Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-05-15
TIE MAJ Term a. Court.

Inc may Term Of Court.
An accident which happened last Non
day night very nearly made necessary
delay In tho opening of the May term Of
court at Rumford, besides ito more seri.
Gus aspect Of narrow escape from fatal.
tiles.
On the Stanley steam passenger auto
mobile which runs ~ stage from Bry'
ants Pond to Rumford were the driver,
Garfield Redman, and three passengers,
Mrs. Annie Csliendo of Mexico, Miss
Edith Chase Of Abbott's Mills, who u
employed In . Rumford family. and
Clerk of Courts Ernest j. Record Of
South Paris, who had with him Q trunk
containing the court books and papers
for use ct the term.
When the car was run on to the ferry.
boat at Rumford Center, for some reason
1t did not stop on the boat, but kept on
over the outer end into the deep water
of the river, where 1t rested on the bot.
tom, with one end OF the top showing
above water. Mr.. Record and Mrs. Cali
endo jumped of before the Car went of
the boat, but the driver and Miss Chase
went down. Mr.. Redman SWAN around
and got hold of Miss Chase after she bad
gone down twice. Everett Bartlett, who
lives near by, was quickly at the place
With row boat, and assisted in getting
the people out of the water.
Some robes and seat cushions foated
away, and Miss Chase lost grip contain
ing her pocketbook with money and q
diamond ring, but most of the other
property was rescued.
By the use of ropes and chains and the
assistance of q large number of men,
some of whom were attending grange
meeting at the Center at the time, the
car was pulled out of the water about
midnight. The trunk containing the
court records and papers was strapped
to the baggage rack and came out with
the car. The books and papers we're
considerably damaged in appearance, but
not destroyed.
The court, with Justice George F. Ha-
ley presiding, opened on time on Tues
day, and trial list was made out to oc.
cupy the rest of the week.
When the jurors we're called, eight nf
the list we're excused for one reason or
another, as follows: Leroy o. Babb,
Peru; Prince E. Colcord, Di1fleld; True
A. Eames, Bethel; John D. Foley, Mex
leo; Harry NJ. jackson, Norway; Charles
johnson, Milton Plantation; Webster
a. Kilgore. Norway; NJ. NJ. Perkins, Ok
ford. One other had been excused be-
fore the sitting of the court, and the list
was so much reduced that only one jury
was empaneled, the other jurors being
made supernumersries. Lewis R. Hall
Of Andover was elected foreman.
Later q number of talesmen were
drawn from Rumfurd and Mexico to I'll
second jury as 1t became necessary
from the number of trials.
Most OF Tuesday was taken up with
organization and calling the docket and
making assignments. Wednesday fore
noon was largely devoted to naturaliza-
ton matters, when twenty. -four new citi-
zens were made.
A number of liquor cases were dispos-
ed of Wednesday afternoon. John Wis
kout of Rumford paid fine of 800 on
nuisance indictment, Charles Campbell
of Mexico 500 and costs on common
seller charge, and Joe Mercier of Rum
ford 800 for keeping and depositing.
The first case opened to the jury was
that of the inhabitants of Mexico vs.
John Stanley, to recover for the support
of Ernest Msrston, % years Of age, who
Is feeble minded. Blanchard for Mexico,
Ashworth for Stanley. After little
progress bad been made on the case, it
was Withdrawn from the jury to be re-
ported to the law court.
Stanley Bisbee vs. Ed Grant & Son Co.
was the first case tried. Suit was brought
to recover for certain hardware, two
items of which were contested. Parker
for plaintiff, j. B. Morrison for defend
ant. The jury returned a verdict for
$113.97, the full amount claimed.
An interesting case was that of Oscar
Sullivan of Rumford vs.. Daniel McCsffer-
ty of Rumford, for SANDER. The amount
OF damages named in the writ was $4,000.
McCafferty had signed note with Sulli.
van and another, and later made public
statements that McCafferty had forged
bis name to the note. Later he recollect-
ed signing the note, which he had for
gotten, and acknowledged it. Beliveau
for plaintiff, Mccarthy for defendant.
The jury returned q verdict for plaintiff,
with damages in the sum of $l475.
Some automobile damage suits we're
next tried Harry King of Bethel sues
Nathaniel Bean of Mexico for damages
resulting from collision between Kings
team and an automobile driven by Bean.
Horace Brule sues John Belanger for
damages for the death of his son, alleged
to have resulted from injuries received
when he was struck by the Belanger
auto. Verdict for defendant.
On trial at adjournment Saturday:
Perle Howard vs. DR.. John A. Greene,
for damages resulting from an automo-
bile collision.
The court Is expected to be in session
until about Wednesday.