The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1917-02-08
SUPREME JUDICIAL COURT
CONTINUED from First Page

/ pdoStd, Will III
means of proving that such a dea
ever was made, Mrs. Lafond admit
ting that Pooler disappeared a few
weeks after the deal was made, leav
ing her again sole proprietor of tn,
premises and that she has not sine,
seen him.
When Mrs Lafond was pronounced
guilty" Lawyer Brown recommend
ed that, if she be sentenced at all
she should be sent to the new State
Reformatory rather than the Jail HI
told about her five children Of whom
she is the sole support her husband
being dead and the Oldest child only
l8 years of age, a sick son who has
recently returned from Texas IL
case OF his mother being sent TO pris-
on, Mr.. Brown stated that the sup
port Of the family would fall upon
the boy who is not physically fit tC
have this burden. or else the child
rem would be liable to become public
| charges.
Judge Cornish answered his plea
by stating that he felt in duty bound
to sentence her to the full extent OF
the law and that her children would
| be much better off to be in charge of
| the Overseers of the Poor than TO be
in the care of their mother. Her
sentence was given as sixty days OF
| Imprisonment and 800 and costs,
with a four month term If she fails to
pay her fine. Judge Cornish SEN
fenced the woman to the Reforma
tory.
In his charge to the jury in the
Qxc lid tch in
part: Jury trials are a series of
pictures cast on the screen. One
day you are considering the making
Of will-you are called upon to
picture all of Its surroundings A
few hours pass and that has come
and gone and yon are asked to pass
upon another question. II may be
the question Of mans right to SER
vices rendered, for money loaned, or
for another OF the many instances
that may be brought into the law
court, That scene, too, passes from
the screen and so on. one after an
other. He then went on to explain
the difference between civil and Grim
case the innocence of the defendant
inuSl pe pioFeu peyohu ali ieaoohdpie
doubt
All day Friday and Saturday morn
ing, the time was spent IN
divorce cases. 40 being entered. or
these, only one was contested, this
being the case of Lillian NJ Prescott.
represented by Merrill & Merrill,
against George Prescott, represented
by Fred F. Lawrence, which was TAX
en- up late Friday afternoon.
The plaintiff was first called to the
stand, she testifying that her hus-
band treated her we'll until after the
birth of Everett after which time he
began drinking heavily.
She then told a tale of woe of her
married life of twenty years and ask
ed for a divorce on the grounds OF
cruel and abusive treatment She
claimed that her husband had struck
her. had drank a great deal and that
he had even given liquor to the boy.
Charles Dumont and Bert c. Taylor
testified for Mrs. Prescott.
When Prescott himself, was called
to the witness stand. he testified that
he had seen his wife with other men
and mentioned two well known resi-
dents OF this town. Clyde Fl. Smith
was one of the witnesses for Mr.
Prescott, and testified that he had
known him for twelve years and
would not call him a drunkard. John
Mooers, former sheriff, also testi-
fed that during the time he was in
office he had never seen him drunk
and had not seen any liquor coming
for him. James H. Colway, house
painter, who has worked with Pres
colt about four years, said that since
he first knew him in 1908 that he had
never seen him when he thot he had
been drinking. Wallace J. Lashon
another ex-deputy sheriff, testified for
Prescott.
A divorce was ordered, however
and the custody of the three children
Everett L.. Eva M, and Pearl X, was
given to the mother.
The assault case in which Andrew
Petley of Arson was alleged To have
stabbed his wife, Maude Petley. was
referred to when Mrs. Petley APP
peared for divorce The unfortu-
nate results of an elopement and
marriage to man nearly three times
| 90 oiu, was uiOI up Wueu MIS-. AHIlt
Delaney asked for divorce from her
husband, Stephen Delaney
Late Thursday afternoon Judge
Cornish listened to short case, that
of the State, represented by Attorney
Anderson. with Albert Bishop. Fred
Calder and Bert Fowler, represented
by Attorney Cover. 1t seems that
following the issuing of mittimus
Bishop came down to Skowhegan to
settle up, but while waiting for the
arrival of the county officer he was
allowed to go out with one Fowler
who went his bail 1t followed that
Bishop disappeared. ExSherifl
Thompson was called for a witness
and judgment was ordered for the
plaintiff in the sum of s25 without
costs. The money was paid.
Both juries were discharged Thurs
day afternoon, one at three o'clock
the other at four.
Twenty-six divorces were decreed
by Justice Cornish as follows Will
lard N. Raymond from Janette C
Raymond, both of Palmyra. desertion
children to father; Freda Richard
from Aristilda Richard, both of Jack.
man. intoxication and abusive treat
ment. child to mother; Harold w
Chapman from Bessie M. Chapman
both of Arson. cruel treatment: Lii
liam Prescott from George Prescott
both of Skowhegan, cruel treatment
children to mother; Eliza Edna KEEL