Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-11
JUDICIARY

/ JUDICIARY
| No opposition was made to grant
ing the county of Androscoggin per-
mission to spend $4,000 instead of
| s125.000 for the charging of the
county buildings in Auburn. when
| hearing was held Thursday after
noon before the committee on judi
ciary.
Judge George c. Wing of Auburn.
one of the commission to have
| charge of the work, and its chair
man, opened the hearing. He told
how the Legislature of 1919 granted
the authority to spend $125,000 for
this work but that the commission
lions, it could not be accomplished
| for that amount and SO waited. He
| said that the matter was rather an
unusual one for the Legislature to
thear, as the State was not asked to
spend any money, the only request
being to let the people of Andres
| coggin county spend their own
money. The present county build
| ings were "a years old, he said.
Judge Wing also stated that the
county commissioners were in har-
mony with the plan.
i George III. Pottle, former county
| commissioner and a member of the
Iuilding commission, urged the i'm
rortance of granting the request.
! The commission felt that construc-
ton could be done much more cheap
~ this year than last.
| Reuel Smith of Auburn, lawyer.
ALSO endorsed the request for an in
| creased fund.
Boothbay Harbor Objected
But one person appeared in favor
of the act granting the town of
Boothbay Harbor permission to elect
town agent who should perform the
cuties usually performed by board
OF Selectmen. Luther Maddocks of
that town said that this act merely
gave the voters of the town a right
| to say at the town election a year
| from March, if they desired to make
tie change. the petition was signed by
$50 persons, representing 80 per cent.
of the voters of the town.
WAS any legal notice given the
| town." inquired Senator Harrington
of Kennebec.
NO" replied Mr.. Maddocks "Suage
| Topper drew the bill and he didn't
| thing that there was any necessity
# giving any notice in the matter"
james II. Perkins said that the first
he ever heard of the bill was when
ne arrived in Augusta. Thursday. IT,
!, the best of his knowledge. there was
no call for such legislation by the
reople of Boothbay Harbor.
Se'ectman Sherman of Bar Harhor
took the same view of the matter aud
SAID that the leading business men of
the town were opposed to it.
| "How do you explain the fact that
80 per cent. of the voters signed q pc
t:tion for it," Mr.. 1Iaddocks asked
him.
There are $50 voters in the town
and Ineverheardthat $50 was 30 Der
cent. of $780," replied Mr. Sherman.
Women voters?'' returned Mr..
Msddocks.
Women and men voters number
about 1900 according to the last count
John III. Kelley said he had not
known of any demand for such Iegisla-
ton and added that the petition in
question was circulated for a week
about the town and that for two DAVIS
house to hour canvass wa smade to
secure signatures.
Ask State to Make Good Loss
Hearing upon the resolve reimburs-
ing the Austin w. Jones Co of Veazie
in the sum of $4,000 for damages
done to its property by reason of a fire
started by paroled patient from the
Bangor State hospital, occupied con-
siderable part of the afternoon Thurs
day and a number of witnesses were
heard. The hearing was opened by
Judge Benz w. Blanchard of Bangor.
he said that this firm had established
modern dairying farm at veazie.
That on the night OF May 9, 1920,
George Stanchfeld- set fire to these
buildings and that barns. equipment
and thoroughbred Holstein cattle to
the value of $15,003.o5 was DESTROYED.
Judge Blanchard recited the circun1-
stances concerning the committing of
Stanchfeld to the hospital during the
preceding February and also said that
both his mother and sister had been
inmates of the institution previous to
that time On April "a Stanchfeld es-
capped from the hospital
The following day he was returned
to the hospital by his mother, who
requested that he be released upon
parole. This was done, notwithstand-
lug the objections made by the select
men of the town of Veazie. On the
night Of May 8. he visited the foine
OF Mr.. Greenleaf, and shooting through
tie window of a bed room wounded
Miss Louise Greenleaf, a forne:.
sweetheart, and set fire to number
of different properties including tiat
of the Austin W. Jones Co.
Sheriff o. +. Fernandez Of Penob.
scot county told the story Of how
Stanchfieid was committed to the hos
pital and the investigation of the fi.as
and shooting and capture of Stanch-.
field and his subsequent confession TO
the crimes.
John Il. Farrar, turnkey ct the BAN
go. Jail, testified along tho same lines
and Frank III Davis. a reporter f,,r
the Bangor Daily News, told the story
of the record of Stanchfield as ha se-
cured it at the time from the hospi-
tai authorities. Drs. Harry J. Mill !
ken ond J. r. Starrett told Of exam
nations which they made of Stanch-