Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-05-19
OAKLAND WOMAN POURS
LIQUOR FROM WINDOW
IS OFFICERS SEARCH

An early call by the sheriffs at
the home Of INLAND Thomas of Oak
land resulted in the seizure of sew
erai receptacles containing small
quantities Of liquor designated by
the officers as home brewed rum and
the arrest and subsequent hearing at
the municipal court of Mr.. Thomas.
Deputy sheriffs John M. Foster Of
Winthrop and William H. Dignam
OF this city, following the age old
adage that the "early bird catches
the worm" went to Oakland Tues
day morning, arriving at the home
Of INLAND Thomas at about o'clock.
A knock at the door brought Mr..
Thomas from his bed and when the
errand Of the deputies was made
known Mr.. Thomas readily consent
ed to a search.
The officers looked through the
kitchen. the sitting room, and the
pantry, the only other room being
the bedroom, which was still occu-
pied by Mrs. Thomas. Sheriff Fos-
ter said that he would like to search
the room but would wait outside the
door while Mrs. Thomas had time to
dress. Meanwhile Sheriff Dignam
walked around the house to the back
and his attention was caught by the
sound of a trickling noise and look
ing up beheld Mrs. Thomas pouring
out the contents Of a gallon glass
jug onto the ground from the win
dow Of the bedroom
Mr.. Dignam sprang forward and
wiped his hand through the wet
place on the window sill to get his
evidence Of liquor and about that
time Mr.. Thomas appeared and be-
gan to throw dirt on the wet place
on the ground and also to rub dirt
on the windowsill and the place on
the house where the liquor had
dripped in order to destroy the
scent Shouting to Sheriff Foster to
go into the bedroom, Sheriff Dignam
stuck to his task of securing evf-
dence. Sheriff Foster went into the
room where Mrs. Thomas stood at
the window inside the room and her
husband was on the outside Of the
house at the same window. Sheriff
Foster seized Mr.. Thomas by the
hands and held him firmly while
Sheriff Dignam went into the house.
Sheriff Dignam. taking Sheriff Fos-
ter's handouts slipped them onto Mr..
Thomas wrists and the game was
UP.
Further search of the room dis
clnQad 0nvora1 hnf
coverings on the bed, all of which
were nearly empty with the excep-
ton Of a small bottle of several
ounces capacity. These, together
with the gallon jug which contained
a small amount Of liquor, were
brought to this city and displayed
as evidence at tho court hearing.
Mr.. Thomas, his wife, with a wo-
man friend and George II. Knox
were present from Oakland at the
hearing. Mr.. Thomas was repre-
sented by Mark j. Bartlett. The
two deputy sheriffs were witnesses
for the State. Mr.. Thomas pleaded
not guilty but was found guilty of
the charge of having in hand liquors
intended for Illegal sale. He was
ordered to pay fine of $500 and
costs and to serve 80 days in the
county Jail, the Jail sentence to be
suspended on payment Of fine and
costs. Mr.. Thomas appealed through
MS counsel and bail was fixed in the
sum OF $1,000 for his appearance at
the September term of the superior
court. George Fl. Knox. a neighbor
OF Thomas, a property owner in Oak
iand' and Mrs. Annie NJ. Thomas,
went bail for the prisoner.
IL Is probable that the liquor in
ne bottles will be analysed and the
result introduced in the evidence
when the case comes up for final
trial. Another place in Oakland
was searched Tuesday morning but
nothing was found.