Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-01-21


and S0c.-Ady.
that he had handed the warrant for
search to Mrs. Dinsmore's brother.
and that Mrs. Dinsmore had crossed
the room and had taken q revolver.
The man read the warrant and said
it was all right. Deputy Sheriff
Francis HARDWOOD In his search had
picked up a bottle, whereupon ac-
cording to the testimony. Mrs. Dins-
more had replied: You drop that
bottle or will blow your brains out"
Her husband and brother were try
ing to quiet her. Witness said he
did not remember seeing Mrs. Dins-
more point the revolver, but 1t was
in her hands. The revolver was
loaded. he testified. On cross EXAM
ination, witness admitted that the
woman had told Deputy Francis Har-
wood that he had no right to search.
and as a matter of fact, Harwood
did not have the warrant: witness
had it.
Deputy Sheriff Francis Harwood
then described their trip to Camp
Lazy K" on the shore of Togus
stream. He said that while he was
searching in a room Of the camp
the lady came into the room and
asked him who he was. saying at once
that he hal no right to search there.
He picked up bottle that he found.
whereupon she took the revolver and
pointing it at him said: "You put
that bottle down or I'll blow your
damn brains out" $50 put the
bottle down." he testified. Cross
examined. he testified that the wom-
an came out of little place in the
wall about five feet high.
THE bottle was filled with dis
titled water. wasn't it," asked At
torney Martin.
Il don't know what was in it," re-
piled the witness. who also said that
he never touched the bottle again.
Mrs. Dinsmore was never held on
any charge, was she?" Attorney
Martin asked.
"She never was, but we got the
stuff" replied the deputy.
The next witness was Willard ].
William. who resides on the Spring
road. HS testified that he had
guided Sheriff Harwood and the dep
rties > the camp. He testified re-
gnrding the conversation made by
Mrs. Dinsmore to Deputy HARDWOOD,
but said that he could not say if
Mrs. Dinsmore was pointing the re-
volver at Harwood.
Defense
In outlining the defense, ATTORNEY
Martin stated that the respondent is
% years of age. that she was born
in Ireland and lived there until she
was Ii when she came to this coun-
try. About two years ago she was
married to Mr.. Dinsmore and they
lived in New York. Last fall she
was in poor health and she and her
husband came to Maine and lived
for time in this camp on the shore
Of Togus stream. In the party be-
sides Mr.. and Mrs. Dinsmore, We're
Mrs. Dinsmore's brother and her
brothers friend. John Leavens. On
or about the date alleged, Mrs. Dins-
more was sleeping in the bedroom of
the cottage when she heard a noise
in the adjoining room. Putting on
her dressing gown and slippers, she
went out into the room, where she
saw man. who was Francis Har-
wood. She knew nothing of the
searching, defense contended, and
she was not accustomed to having
people whom she did not know,
there. She had taken the revolver
in her hands, the defense admitted.
but shortly afterwards her brother
got it away from her. Attorney
Martin pointed out that under the
counts of the indictment the re-
spondent would have to have
knowledge that they were officers.
He made the point that a person
has the right to defend the home and
property by use Of reasonable force.
The first witnesses for the de-
Tense were Bernard ]. Varnum, chief
clerk at the treasurer's office at the
National Soldiers Home. and Mrs.
Varnum who testified to letting the
Dinsmore's have the use Of their cot
tage for a period beginning about
Oct. /, 1921.
The respondent, Mrs Dinsmore,
testified regarding coming to Maine
for her health and going to the cot.
tage with her husband, her brother
and Mr.. Leavens. Referring to the
morning of the alleged offense, she
stated that she had been sleeping and
was not feeling we'll. Hearing
noise in the next room, she had gone
out and had asked the man deputy
Harwood) what he was doing there.
She testified that he answered in an
unsatisfactory manner, that she was
frightened to see strangers there and
had grabbed up revolver. She did
not know they were officers until her
brother told her: she had never seen
Officer HARDWOOD before.
did you have the intention Of do
ing any HARM" asked Attorney Mar
tin.
mo, sir" she replied.
did you threaten to blow his
brains out?"
mo, sir" she answered.
She testified that she did not point
the revolver Mt HARDWOOD and that
she had not been told about the war
rant for search.
At the afternoon session Of the
court, Mrs. Dinsmore on cross exam.
ination by County Attorney San
born, testified that she did not re-
member OF seeing Sheriff Harwood