Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-18

cncd by Attorney Thorne, who stated
that the story Of the case briefly told
was that on the night of September
2S, 1922. Fred r. Smith, George War
ron of Fairfield Center, the rcspon-
dents. in company with Frank Muir
ray and David Knox, also of Fair
field Center. in two automobiles went
to Sidney and at the home of one
pisga broke, entered and stole some
hens. and that later the same night
they went to the farm of Frederick
Robinson in Fairfield Center and
there broke and entered the hen
house and stole 50 hens valued at
$50. Mr.. Thorne stated that when
arraigned, Frank Murray and David
Knox each pleaded guilty.
The first witness to be called was
David Knox. IS years of age. He
told Of going TO ride with Fred b.
Smith and going to Sidney, where the
hers We're stolen. and also of the visit
to the farm OF Frederick Robinson.
where the second larceny was made
on the same night, and stated that he
did not go into the hen houses at
either place. but helped to carry the,
hens from the houses to the cars.
When asked if he did not know he
was stealing, he stated that he ala
know ts The second witness was
Frank Murray. who vas also young
chap and resides with his parents i'll
Fairfield Center. He told of the
auto rides, being asked to go with
George Warren in his car and gong
to Sidney, where hens were~taken,
and also to the home of Mr.. Robin
son, and taking the ctolen hens TO
the barn of Israel Davis IN Water
vile and putting them into crates
and that a week later he received
about $14 for his art of the hens.
At the close of Murray's testimony
a recess was declared by Judge Dunn.
Other witnesses for the State called
after recess were Israel Davis of
Watcrville, to whom it was alleged
the sto'e en- hens were sold. and Fred
crck Robertson, of whom the mems
were stolen, Deputy Sheriff Wallace
Till Of Fairfield. Sheriff John A.
Mooers of Skowhegan and Deputy
Sheriff II. T.. Crocker of Canaan.
The defense was opened by Attor-
ney BraZzell. The defense claimed
that both their respondents were at
their homes that night during the
hours that the state had alleged the
larceny took place. The first wit
ness for the defense was one of the
respondents. Fred E. Smith. who .tes-
tilted before the noon intermisslon.
At the beginning of court in the
afternoon, George Warren. the other
respondent, was called and he testl-
fed that he was home with his wife
that night because he wSs i'll. other
witnesses for the defense were Mrs.
c. Sailor Green.
William Wood, Josiah York, and Mrs.
Bertha Libby.
1t was announced by Attorney
RraZzell that one of his witnesses
was not present and after a confer
ence between County Attorney FoGg
for the state and Attorneys BraZ-
zell and Peacock representing the
respondents it was admitted that me
absent witness. who understood that
he was SUMMONED to the superior
court in Ecnncbcc county instead or
to the supreme court in SkoWhcEan
and could not reach here until night,
would testify that he was at the homo
of Smith on September - from
O'Clock +. NJ. to 9 A. NJ. of the 2Sth
and that Mr.. Smith was at his nome
during that time.
In rehuttal. Sheriff Mooers. Deputy
sheriff Crockcr and Mrs; L'bhcy were
called and corroboratcd their first
testimony. The attorneys presented
their arguments and the judge
charged the jurors. who retired about
5.45 and returned after nearly hall
hours elaboration having found
verdict of guilty for both respon-
dents. Court adjourned until '9.30
Wednesday morning. when the cases
of the criminal docket Will be con-
tinued.
RandIett Divorce Case Dismissed
The divorce case of George ii.
RandIett against Edith NJ. Randlctt.
in which many people. particularly
i'm SkowheGan and Scion. have been
much interested. was dismissed from
the docket last week by Judge. Dunn,
on motion Of A. X. Butler. the attor-
ncv who brought the libel for the
husband. Mr.. Randlett left town Tor
Boston a few days before cours con-
Vened.
1t is understood that now Mrs.
Randlett. through her attorney, j.. l..
Walton will In due time file her libel
for divorce upon the grounds stated
in her answer to her husbands pctl-
ton.
Judge Charles Dunn, who passed
the week end at his home in Orono,
and Court Stenographer Hayden. who
passed the week end at his home in
Portland. returned to Skowhegan
Monday night
On Wednesday afternoon at 2.30
the ladies of the Social Circle of the
Centenary Methodist church will
meet for a regular meeting with
Mrs. Carrie Mcpherson at the home
of John r. Mcclellan OF Elm street.
The Venetian Melody boys OF
Portland were in town Monday night
and furnished a delightful program
for a largely attended dance which
was given in HeSelton hall.
The S. Fl. S. baseball team began
practice Tuesday afternoon being di-
rccted by Coach Archie A. Dostie. On
Saturday they open the season with
a game with the Maine Central In
stitutc to be played at Pittsfield.
David Thurlow, son Of Rev. and
Mrs. George l.. ThurlOW, was oper-
ated upon late Monday afternoon for
a pus case of appendicitis at the
Somerset hospital. Young Thurlow
vas in his usual health apparently
and worked until o'clock Monday
afternoon.
Miss Audrey Campbell. one Of the
nurses in training at the Somerset