Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-10


the glass in the door has been broken
within the past few months.
Deputy, Sheriff Frank Nessard was
the first witness for, the State. He
testified that he signed the complaint
He said that he recognized the three
men who were in the front room OF
Mr.. Pooler's shop as Frank Fashon.
Romeo Rancourt and Arthur Micue.
The rest were in the back shop where
the gambling was going on. He said
that two ladies and a highly respected
gentleman Of the Plains complained
that gambling was going on there.
Deputy Sheriff Megill was the first
person to 60 into the back room. Two
tables were in play and the resi- Of the
men were standing around. In the
front room there was q tobacco show
case and IN the back room lunches
were served. The door to the back
room was closed but not locked.
Deputy Sheriff Edwin F. Megill tes-
titled that he was the first one to en-
ter the back room and there were>play-
ing cards there when he went through
the door. Four or five were at one Ia
BILE and there was a small sum Of
money, all in nickels. on the table, and
there were four at the other table. He
was instructed to 60 through and get
to the back door before seyone got
out. He saw three In the front room.
They did not seem to know him. but
when Mr.. Lessard stood in the door
way they recognized him and the play
ers stood up.
Harry Pinkham testified that he was
the third deputy to enter the back
room. He wrote down half the names
wrote down the rest
Deputy Lessard counted the money
on the judges desk, 60 cents in all.
and identified it as that which he had
taken from the table. Deputy Pinkham
identified the two packs of cards on
the judges desk as the ones he had
taken from the tables.
The State rested its case here and
the Judge asked If any Of the respon-
dents wished to testify. First one or
two raised their hands and then as
they trooped down in front Of the
judges desk to be sworn, several more
made the same decision. and then all
of them who had pleaded not guilty
decided that they wanted to 50 on the
witness stand.
Philip Giguere was the first wit
ness. He said that he went into the
lunchroom to get a hot dog and he
did not know whether they were
playing for money or not. He was In
the back room.
Treffie Boulette. said that he had
just stopped in to get a package OF
cigarettes. He was In the back room.
Frank Perry said that he was in
the front room with Leo Thibodeua
and John Green when the deputies
came in. He said that he saw Frank
have a hot dog. ,e
Leo Thibodeau was walking along
the street and seeing Perry SO inside
went into the font room.
Walter Dro,1fn was just going into
the backroom when the deputies
came in. .
Albert Bolduc said he was in the
front room.
Ovila Coulter said that he had
been in the back room ABOUT an hour
and a half.
Philbert Boulette and Wilfred For
tier said they had been in the back
room about 10 minutes.
Joe Green said he was in the front
room.
Henry Bolduc Said he was in the
! front room but Deputy Lessard said
| that he saw him in the back room.
Joseph Fortier was in the back
| ROOM Edwin King said he was in
both rooms. Annie Quirion and George
Brousseau said they were in the back
room and Joseph Gaulin said he was
in the back room about 10 minutes
Most of the witnesses said they
! had Just come from motion picturs
| show and had stopped in for a few
minutes to get something to eat.
John Nashon called Deputy Les
| sard to the stand and he testified
! that John was in the front room
eating hot dog and drinking bot
tie of soda when he arrived.
Judge Atchley called Mr.. Pooler
| forward and he told the judge that
they played rummy in his shop for
goods on the house. The winners
received their goods free and the
losers had to pay.
Judge Atchley said that reports
had come to him that boys 10 years
old and under had been playing
there for money.
Judge Atchley said that he did not
wish to give any boys under n
years of age a criminal record and
he asked each respondent under u
to step forward. The following boys
responded: Clifford King. Henry
Bolduc. Frank Perry. Joseph Goulin
Wilfred Fortier, Albert Bolduc and
Romeo Bolduc. He told them that he
was going to let them go this time
but warned them IL they ever came
before him again they could not ex-
pect to get off so easy.
The judge then fined Mr.. Pooler
and the seven players on their pleas
of guilty and nolo contendre after
which he asked the rest OF those
implicated to come forward. He told
them that he was not going to hold
them but that the law gave him
nlenty of chance to hold them and
that in a way they were just as guilty