Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-04
AUTO CASE IS
INTERESTING

trial was held at the Gardiner munich
pal court Tuesday morning when Thomas
Holmes of Randolph was arraigned to
answer the charge of being accessory be-
fore the fact in the theft of an automo-
bile. Through his counsel, Judge B. F.
Maher of Augusta. he waived the read
ing of the warrant and pleaded not gull
ty. At the conclusion of the trial he was
discharged by Judge Atkins with the re-
mark that ut does not require much
evidence to hold a man on charge like
this but il does take some. These words
tersely describe the trial, for not a scin-
tilla of evidence at the hearing to con-
meet the respondent with the case, in fact
his name was hardly mentioned and he
was not called upon to testify.
The trial was the outcome of the recent
Ward case. Holmes having been in
Wards employ The hearing was en-
livened by some lively tits between
Judge Maher and Special Officer Joseph
Mattey of the Boston police department.
sometimes one and sometimes the other
getting the decision.
Deputy Sheriff McCausland was tire first
to testify He told of his suspicious in
regard to stolen cars being handled in
this section, of his communicating with
Boston parties and of the arrival of the
officer, Mr.. Mattey. of the insurance in
spector. Mr. Murray, and Of DR.. Judd Of
Brooklne, Mass. The latter gentleman
had Ford runabout stolen and identified
the engine on the car in question as his.
The body had. however. been changed
and it was now touring car. He told
of the finding Of dies at the room of Ed
gar Ward. nine in number, which exactly
corresponded with the numbers on the
engine of the car.
Counsel Maher then called Messrs. Mat
tey and Murray. Both objected to testi-
flying as they had not been summoned.
Mr. Mattey suggested that he had not
been paid. Both he and Mr. Murray
were Immediately paid. Both gentlemen
accepted the required amount and then
stated that they refused to accept 1t.
But" said Mr.. Maher you have al
ready done so" Mattey then insisted
that summons be issued for himself and
Murray and this was accordingly served
by Deputy Robinson.
Mr. Matey on the stand testified that
he was member of the Boston Police
department and had been for seven
years. He said that he first heard of
the case by telephone. in a message in
structing him to be ready to Go to
Maine" He said that four Fords and
another car had been stolen. Asked by
Judge Maher the name Of the other car
he refused to answer and in this he was
sustained by the court. He stated that
the deputies and Mr.. Murray, in COM
pany with DR.. Judd, had gone TO JEFF
ferson to see the car, owned by MIR.
Durfee. Asked regarding the number
of the engine, he stated that it had two
numbers; one was No 9S0032 and the
use of a magnifying glass showed No
$50 with IN space between the SIS and
20 for two numbers which had been
entirely effaced. DR.. Judds car num-
Der was No. $4,000. He further stat
ed that the owner identified the engine
and frame of the car by certain marks,
some of which were put there by the
owner and some the result of a col
lision. Questioned further, he said that
one of the inner tubes had upon it the
name of Dr. Judd
Mr., Murray testified that he repre-
scented about 40 companies and had Of
fees at A Kilby street, Boston. DR.
Judds car had been insured in the
Orient Co. and the insurance, 1915, had
been paid The car was stolen on April
"a and the loss reported the following
day. The witness corroborated Mr.. Mat
tey's story of the identification marks.
He also told of seeing the original run
about body at the Ward place in Ran
dolph and that this was identified by
DR.. Judd. Recalled to the stand, Mr..
Mct'ausland told of the finding of the
dies while searching for intoXiCants.
Asked if he took anything else he re-
piled in the negative.
After adjournment. Mr.. Mattey had
his laugh. Nothing doing" he said,
You cannot use my evidence for you
didn't swear me in" And they didn't.
Charles Swift has returned to Bath,
where he is employed.
Mrs. Harrison Hunt and son Fred of
East Pittston were visitors in the city