Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-06-17

WIN dsdiHSI MARY Hopkins and
Frederick L. Hopkins of Augusta.
was granted by Chief Justice Leslie
Z. Cornish after hearing Thursday
at the court house on bill in equity
brought by the county attorney
against THE respondents and al
ieglng common nuisance. The bill
in equity asked for a temporary in
junction to restrain the respondents
from further using the building at
125 and 127 Water street, Augusta.
for the alleged illegal purposes. At
torney Benedict r. Maher appeared
as counsel for the respondents at the
hearing and County Attorney San
born appeared as plaintiff in the ac-
ton.
The chief complaint against the
Hopkins store appeared to be that
drinks had been mixed there, that
extracts had been mixed with the
light beer by the men who frequent
ed the place, and that there was
more or less drunkenness about the
shop. In support of this allegation
testimony was given by several wit
nesses.
The case against Mary Hopkins
and Frederick L. Hopkins rested
mainly on the testimony given by
Henry ]. Wright of Augusta who it
appeared in evidence. had acted as
"spotter" and had made frequent
visits at the Hopkins store during
the month of May. The first day he
had gone into the store was May IL,
and he testified that he had then
observed a man give some money to
the boy who was tending counter,
the boy had gone out and had later
returned with a bottle of Jamaica
ginger. On the following day, ac-
cording to his testimony, several men
were in the shop drinking soda and
light beer, and he had seen some of
them mixing up checkerberry ex-
tract with their soft drinks. On the
18th of May, he had found condi-
tons there about the same. Witness
testified that on the following day,
Harry Hopkins who was tending the
counter, had taken a Jamaica ginger
bottle that customer had passed.
him, and had filled it up with water
for the man. And on the other two
days he was in the store, he testified
he had seen men mixing up checker
berry extract with their soft drinks.
From the testimony of Mr.. Wright,
it appeared that the usual practice
of these men was to bring the es-
sences with them and after mixing
them with the sodas, they. would
throw the bottles out of the rear
door of the store. He had seen
drunken men in the shop. Witness
also gave testimony as to the
amount of fruit that Mr.. Hopkins
kept in stock.
Cross examined by Attorney Ma
her. Mr.. Wright testified that he had
not been employed by anyone in this
case. he had gone into the store for
he had a suspicion of the place, and
on each of the dates in May he had
mentioned, he passed several hours
in the store.
Deputy Sheriff L. r. Dutton of Au-
susta testified that for the past year
he had observed the character of the
Hopkins store where sodas and l'ght
beers were sold. He had observed
fruit and cigars in the store window.
On the main floor of the store there
were two rooms. In the outer shop
there were fruit, confectionery and
cigars, and at the rear of the store
there was a bar where soft drinks
were sold. For the past year Deputy
Sheriff Dutton had often been in the
vicinity of the Hopkins store, and he
said that he had seen men going III
and coming out. some of them being
pretty drunk. And witness testified
that at the hearing Of the case against
Hopkins in the superior court in Sep
TENDER last he had heard Judge Beane
warn Hopkins.
Previous to May 81 last Mr.. Dutton
said he had made an investigation
of the Hopkins place. and few days
before the hearing in the municipal
court he had gone onto the ground
at the rear of the store where he found
lots of empty bottles. Some Of these
bottles were labelled Jamaica ginger
and others were labelled winter
green
Upon cross-examinatlon, deputy
Sheriff Dutton said that the ground
at the rear OF the I1oPhiHn stoiC
stones toward the river and there are
eddies in the river there. He stated
that he had not testified in the mu-
nicipal court that the bottles might
have ffoated in there but had testified
that they might have fioated in little
further up the river. He testified that
the case before Judge Beane had Moth
iriE to do with the Hopkins store at all.
Police Officer Michael Bolduc testi-
fed that during the past year while on
his beat he had seen lot of drunken
men hanging around the street in the
vicinity of the Hopkins place
Picture Taken at Rear Of Building
James Norman. photographer, testi-
fed regarding the picture he had taken
of the ground at the rear of the Hop
kins store There were many bottles
there and they appeared as If they
had been thrown there.
How near to the Hopkins building
did you find some of the bottles?'
asked the county attorney.
Five or six feet" Mr.. Norman an
swered.
And from there to the river?"
queried Mr.. sanborn.
yes" replied the witness.
Police Officer Bruce Testifies
Police Officer Orvilie Bruce testified
that while on relief. duty nights on
Water street. between the hours of 9