Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-07-20
SUNDAY ROUNDUP OF
FISH DYNAMI1ERs
At 7-Mile Brook by Oh.
Warden r. j. Upton


Alexander -Four Portuguese Are
Quietly and cieveriy Gathered in
They Leave S265.7f with Judge
cony al Result Of Their Foolish
ness and Officers Good Work
The climax of the most thrilling
roundup and arraignment Of fish
poachers for many years IN Kenneaec
county came Monday morning when
three aliens. Portuguese, were before
Judge Robert A Cony in the Angus
Ia municipal court and parted with
s2o3.S7 in perfectly good currency of
the United States for their mis-
deeds-dynamiting fish and violating
the alien fishing laws. The case was
worked up by Chief Warden Richard
J. Upton Of this county and the men
were Joe Lazail OF No. CTS, Joe Nell
or No $40. and Joe Veail or No. $50.
they being employees OF the firm re-
building the State highway between
this city and waterviile.
Episode No. ? OF the climax foilowx
ed IN short order. A fourth man with
this gang, Antonio Fernaudes. hade
MS escape when they We're captured,
but following their more or less in
voluntary interview with the Judge
as mentioned above they were told
10 produce their companion in crime
a little advice which they quickly
needed. This chap surrendered TO
Deputy Jesse Alexander IN the after
neon and arralgned before Recorder
Arthur Tiffin all by mis- lonesome and
f1ned $50 on a dynamiting charge and
SIS on the alien violation charge
with s7.e4 costs in his case. Thu
made total of s62.04 as his contri-
button for his fun. You will note
that the grand total has reached
S26o.7l This is very likely TO be
the whole Of II. because the men ap-
pear TO be much frightened TO think
OF what might befall them. 10 Try
any more poaching in Kennebec
county. State OF Maine I. s A
Chief Warden Upton had received
complaint that some OF this road
crew were dynamlting fish N Severn
Nile brook Accompanied by pepu-
ties Jesse Alexander. Thomas A
James ana Wesley Alexander, ne
made an early start Sunday morning
by auto. arriving via Sidney and the
ferry AT the scene of the poaci1ery'
operations before anyone was around
and being able 20 secure good watch
ing places. from which they watched
all future acts. taking the men red
handed. What they saw was as fol-
lows:
The man Veail acted as watchnar
on the road. When the coast was
clear. ne would throw over a stone
INTO the water and then Lazail. the
dynamiter, would toss a stick of
dynamite into the brook With the
subsistence of the water from the
force of the explosion. another fell
iow-cailed the swimmer-would 20
overheard and gather up the killed
or stunned fish. This thing the men
did three times in the brook under
the railroad bridge at the mouth.
near the kennebec, but with very
poor results. They changed. their
place of operation TO the old Baker
mill.
They We're followed 70 this place
by the officers. who went Two on
each side Of the brook and watched
nree charges fired When II became
time to nab them-several FISH being
seen dead and foating-the officers
advanced, from each side. SO thar M
matter which way the men went.
they would bump into one Of the Of
ficers.
Wardens- Upton and James were
together ana Upton made the first
capture, his Portuguese trying 70
make break for liberty but being
suddenly persuaded 10 surrender
through means OF an automatic re-
volver poked into his ribs He was
handcuffed and sent 10 the rear.
Two OF the other men made a dash
for liberty across the dam and ran
fairly into the arms Of Jesse and
Wesley Alexander. who backed them
up at the mouths OF their guns across
the stream through the water. where
Chief Upton awaited them and where
they were also ironed. The third
man-the swImrner-made his escape
for the time being, as he went into
hiding somewhere under the fiume or
the mill and could not be located. He
was 70 be attended 10 later
The prisoners We're taken across
the ferry 10 Sidney and brought 10
this city by automobile and locked up
IN the City building for appearance
on Monday morning, They appeared.
The vardens took but one Of the dead
fish. pickerel, which was labelled
Government exhibit No. !" Il was
enough to convict. even without the
eye witness testimony OF the ward
ems The sack. made from an old
shirt. 10 which they carried their
dynamite was also brought along
The three men were arraigned ar
raigned Monday morning before
Judge Cony on complaint of Warden
Upton and pleaded guilty. Two
charges were made. the illsgal dyna-
hitting sf fish and violation of the
alien fishing laws. Each was fined
sac and costs on the first and SIS on
the second The costs IN all the
cases figured 70 81, So each, there
fore the total cash payment by the
trio was s2oS.s7.
They were given a severe talking
to by Judge Cony. who reprimauded
them in a manner that even the for
eigners could not fail TO understand.
ua alien hefore allowing them TO de-