Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-15
State VS., William C.. West

| The case against West was opened
| Friday morning, Samuel Titcomb ap-
pearing as counsel for the respondent.
| The first witness was c. c. Cole. SUI
| perintendent of the Augusta division
Of the Lewiston, Augusta &. Water
Vile Railroad who said that last win
| ter the power of the railway was di-
| minished and he sent out man to see
if the copper bonds connecting the
rails were loose. The man found more
than 900 bonds missing on the Win
throp line and between 1900 and 1000
missing on the entire road. These
bonds were worth about 81 apiece.
Some were sodered, some were weld
| ed and others driven into holes into
the tracks. Witness said that anyone
conVersant with junk could tell that
these bonds came from railroad. He
found that the bonds had been cut He
said he had not recovered them, al
though West had sent him word that
he could get them.
Seth. r. Clark of Augusta testified
that the hoys, Jimmy Ruth and Az
thur Monlt on. came to sell the copper
bonds to him but he did not buy them.
fearing that the boys had not come
rightfullv by them. Upon cross exam
ination he said he had had trouble be-
fore with the boys.
James Griffith. - wears of age, said
he was at Mr.. Vests house when the
boys sold the copper bonds to West,
Arthur Moulton and Jimmie Routh
testified that last April they took con-
per bonds from the railroad by Mo-
rang's Crossing, getting them off with
hammer or chisel Both boys testi-
fed to selling these bonds to West
after trying to sell them at other
places. And they said West had told
them it was good stuff and he would
buy all they could get If they did not
steal It, West had not asked them
where they got the copper bonds but
had paid them s16S for the entire
lot Of 10 pieces.
The defense was that West did not
know these bonds had been stolen
when he bought them Of the boys, he
having had previous dealings with the
two boys without any trouble.
William c. West, the defendant. said
he had bought of the Moulton> and
Routh bows previously without any
trouble. although he had not bought
any copper. He had told the hoys if
the copper was not stolen he would
buy it and according to his testi-
nnonv. he had asked Routh II 1t was
stolen and the boy had replied that it
was not Defendant had never seen
anv copper like that before. Before he
bought the second lot he had asked
Routh If it was stolen and the boy
had again replied that it was not. City
Marshal Tyler had before that time
called upon West. looking for copper
bonds and saying there were boys
around stealing them. Defendant said
that after he found the bonds We're
stolen he had notified the deputy
marshal that they were there. He new
err knew there were bonds which join
cd together the rails.
James Larrabee Of Augusta said he
was present at Vests place when
the Moulton and Routh boys sold the
copper bonds to West and West had
said that that was good and he would
buy them if the boys had not stolen
them.
Joseph Ellis of Augusta testified that
West had asked the boys if they stole
the bonds and they had replied mo"
The jury's deliberations upon the
case ldSI6u DuJ 10 IIllnulcS.
Complaint Quashed
In Case No. 1873, State vs. Edward
Smith, Aplt., charged with destroying
a fish screen, Attorney L. T. Garlic
ton moved to have the complaint
uuashed as being defective. The mo-
ton was granted by the court on those
grounds.
State VS.. DutiIe. Toulouse and Hy-
land, Aplts.
ATTORNEY Fred W. Clair Of Water
VILE appeared for. the defendants in
the cases of State VS.. Albert n. Du-
tile, Edward E. Toulouse and John
A. Hyland, Aplts.. charged with keep
ing beer not properly labelled, and
entered the plea of nolo contendere
Each of the respondents was sentenced
to pay fine of s25 and costs.
State vs.. Archie Barney, ApIt.
Attorney Clair entered the plea of
nolo contendere in the case of State
vs. Archie Barney. Aplt., charged with
the illegal keeping of intoxicating
liquors. Judge Beane imposed SEN
tence of fine of 800 and costs of s25
and three months in Jail and put the
ment of costs.
Statev $. Carl Weston, ApIt.
The second case up for trial Friday
was that of State VS.. Carl Weston.
Aplt., charged with illegal possession
of intoxicating liquors with intent to
sell. Samuel Titcomb ana Burleigh
Martin were attorneys for the defend
ant.
Sheriff E. D. Harwood testified to
being at the American Express Co. |
when Allie Bowler Racklffe was there |
and Selling box of liquor which had
come in Rackliffe's name.
Mr.. Rackliffe testified that he had |
told Weston he could have liquor |
come in his name and that some lio |
uor for Weston did come in that wav
In consequence of its seizure he was
arrested He said he had not told |
Sheriff HARDWOOD it was his liquor.