Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-09-24
NOT GUILTY
Verdict Returned m
the Levine Case

A. TvssAay Ssssisn u ksnnsbss
County Superior ceurt-rwe Mers
Criminal Cases for Trial This
Term
Verdict of not guilty was returned
In the Levine case by the jury at the
Thursday session Of the Kennebec
county superior court safter the
jurors had considered the case In
their room for nearly four hours. In
the case, Philip Levine and Charles
Levine Of Randolph were charged
by indictment found at the April
term, with conspiring together that
the son. Charles Levine. should SCI
fire to their store on Water street In
Gardiner, in order to obtain insur-
ance money. George w. Heseiton
and W. c. Atkins Of Gardiner were
counsel for the respondents. and
County Attorney Walter. NJ. Sanborn
appeared for the State.
Two cases remain for jury trial al
this term, both against Allard Aube
of Augusta, charged in the first with
common nuisance. and In the second
! with .ualaWful manufacture of intoxi
eating liquor These cases will be
taken up th!s'Friday morning.
The first witness called by the
defense in the Levine case on
Thursday morning was the respond
ent, Philip Levine who testified that
since Wednesday he had seen at the
Gardiner fire engine house the jugs 81
syrup concerning which Albert A
Delaware, a member Of the Gardiner
Fire Department had testified on
Wednesday.
Regarding these jugs OF syrup
which had come from the Levine
store, Mr.. Delaware had testified that
he had seen them at the engine house
not that he took them there as it
appeared by error in yesterday s
JouInal.
/. Respondent Philip Levine stated
that at the trial in April he had been
asked to give the names Of merchants
from whom he had bought goods at
Gardiner and that he had tried to get
information from the merchants as
to the amounts he had bought. Res
pendent stated that at the inquest
held in Gardiner he did not change
his testimony.
Merle r. Reynolds of Randolph said
that on the night of the Levine fire
he was in the Morang's music store
at the end Of the bridge. He had
gone in there little after 9 o'clock
and remained there until the fire
alarm sounded. After he had been
in there a time, Charles Levine OPEN
ed the store door and asked him if he
were going home. There was nothing
unusual in Charles appearance. He
said this matter had first been called
to his attention last week by Charles
Levine.
James Moulton Of Randolph re-
membered having seen Charles Le-
vine and having talked with him in
Randolph after 10 o'clock on that
night. Witness had walked along
with Joe Levine and Charles Levine.
and at Kinherbook they had turned
up towards their homes. He thought
that was about 1890 P. M. Cross
examined, he said it is light at night
at the Randolph end Of the bridge, a
bright electric light being there. He
did not see Forest. Grant there that
night.
Abraham ]. Goldberg Of Old Or
chard, who was formerly in business
with Philip Levine at Biddeford
Enumerated the fixtures they had in
their store there, and stated that
when he visited Levine's store at
Gardiner It looked as II they were all
there. They we're all in good condi-
tion except the soda fountain, which
could have been repaired.
Joseph Levine Of Randolph recalled
having seen Charles Levine and
James Aoulton In Randolph that
night. as had been. testified to by Mr..
Moulton. He did not see Forest
Grant. He testified regarding the
stock Of groceries that Philip Levine
had in his store. Cross-examined. he
testified that he is brother Of Phil
ip Levine.
Richard Hersom of Randolph said
that on the night of March /. while
he was in Morang's music store.
Charles Levine had opened the door
and asked if he was going home. He
could not remember the time except
that it was after o'clock. He said
cross-examined that he did not know
the direction from which Charles
came.
Louis Levine, brother of Philip
Levine. said that the latter's store
was full of goods and he estimated