stuart of the public schools
Of the city c. H. Crowell, who lives on
the ward road In the eastern section
q the city. was arraigned on the
charge Of abetting truancy, according
to the provisions Of Section 40 Of the
School Laws of the State of Maine, by
keeping his children from attending
the public school of that neighborhood.
Crowell has three children ageo re-
spectively IA, II and seven years and
they have been to school but one week
during the current term. The section
Of the school law which he was alleged
to have violated was read to him by
the court, iHareply to which he claim
ed that he was willing and DESTROYS of
having his children attend school, but
that during bad weather the smallest
4 one who Is seven years of age. and
the next one, aged II years, could not
do SO because the schoolhouse was a
mile and half from his house, also
NpecAuSe the older Of the two was lame
kOf the older boy, David, he had but
Dut little to say and 1t was learned by
ehescourt from the boy who was pres
ant at the hearing, that during the
time he had been staying home from
school he had been conducting a small
business in the way of selling soap.
s4oilet powder and various other arti-
80. making trips from house ta.house.
Ercwe1i was questioned az some
*length by both the court and Supt.
stuart but chung to the claim that he
wanted his children to go to school. as
ne did also to the bad weather bug
bear and IT was apparent also that an
arrangement whereby his children
SGpand De hauled to school, would to him
nae been very acceptable 1t was
3ehpwn. however. that some of the
eldIdrenswho attend the city schools
eave snearly as far to go as do the
+ pRau children. and think nothing
ftThe matter was Thoroughly dis
and finally. in order that the
p0ndent might be given an oppor-
1ity 70 comply with the law, the
- was continued for one month.