Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-10-16

Ierowth, Il being claimed from this that
for at least forty years the Ridlons had
not occupied the plece. A number Of
deeds were introduced By the defence %
prove title 10 the lsnd.
Il After the evidence was closed In this
case, Attorney Smith moved that the
court direct . verdict for the plaintiff.
The motion Wa argued by counsel and
Judge Cornish then granted Il. Tho
parties conferred and agreed upou the
sum Of 3270 for the timber, and . form
81 verdict for that amount was signed
BY the fofman Of the jury and recorded.
A little moro than . days time was
occupied on this case. Immediately
upon conclusion . short case was begun,
Eugene McKeen W. Virgil b. Littlsfeld.
e. F. Smith for plaintiff, A. j. Stearns
for defendant.
The parties live In Stoneham, and
McKeen had worked for Littlefleld
driving team. The Suit wss brought 10
~ wages for labor n teamster during
the summer Of 1915. Tho defence was
that McKeen Was in the habit OF becom-
ing intoxicated, and that about the
middle of August an oral contract was
made between them that II McKeen
again became intoxicated he would for
felt whatever was due him. On the 7th
or 9th of September he was again In
toxicated, and Littlefleld discharged
him. This suit was brought to recover
the wages then due.
McKeen denied having made such
contract q testified to by Littlefeld.
Witnesses for the defence testified to
his having told them be had made such
. contract.
No question was made ~ to the
amount Of the account, which was due
unless It was nnllified by the contract
alleged.
Verdict for defen dant, and to special
inquiry submitted to the jury by the
court, asking whether the contract was
made as alleged by the defence, the
jury replied, "Yes."
A case with some peculiar features
was the next one, which was Benjamin
N. Wells va. Ralph L. Herrick. e. F.
Smith for plaintiff, A. ]. stearns for
defendant.
The parties live In Greenwood, Wells
occupying for some time . small camp
near Greenwood City. In the fall OF
1916 In arrangement was made between
the parties by which Wells went to live
with the family of Herrick, there to have
his maintenance under certain condi.
tions. In consideration for this be
turned over to Herrick what property
he had, including bank book on which
there was $3.50, cash to the amount OF
$50, and guns, boat and other personal
property reckoned at $50, making total
of $3.50. There was in their agreement
a provision that 1t might be terminated
BY either party, and the arrangement not
proving satisfactory to either party, 1t
was terminated in the spring Of 1915,
and Wells went back to his camp.
On the 2Sth of May Herrick went to
Wells camp, and . transaction took
place there regarding which their stories
do not agree. Wells testifies that Her.
rick agreed to pay him part OF the mon
ey at that time, and the rest by degrees
or in installments, and that Herrick did
actually pay him at that time "three one
dollars" This suit Is brought BY Wells
to fOreclose the mortgage on Herrick's
place given when the arrangement was
made In the fall.
On the other hand, Herrick testifies
that at Wells camp he paid Wells the
whole $3.50 in money, and he produces
q receipt, the body Of which he wrote
and which Wells signed. for $3.50.
Whether the money was actually paid at
that time, or whether the "three one
dollars" was the amount paid, is the
Eauestion at issue In the case.
No one else was present at the time OF
toe transaction between the two men,
except Mr.. Herrick's little daughter,
now eight years OF age. She Was called
az witness, but after questioning her
Judge Cornish did not allow her to
testify.
Wells, the plaintiff, is Of very slight
education, and not Of high order OF
intelligence. He claims to be able to
read print some, but not to read writing,
and can write only his own name. His
REORGANIZATION by Mr.. Stearns was
devoted largely to testing him on his
kno Wedge Of these things, and several
witnesses were introduced to testify as
to what they knew regarding his ability
TO read or write. In answer to ques-
lions, he was described by the witnesses
a. "peculiar." The object OF this was
of course to determine whether he knew
what he was signing when he put bis
name on the receipt produced.
The plaintiff in rebuttal put on three
or four witnesses to testify a. to Her.
rick's reputation for truth and veracity,
and they all testified without seeming
reluctance that 1t was not very good.
After being out only few minutes
the Jury returned verdict for the plain
tiff. They also returned special lind
ing on question submitted by Judge
Cornish, asking If Herrick paid $3.50 to
Wells on the 18th of May, 1915, the an
swer of the jury being "No."
This case was finished about the mid
die of Friday afternoon, and with 1t the
trial list for the week as made up from
the continued civil docket, oil the other
cases having been disposed OF In some
way. The way was then clear for the
criminal docket.
CRIMINAL BUSINESS.
The grand jury completed its work
Thursday, and was discharged for the
term Friday morning. Indictments
made public were Is follows:
Albert linton, alias Anton Albrick. Illegal
Phiflip Ash. Assault and battery.
| step Kiatih, alias Steave Bistik.
| william Wheeler. Forgery.
Joseph johnson. Larceny.
| victor Kneeland. Larceny.
Harry J. Anderson, alias Harry Adams. and
HAIRY G. Bushman, alias Hughie Bingham.
Two indictments for breaking, entering and
Thomas Haman and John Miller. Breaking,
entering and larceny.
/ ThomSs Alfrenedo, Harry Weiner and George
| Morrison. Breaking. entering and larceny.
One process occupied the entire time
of the Saturday forenoon session OF the
court. That was the process OF calling
the continued criminal docket and max
ing some disposition Of the cases which
n contained. A considerable amount OF
lumber had accumulated In this docket
during two administrations, from q
variety of causes, so that the printed
docket contained 124 cases. What made
the work of disposipg OF the matter
slower was the fact that County Attorney
Over 10 now on bis first term since the
recess. and that he was unfamiliar with
most of the cases. !,
Saturdays work materially reduced
the sixs of the docket. Each case was
carefully looked mp by tho court to ascer-
tain Its status - far Is possible, the
ATTORNEYS and the sheriffs being consulted
~..>. NaAplv n acOr0 nj the