Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-01-26
SUPERIOR. COURT
Defense Resumed in
State VS.. Bellows

Case Will Be Given to the Jury To-
day-Diversss Will BE Heard on
Thursday and Friday-Judss esans.
Imposes Sentence in Case Against
Joseph Oaisie, Appellant
The fourth day of the case Of State
| which is on trial at the Kennebec SUI
perior court, brought the testimony
Of the defense near to its close. The
final testimony for both sides will be
put in this morning and the case will
then be argued by Attorney Ellsworth
e. Peacock of Waterville for the de-
Tense and County Attorney Walter NJ.
Sanborn for the State and will be
given by Judge Beane to the jury.
In the case of State VS.: Joseph
Daigle appellant charged with lille
gal pos session Of liquor, p. F. Maher
of Augusta appeared as counsel for
respondent. entering the plea of mol
contendere and filing a demurrer.
Judge Beane imposed sentence upon
Daigle of fine Of 500 and costs Of
$50 and Sc days in jail, and placed
the respondent upon probation upon
the payment of fine and costs.
Bellows Case Continued
The case against James e. Bellows
indicted for rape on Elsie A. Harrison
at Winslow June 20. 1918. is the last
, of the criminal cases TO, be tried at
this term of the court.
Divorce cases will be heard by
Judge Beane on Thursday and Friday
Of this week.
Mr.. Bellows on Stand
Mr. Bellows. the respondent. contin-
uing his testimony on cross-examina-
ton, at the opening of the session tes-
titled that in 1918 he had under cult
walton some so or 60 acres including
the hay land. or about five acres be-
sides the hay land. He had potatoes,
peas and beans planted and also a
good sized garden. 1t was an early
season that year. There was a cold
snap in June and he lost a quantity
of beans by frost. He had his crops
hoed and cultivated by the middle of
June. He said he had always been
hard working and peaceful man. and
did not think that Maurice Prentiss
had anything against him. He had
gone to Canada, partly on the advice
Of Maurice Prentiss. He testified that
the statements made by Maurice re-
Sarding conversation with him about
how much they could prove against
! Bellows and Mr.. Bellows reply that
he thought they could prove it all,
were not true. but he did not know of
any reason why Maurice should give
such testimony.
The testimony that had been given
by Mr.. Spencer was not true.{ he testi-
| fed.
/ Can you give any reason why Mr.
Spencer would come here and give
/! this testimony if it was not true?'
! asked County Attorney Sanborn.
/ He probably came like all the rest
of them. to help the other side out"
was Mr.. Bellows response.
He said he had always been friendly
With Archie Prentiss. He said that the
testimony of Ida Prentiss that the girl.
Elsie Harrison was crying after their
visit to Attorney Bridges office, was
not true.
ing on the farm, did you?" asked the
County Attorney.
No sir. when they worked there
they did it of their own free will" re-
piled Mr.. Bellows.
+ respondent said he had never forced
the girls to take trips with him. The
girls were we'll clothed and we'll fed
and went to school and to Sunday
school, he stated. He remembered that
they had gone on a trip with him to
Albion.
lie said that not word of the charges
made by Elsie Harrison was true.
and that the girl was put up to giving
such testimony. He thought that the
gifis father was the cause of it. There
! was no trip when he went to Benton
with Edna Harrison. he testified.
His only reason for going to Canada
! was because he had heard that thew
were going to take away the younger
child he said. He sold out to Mr..
Spaulding and left that night for Can
ada, going to Woodstock, N. B. He
| was taken there by Roy Coombs who
! mas public automobile. He had not
heard that there was any complaint
/ against him. He did not remember
that Attorney Bridges had written to
MN while he was in Canada. He said
that all of his testimony in the case
! was Just as true as the statement he
made about not hearing of any charges
against him when he went to Canada.
Letter Written in Canada
A letter dated Woodstock, N: B.. and
written to Mr. Drummond at the Saw
ings Bank at Waterville regarding the
sale of the Bellows farm and signed
James Edward Bellows" was read by
County Attorney Sanborn Mr.. Bel
lows testified he had never written the
letter or had never authorized his wife
to write it. The letter as read made
| 1t evident that its writer was aware of
the fact that there were certain
| charges against Bellows. The letter said
in substance that if the charges were
| proven Mr.. Bellows would have to be
sent to Thomaston and that was the
reason why they had pulled out for
| Canada
On examination by Attorney Bridges.
/ Ms Bellows testified that Mrs Harri-
son lived with Mr.. Harrison right I'D
! to the day that she went to Bellows
I house to live. When Mr. Bellows had
left for Woodstock he had not consult
ed Attorney Bridges. he said. The let
ter read by County Attorney Sanborn
he had never authorized Mrs. Bellows