Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-27
La Chance Discharged
in Liquor Case
Before Judge AtchleY

Wnen Judge ClafleS w. Alcnley
denied the motion that the respondent
be discharged made by +. Harold
Dubord, representing George L. La
chance of Winslow, during a hearing
yesterday afternoon during which
Mr.. Lachance was charged with IL
legal possession Of intoxicating
liquor, Mr.. Dubord summoned the
respondent as witness and Is citi
ZenS of Winslow. After more than
two hours of testimony Mr.. Dubord
again motioned that the prisoner be
discharged and Judge Atchley dis
charged Mr.. Lachance.
During the first part of the trial
Judge Atchley who conducted the
case for the State. started to ask
one of the deputy sheriffs. who was
witness in the case, If he had re-
Ceived any complaint about Mr.. La
chances selling liquor. Mr.. Dubord
promptly entered an objection on the
grounds that it was heresay evidence
and should not be admitted. Judge
Atchley overruled the objection, say
ing that it had been customary in his
court to admit such evidence in
liquor cases and if not admitted it
would be almost impossible to con-
Wet q liquor seller. Mr.. Dubord
then asked the witness for the names
of those making complaints and
Judge Atchley refused to allow the
witness to answer on the grounds
that it would be impossible to have
people make complaints if they knew
that names were to be used.
A little later in the trial Sheriff
Henry Cummings was called as a
complaints. Mr.. Dubord asked
testimony as to a mans character
and as to his not selling liquor by
people intimately acquainted with the
man would not be worth more than
heresay complaints made by people
not willing to have their names used
in court. Mr.. Cummings said that
in both cases the evidence might be
wrong and he did not wholly COM
NIT himself as to which would be
the best evidence.
When Mr.. 0Ibord found that his
motion for the discharge had been
overruled by Judge Atchley he sum-
moned IL reputable citizens of Win
slow to the stand to give statements
concerning Mr.. Lachance's good
character and in every instance when
nv oohSk liC W1lACoS IL lH0y na0
ever suspected or known of Mr.. Lag
chance selling liquor.
The reading of the warrant was
waived and the respondent pleaded
not guilty. The first witness called
was Deputy Sheriff William Cole of
Hallowell. He testified to going to
81 East Birch street Winslow. on
Nov. 70, with a search warrant. He
searched the premises and the store
belonging to Mr. Lachance and found
a bottle with a trace of some kind
of colored liquid.
In the cross examination he said
that the store had all the appear
ances of an ordinary grocery store.
He said that he thought Someone
drank little of the wine seized; he
thought that it was himself that
drank it and he thought that it was
offered to him by Mr.. Lachance. He
could not remember about these
points distinctly.
When the judge asked him if he
had received any complaints he said
yes after Mr.. Dubord's objection had
been overruled.
Deputy Sheriff Harry, Pinkham of
Augusta was the second witness. He.
saw Mrs. Lachance take bottle
from a cupboard in the kitchen and
when she turned around and saw
Pinkham looking at her she put it
back. He found a wine glass in the
kitchen near the sink. He found sew
eral bottles of wine in a cupboard
and he was directed to the wine by
Mrs. Lachance. He could not re-
member Mr.. Cole sampling the wine.
He said that Mrs. Lachance did not
look ill
In the cross examination he stated
that he thought that the bottle taken
from the cupboard was blue in color
and when he investigated the con-
tents of the closet he found a bottle
OF BLUM and also small bottle con-
tanning liquor with alcohol in it.
AL Of the findings Of the two dep.