Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-01-12
PELLETIER CASE

tice could dismiss the Jurors, but call
ed upon the attorney general to express
his views. Mr.. Allen said the grand
jury had adjourned for the day before
the members who came before the
court had left, that adjournment was
taken until 10 A. NJ. tomorrow. and sug-
gested that action on the request for
dismissal be postponed until that time.
Judge Bishop so directed.
Pclletier was removed as district at
torney last spring after trial before
the full bench Of the supreme court in
which he offered no defense to evidence
on charges Of conspiracy to blackmail,
to extorb and to other Irregularities.
This evidence coupled his name with
that of Daniel II. Coakley, an attorney
who had wide criminal practice for
years. and William J. Corcoran, former
district attorney of Middlesex county,
who were shown to have shared with
others fees that ran from $500 to $780,.
900. Disbarment proceedings on the
basis of the evidence adduced before
the full bench were successful Attor-
ney General Allen then announced that
the special grand jury was being call
cd to review the same evidence with a
view to returning criminal indictments.
Witnesses who figured prominently in
the removal proceedings . have been
heard.
1t was known today that the
grand jurors were having a session
of weighty discussion. They heard
only one witness, then entered on
arguments that were heard in the
corridors, and called from time to
/ time for the presence of Attorney
, General Allen or his assistants. A
somewhat similar session several
days ago was accompanied by a re-
port that test vote showed the
jurors to stand strongly in favor of
returning no bill.
When it came time for luncheon, a
recess instead of adjournment, was
! taken. The jurors returned, con-
| tinued their discussion, possibly took
a vote, and then voted to adjourn
until tomorrow.
| Minority members announced their
| dissatisfaction with the way things
We're going, and said they would
/ appeal to the court. With Charles
| NJ. Rotch as their spokesman six
| Joined in the. application for dis
! charge. Martin ]. MCGUIRE, the
| foreman, and two other jurors &C
, companied them but did not sup
port the request. The other grand
| jurors dispersed.
The five who declared with Rotc0
! that it was futile to proceed further
were: William T. Aldrich, John A.
| Adams, Charles f. Main. Frank T.,
Woodwork and Joseph Stone.
Mcclure was accompanied by
| Frank l.. Silva and John A. Adams
| as witnesses of the minority pro-
| test.
The other members of the Grand
/ jury are:
| James A. Aicardi. John Joseph
! Dineen. Wilhelm Freyman, James J.
| Garballey, Elbridge H. Hunt, Glenn
/ ent NJ. Marshall, Raymond T. Meekin,
| Thomas O'Leary. Thomas S. Suli-
van. Paul NJ. Tardiffi, William II.
! Thorning, Thomas E. Walker, Ben
| jamin H. Waugh.
Should this special session be dis
missed it would mark the second
time action of this kind was taken.
There have been only two special
grand juries brought together in this
state, and the first one was dis
! charged recently. while it was con-
sidering charges against officials of
the defunct Hanover Trust Company,
on Attorney General Aliens COM
| plant that the jurors were tempered
with by interview and written COM
municatiOns.