Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-10-28

nssses, especially II they are volubls or
not highly intelligent, and with even the
best OF interpreters the difficulty 10 mag
pifled many fold, In addition TO the extra
time required.
From his seat In the dock Moskus, the
respondent, watched proceedings with
bis keen eyes, but without change OF
countensnoe. Whatever may be bis
faults or twists, 1t 10 evident from bis
appearance that he IL man OF force and
intellect.
In opening County Attorney Dyer re-
ferred to the unusual nature Of the case,
and said that We have nothing to do
with the private opinions Of any person,
or with questions Of theological belief,
but when q person In public address
makes uttersnces which tend to bring
into contempt the holy name and under.
mine the foundations Of ell government,
he becomes an offender under our law.
Some eight or nine witnesses called by
the state testified regarding the pictures
shown and the comments made by
Moskus, about az they we're given In the
indictment. They said that frequently
the people laughed and clapped their
hands at the pictures and remarks of
the speaker. The presentation Of this
evidence extended we'll into the after
noon.
Witnesses testifying for the state were
Mrs. Emily Washruillas, Frank Ged.
minas, George Marshauskis, Mrs. Juzepa
Mikalonis, John Subtle, John Siedel,
Andrew Subtle.
In opening for the defence Mr.. M0rey
said that Moskus Is q lecturer, who
came to this country as boy. he had
sought to develop his intellect, and with
his intellectual development had come
to criticise the practices and tenets of
the church in which he had been reared.
What he said was in the spirit of criti-
cism rather than in the spirit of mock
cry or blasphemy of holy things.
A long line of Witnesses for the de-
fence were called, and gave their version
of what was said by the speaker. Some
of the utterances alleged they denied
having heard, and others they rendered
differently, so as to give them an entirely
different meaning. They were sharply
cross-examined by County Attorney
Dyer, and Justice Morrill, in some cases
interposed and asked some pointed ques-
tions.
Witnesses for the defence testified that
the trinity expressing the people, called
the black army by Moskus, was made
up, not as testified to by the states wit
nesses, of "priests, capitalists and gov
ernment," or "priests, capitalism and
government" but as "counts, czars and
the clergy" all of them using the latter
form of expression. Some Of them said
that Moskus compared the government
of America with other governments,
telling the people that they should be
thankful that they lived here, and that
in the old country he would not have
been allowed to say anything.
A different rendering of the words of
Moskus in several of the utterances
charged was given by the witnesses for
the defence, which would give them an
altered significance.
A considerable number OF the male
witnesses for the defence said in answer
to questions by County Attorney Dyer
that they had contributed toward fund
for the expenses of the defence In this
case, some one dollar, some two dollars,
and one who had solicited funds said he
was to give q hundred dollars II the
same amount was raised by others.
Witnesses for the defence cross. ex-
amined on Thursday number OF them
said that they were at gathering at
John Wiskont's house In Rumford We'd
nesday night, when most of the wit
nesses were present, that Mr.. Bagocius,
the assistant counsel, was there, and
that they went there at bis request. Also
that a gathering had been held at st.
Rocco's Hall Tuesday evening, as the
witnesses stated to make arrangements
about getting over to court. They denied
that they had talked over at these gath
eripgs what their testimony was to be.
The witnesses were Individually asked
by Mr.. Dyer II they were Socialists, and
a number OF them answered that they
were.
Witnesses for the defence were Joseph
Lukauskas, Peter Waznis, Charles Po-
Gus, Kazimier Jesnauskis, Anton Koris,
Annie Sarkus, John Grusis, Peter Petri-
kas, Joseph Ploplis, Vincent Bartash,
Agatha Levonas, Stanislava Venckus,
Vladas Vlimatkis, Ksrolipa Jerusunas,
Ursula Dubendris, Lindoika Motuzas,
Stanley Kiaurakis, Bessie Memont, j.
NJ. Lucas, all of Rumford or Mexico.
The examination Of the long list of
witnesses for the defence, together with
their long and searching cross-examina-
ton by County Attorney Dyer, occupied
the time from the middle Of Wednesday
afternoon through all day Thursday and
until nearly eleven O'Clock Friday.
Moskus, the respondent, was not called
to the stand.
After the testimony was in, Mr.. Morey
introduced six of the lantern slides used
BY Moskus In his lecture, which were
seized by the state and have since been
In the possession Of the officers.
Mr.. Morey in his argument for the
defence took up one by one the charges
in the indictment, and claimed that not
one of them bad been sustained, taking
the general ground that the utterances
Of Moskus, when correctly stated, con-
sisted in criticism of the practices of
the church and the priests such as is
entirely legitimate and consistent with
the right of free speech, and that they
were not in any sense blasphemy or
ridicule of sacred things.
County Attorney Dyer made strong
argument for the state Friday afternoon,
and Justice Morrill, gave clear and i'm.
partial charge to the jury.
The jury was out about three. quarters
of an hour, and returned verdict of
guilty.
Mr.. Morey Immediately gave notice of
an appeal on exceptions, and to give him
time to prepare the exceptions, further
action was deferred until Monday morn
ing, and Moskus furnished sureties for
his appearance at that time, and was
allowed to 60.
STATE PRISON SENTENCE FOR MosKUs.
In the court Monday morning Moskus
was sentenced to not less than one year
nor more than two years in state prison.
In imposing the sentence Justice Morrill,
stated that be was satisfied that the
respondent was guilty of what was
charged in at least three counts of the
indictment, and made some clear and
vigorous remarks regarding the situa.
ton, which will be given In full In 3
later issue of the Democrat.
The exceptions in the case were al
lowed, and pending the appeal Moskus
was released on $500 bail.
Mrs. Eliza w. Hutchinson.