Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-14
SUPERIOR COURT
Trial of Criminal Cases
Opens Thursday
Verdicts of Guilty Returned in Cases
of State VS.. Chas. J. johnson and
State vs.. Hugh NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Given in Both Gases

II Inere L any CLASS VI ~
that ough to be severely punished IT
is the hen thief" said County Attor-
ney William H. Fisher at the Ihurs-
day session of the superior court, a1ter
the jury had found Charles >. 1ohh-
son of Waterville guilty of an attempt
To break and enter the henhouse OF ..
T, Collins of Waterville. Judge Beane
imposed a sentence OF SIN nloil'iiS III
Jail upon the defendant.
A good number of other criminal
cases came before the session although
but one other came up Tor actuai
trial. that being the case OF state vs.
Hugh McNealus of Chelsea. indicted
for assault upon Timothy Malone
McNealus was found guilty and was
sentenced to serve six months in jail.
In the last of the civil cases, those
of n. f. Foote VS.. Frank Bates. both
of Winthrop, which were before the
court Wednesday, the jury returned
verdicts of S26 50 in No. $40 and $2S7.61
in No 500 The jury's deliberations in
these cases lasted three hours and a
half.
The first of the criminal cases to
come before the court Thursday was
that of State vs. Grace H. and Ar
thur ]. Garrant of Waterville for COM
mon nuisance. Attorney Fred W. Clair
withdrew the plea Of not guilty and
filed a demurrer. Judge Beane impos-
ed A sentence upon Arthur j. Garrant
of a fine of 200 and costs of $25 and
six months in Jail and if not paid six
months additional in JAIL and sem
tence upon Grace H. Garrant Of fine
of 5000 and costs of s25 and one year in
Jail and if net paid six months addi-
tional. Both respondents were put on
and costs.
In case No. 161, State VS.. Arthur
Butler. Aplt., charged with the illegal
possession of Intoxicating liquors, At
torney Clair withdrew the plea Of not
guilty and entered the plea of nolo
contendere. The respondent was Civ
en- a sentence of six months in Jail and
was placed on probation.
The next case taken up was that
Of State vs.. Kate Lahey Of Waterville
and Charles Whittier. charged with
forniCation. Attorney Locke had en-
tered the plea of nolo contendere Kate
Lahey was sentenced to pay costs of
s25 and serve one year in Jail and
Charles Whittier was given sentence
Of costs of S25 and six months in jail.
Both respondents We're put on proba-
ton upon payment of costs.
In case No 26. that Of State VS..
Fred Smith Of Hallowell for larceny Of
a horse from William A. Niles Of Hal
lowell, the defendant changed his plea
of not guilty to nolo contendere. Sem
tence was, deferred in the case.
State vs.. Charles J. johnson
The case Of State vs.. Charles ].
Johnson of Waterville was the first of
the criminal cases up for trial The
defendant was indicted for an attempt
to break and enter henhouse at Wa
terville on Aug. / last. Samuel Tit
comb appeared as attorney for John
son.
J. Lee Collins of Waterville testi-
fed that he rugged up a bell to sound
" lAtil tiit liluoN VI HIS n61lIlOuSe was
opened. Upon the night of Aug / the
bell rang and he went out with a
f1ashlight and saw the man. a strang-
er to him. near the henhouse and
hacking away. It was then about $50
P. NJ. Collins asked the man what he
was doing there and the man respond
ed, Il haven't touched a thing" Wit
ness had flashed his light in the mans
face and next morning had recognize
ed the man when the city marshal
got him.
The testimony Of Mrs. J. L. Col
Inns corrohorated that Of her husband
Mrs. Collins adding that by the light
of the lantern she held, she had clear
~ seen the mans face and that the
man was Johnson.
The defense was an attempt to prove
an alibi, that Johnson had been at
his home all the time from o'clock
in the Afternoon Of Aug. I to the next
morning. Mrs. Chas. Johnson testified
to that effect. Mrs. Eliza beth Barry.
neighbor, said she had heard Mr.. and
Mrs Collins talking together at their
home shortly before s o'clock that eve
ming and Thomas Barry said he had
seen Johnson at home and in his night
clothes at about 40 that evening