Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-24
BAIIlESCARRED WAR VETERAN BEFORE
COURT FOR EvADING FARE IS GIVEN BOOST
ON Way BY INTERESTED SYMPATHI7ERs

The municipal or police court of anv
city Is most interesting place for the
study of psychology and sociology
There are Of course. many cases which
come before the court which are drab
and oftentimes disgusting in their sor.
did details. On the other hand there
are many instances when the most in
terestins and surprising things are un-
covered in the Investigation of ofrenses
committed by persons who many times
are in courtroom for the first time in
their lives. The municipal court gets
everything. while the upper courts onlv
come to know the cases after the facts
nave been ascertained and brought to
iiSht by those connected with the lower
court procedure
Where the upper courts are for the
most part mechanical in their admin.
istration of justice, there needs must
DC human element in the workings of
the police court. For the best inter-
ests of those who are hailed before the
bar, and for the best interests of the
community and society as a whole, red
tape or mechanical action must here
go into the discard. and the municipal
court judge who is rendering the hest
service to the community is the one
who makes it point to inform himself
OF the conditions of environment and
any extenuating circumstances in each
and every case.
case in illustration occurred in the
Augusta municipal court Thursday
morning. William Haddon was brought
before the court on complaint of one
of the Maine Central Railroad detec-
tives for evadng his fare. When ar
ralgned before Judge Robert A, Cony
he was without counsel and pleaded
guilty to the charge. If the procedure
in this court was merely mechanical.
the respondent would have been sem
fenced to pay fine or serve a term in
Jail. but Judge Cony. following out his
custom of informing himself on all
cases without regard to their seeming
triviality. questioned the man and
brought to light most interesting
situation. which resulted in the rail-
road detective asking clemency for
Haddon and also an effort on his part
TO secure work on the railroad for the
man.
1t was brought out that Haddon is
IS years old and his home is in Onei-
Ga, n. Y. He has been a seafaring
man. and not being qualified for farm
work, which was all that was available
in his locality. he set out about three
weeks ago in search of employment. He
landed in Boston, and being unsuccess-
full in his efforts to obtain employment
he took what has often been to other
men the last resort and signed up
through a labor agency for shipment
to lumber camp in the Maine woods.
AS is the custom, the mans fare.
meals and the agency fee were charg
ed against his first wages at the camp
to which he was sent. For some reason
Haddon found it necessary to leave the
lumber camp after being there but a
few days and of course had no wages
due him.
He started back toward the indus
trial centers, making long hike from
the woods camp, and eventually reach
ed South Lagrange. Me-. from which
point he jumped a freight train bound
westward. He had seen an advertise
ment in paper that laborers were
wanted on construction work in Port
land and was headed for that place
when taken off the train in this city
by Officer Ward at the request of the
railroad detective.
Judge Cony satisfied himself
through leading questions that the
young man was telling a straight
forward story about his home and his
efforts TO obtain work, ana lnadVert-
emily it was brought out that Haddon
was acquainted with a certain well
known man in Augusta, who was a
nom commissioned officer in the Milli-
ken Regiment, afterward the seth
Pioneer Infantry, during the World
War. A direct question from Judge
Cony brought the reply that Haddon
was in that outfit. He was not in
clined to volunteer any information
about his war service. but questions
by the Judge and others indirectly
connected with the court, revealed
that Haddon had served overseas
with an artillery unit of the Goth
CYankee) Division and carried
broad scar on his left arm as the re-
suit of a bad shrapnel wound re-
ceived on the Alsace sector.
Haddon would not have mentioned
! his war service in any way, and in
fact was ready to take his sentence
for his tenchinal offense with that
same proud spirit that is often evil
dent in men, who though tcmporar-
| lily down on their luck. have an hon.
orable record of service beneath their
! country's flag, behind them. There
were those in the court room who