Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-15
,WILLETT NOT GUILTY
IN NON.SUPPORT CASE

A W 41ASA1 = = ANOA 0OASA
IN NON-SUPPORT CASE
Leo Willett, sufferer from tuber-
culosis, who was arraigned Tuesday
morning in the municipal court on the
charges of deserving and failing to
contribute to the support of his eight
children. from whose mother he was
recently divorced, was found not
guilty of either charge.
Dr. Merton W. Bessey was the first
of the physicians to testify and said
that he was the -WiIlette family ply
stefan He said that Willette had
influenza last spring and was.out per-
haps 10 or IL days. He saw him sew
eral times through the summer and
he was suffering from weakness. On
the % of September Willette went to
Dr. Bessey's Office and rang the bell.
Before DIR. Bessey could get to the
door, Mr., Willette suffered severe
'hemorrhage of the right lung.
The next day DIR. Bessey went to
see him and he !. had gone to work.
About a week later. at DR.. Bessey's
solicitation Willette came to his Office
and he found the man suffering from
tuberculosis. He told him he must
stop work and Willette saiS he could
not on account of his obligations.
DR.. Bessey stated that Mr.. Willette
had chronic tuberculosis and should
go to the sanitorium at once, as he is
not fit to work at present.
On cross-examination by E. E. Pea
cock, who asked about a letter he
gave to Mrs. Willette. he said he did
not tell Mrs. Willette that her hus-
band had tuberculosis.
In the last letter received from Mr..
Willette. he asked the doctor if 1t
would do for him to go to work and
that he wanted to go to the woods.
DR.. Theodore E. Hardy testified that
he had examined Leo Willette and in
his opinion the latter suffered from
tuberculosis of an inactive type and
he said that to work would aggravate
the symptoms and shorten his life.
The defendant testified that he had
been married 20 years and worked at
the Hollingsworth and Whitney from
that time; that he began to feel not
we'll about a year and half ago, and
has lost in that time about 20 or II
pounds. His salary at the H. & w.
was $3.50 for six days and when he
worked Sundays he got all he could.
Up to March 1. 1919, he turned over
the money in his envelope. After
wards he gave his wife $50 a week
and used the rest to pay up bills and
get clothes. He left off work Octo-
Der 10, and went away that night.
He admitted that he never had
much to say to the children, that he
spoke roughly to them but meant to
be obeyed when he spoke He went
to Taunton, Mass. to stay with his
brothers. He said that if he were able
to work he would be willing to con-
tribute to the support of his family
Willette said that he knew that his
wife told him she had applied for a
divorce but he never knew whether
she had got it.
He said he did not go away to get
rid of the support of the children but
to get a place to stay when sick
Mrs. Willette. recalled. said that on
the day Willette went away he said
he would never pay damn" cent for
the children and he would show them
What he could do.
DIR. John G. Towne, the States wit
ness. was called and said that he had
examined Leo Willette that same af-
ternoon and that he found a chronic
infiammatory process in the upper
part of the upper lobe of the right
lung, a subnormal temperature and
increased pulse rate. He said that he
thought a person with an inactive
type of tuberculosis would rather
have the patient employed in some
light, congenial work, but if a man
had lost 81 pounds in a year and 4
half and had several hemorrhages he
would consider his disease as active
and he would be unable to work.
Taking up the charge of desertfon
Recorder Plumstead said that Mr.
IWillette, being proven tuberculaf
must have Test and recuperate in or
der to- do something later on for his
family and that the continuation oil
work would be his complete undoing
He found him not guilty on thai
count. AS to the count of desertion
/ if he were not able to work and con
tribute to the support of the family
and would not be able to contribute
to their support, his presence in thu
home would not be of any good, and
therefore he pronounced him no,
guilty.
At this moment Attorney Peacock
arose to say to the court that Mr.
Willette had two sick benefits coming
to him. Recorder Plumstead said that
as such evidence had not appeared in
fthe hearing that he could not pass
fupon it.
Mr.. Willette stated later in private
conversation that he was under the
impression that when he went out oil
the State that the benefit ceased auto
maticaily and that he had never
drawn any money from either one
He also stated that he would be will
ing to turn the claim over to his fam.
lily and they could have the money
that would thus come to them.
Warm WEATHER