The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1921-02-10
CIVIL DOCKET 0E SUPREME JUDICIAL
COURT HAS BEEN COMPLETED
Criminal Docket Now Claims Attention--J Sam
Morton Awaits Sentence Summary Of Week
WEBER TO INSANE HOSPITAL.

ly man against WnOm 1Our 1pdlct-
ments for statutory offenses had been
returned by the Grand Jury was brot
into Court Friday and pleaded not
guilty to the charges against him by
reason of insanity Chief Justice
Cornish ordered the man committed
To the State Hospital for observation.
VERDICT IN EDGERLY- THOMPSON
CASE
A verdict was returned in the case
of e. L. Edgerly vs.. Mary Thompson
Saturday for Mrs. Thompson. Ac-
ton was brought for the kicking of
horse owned by the plaintiff, by
horse belonging to the defendant,
which the plaintiff had taken for
few days keep. James H. Thorne,
County Attorney appeared for Mr.. Ed
gerly and Mrs. Thompson was repres-
ented by L. L. Walton of Skowhegan.
SIROV VS.. JARECNI
In the case of Annie Sirov vs.. Gyu-
la Jarecni alias Joe Jaxcine, YER
dict was returned Saturday for the
plaintiff in the sum of $387.50. The
plaintiff in this case claimed that on
Labor Day, 1920, the defendant struck
her severely and knocked her down
and that for long time had suffered
from the effects of the same. 1t
would appear that this trouble grew
out Of a feud of several years stand
ing, first occasioned by the de-
fendant striking the young daughter
of the plaintiff. 1t seemed that fre-
quently from that time on, the de-
fendant under the influence Of liquor
had sought to make trouble for the
plaintiff. Judge ]. F. Withee, the
trial justice at Madison. testified that
for assault on Mrs. Sirov and plead
ed guilty to the crime. DR.. w. 8.
Milliken also testified. A feature of
the defense was the claim that Mrs.
Sirov constantly abused Jarecni and
annoyed him. Merrill & Merrill ap-
peared for the plaintiff and James H.
Thorne for the defense.
CRIMINAL MATTERS
William Coro, charged with the lar
ceny of a fur coat belonging to Isaac
Jeffers was arraigned at the bar short
ly after court sessions were resumed
Monday forenoon at 11.15 and plead
ed guilty to the charge. His attor-
ney w. B. Brown of Madison, who
was not in the court room at the time
of arraignment afterward said that
Coro averred he didn't know what was !
ment and he retracted his plea, en-
toring the plea of not guilty. The
case of the State vs. Foster Nelson
vas defaulted Frank s. Lessor of
S'cowhegan retracted his plea of not /
guilty to search and seizure and plead
ed guilty to the charge.
THE ]. SAM MORTON CASE
The case OF the State vs J. Sam
Morton for concealing mortgaged pro-
perty occasioned considerable interest
locally and was the first criminal case
of the term. E. N. Grant of st. AL
bans was excused from the jury and
"pernumerary F. s. Morrill, of Show
begau was designated to complete the
panel County Attorney Thorne open
ed the case for the State and told Of
the incidents leading uo to the same
The state maintained that Morton re-
moved a mortgage Ford truck upon
which there was a valid existing mort
gage held by E. d. Blaisdell. 1t Is
claimed that in the summer Of 1920
Norton purchased farm from the
Strout agency at the branch ONCE op-
Grated by Clyde H. Smith and L. G.
Trafton; that he negotiated for the
purchase of Ford truck of the e. d.
Blaisdell Auto Co., thru the concerns
local manager, Howard w. Lowd and
partially paid for the same. After
wards 1t was claimed that Morton
disappeared and that Lowd could not
find him until he was arrested In Gin
cinnati, after which the alleged cul-
prit was brought back to Skowhegan.
The State attempted to show that
Morton had fradulently intended to
cheat Blaisdell out of his property.
The states witnesses were II. w.
Lowd, Clyde Fl. Smith, L. G.. Trafton,
r. B. Cole. and Fred Hinton. Mr..
Lowd, local manager of the Blaisdell
Auto Co. was the first witness. He
stated that Morton purchased Ford
truck Of him and that Morton paid
SITS on 1t as a deposit and later SIS,
a note to be paid in October 1920, be-
ing given for the balance which was
$575. He eventually paid $50 more
and later Lowd received letter be-
fore the note was due from Morton In
Washington which was to the effect
that he had failed to make memo of
the date of note and that he would
have funds In the hands Of Clyde H.
Smith II he was delayed and would ad-
wise Smith to pay. Later second
letter was received according to the
witness stating that he (Morton) was
called to Seattle, Wash. and would
write Mr.. Smith to pay. Mr.. Lowd
testified that he went to Mr.. Smith
and asked for the funds which Mr..
Smith did not have and that altho he
made effort to find Morton in Seattle,
Wash. he was unable to find him and
finally located him thru the First Ma
tional Bank and the Pinkerton detec-
tive service. In conversation between
Lowd and Morton, Lowd testified that
Morton said he supposed witness had
received his pay apd that he had sold
the truck; that he expected money
had been returned to Mr.. Smith thru
the Hinton farm deal.
Deputy Sheriff r. B. Cole told of his
obtaining extradition papers and Of
bringing Morton back from Cincinnati.