Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-15
PROBABLE CAUSE
FOUND IN ILLEGAL
MANUFACTURE CASE
Eugene A. Chase Held In $500
Bonds for April Term Of Su.
perior Court - Pleads Not
Guilty to Charge at Hearing
Before Municipal Court on
Monday

Probable cause was found by Judge
Robert A. Cony at the conclusion Of
the testimony Monday at the Angus
ia municipal court in the case against
Eugene A. Chase, charged with the
illegal manufacture of intoxicating
liquor. with intent to sell, the case
having arisen from the seizure nude
by the deputy sheriffs on Sunday al
the home of the respondent. Plea Of
not guilty was entered by Chase, and
Attorney Burleigh Martin of Angus
ia appeared as his counsel. The hear
ing drew large attendance of spec
tators, all Of whom manifested s-eat
interest in the proceedings.
The facts relating to the search and
seizure were testified to by Deputy
Sheriffs L. 7. Dutton of Augusta and
Arthur G. Robinson of Gardiner. They
stated that they went Sunday even
ing to the house of Mr.. Chase which
Is located at the rear Of Shaw's wood
shed on Willow street. They had
knocked at the door. and after Chase
had inquired who was there, they had
told him. After little delay Chase
had unlocked the door, and they
went in. The deputy sheriffs found
water, having evidently just been
taken from the stove, about Is gal
lens of the mash and liquid ready to
be distilled. quart bottle about two
thirds full of the home brew liaucr,
bottles, a tunnel, etc., all of which
they seized.
The defense, while admitting that
home brew liquor had been made
there, claimed that Mr.. Chase had
made it all for his own use and had
not sold the liquor or made 1t with
the intent of selling. This was sub
stantially the testimony of Mr., Chase
who testified that he could not make
enough of the home brew for his own
use. He said that he is a drinking
man and made all of the home brew
for himself, never having sold any.
He testified, however, that he mad
never been arrested for being intox-
icated.
Fred E. Merrill, who conducts a
store at Pettengilrs store, testified
that he knew Chase to be "a drinking
man. He said he had often visited
at Mr.. Chase's house and had never
seen anyone there except G. .ase and
MI Jackson. He had not seen 1iquor
about the premises.
James l.. Jackson testified that he
had often visited at Mr.. Chase's house
and had not seen any evidence of the
manufacture or sale Of liquor there.
He knew that Mr.. Chase used to te
a drinking man.
George Bryant, q neignb " of Mr..
Chase gave testimony that he had
never seen people going back and
forth, to and from the house of Mr..
Chase. except Mr. Jackson and MIR.
Merrill.
IT. rebuttal, the deputy sheriffs tcs-
tilted regarding bottle of home brew
which they had seized from the house
of man who lives near M. Chase,
stating that the bottle resenabled che
bottles that had been seized a. Mr..
Chase's house. Deputy Sheriff A. G..
Robinson testified that on one or two
occasions he had seen people intoxi-
cat ed coming from the general direc-
ton Of Mr.. Chase's home. -.
Judge Cony found probable cause in
the case and ordered the respondent
to furnish bonds in the sum of $500
for his appearance at tho April term