The Washington times., 1924-11-11
PERSUADED
HUSBAND
TO JOIN
GANG
Prominent Business and So
ciety Leaders involved ii
Maine Scandal

BANGOR, Me-, Nov. 11.-Mrs.
Laura Patten,l church and temper
ance leader Of Machias, was SEN
fenced to two months in jail BY
Judge Peters in Federal court here
when she pleaded guilty with her
husband and q dozen other men
70 charges connecting them with
. liquor smuggling conspiracy for
which seventy -four indictments
have been issued. Federal Off
Gals say the rum scandal will
shake Maine society.
Mrs. Patten has two children.
Her husband received six months
sentence.
Influenced Husband.
Lorenzo Patten. the temperance
lecturers husband, is a wealthy
operator. United States Distric
Attorney Dyer told the court Mrs.
Patten probably influenced her hus-
band by her more forceful nature.
Captain William H. Hicks, mas.
ter of two East Port schooners,
used, according to officials, in
smuggling liquors to the Maine
coast. from Saint Pierre, i Mique.
lon, pleaded not guilty to a CON
spiracy charge and was held in
$4,000 bond, Federal investigators
accuse him as being the directing
mead OF the alleged conspiracy.
thirteen Of the other men whu
pleaded guilty received sentences
ranging from one to six months.
All were charged with illegal sale
Of liquor.
John Mastertall, former game
warden and George Hansen, a jus.
tee OF the peace, are among the
Otners arrested. Hansen, son of
the Machiasport postmaster, re.
celVed a four months sentence.
High-ups Involved.
The secret indictments as yet I'M
served are said to name many
prominent in business and official
circles.
The fifteen sentenced have begun
serving their terms in the local
hail. -
The roundup OF those already ar.
rested furnished many thrills end
threw nearly a. dozen towns into In.
tense excitement. Federal men
raced about the countryside in All.
tomobiles, taking men from their
beds, others from a dance at a
grange hail.
Threatening Suicide.
Victor Rossi, of Cherryfield. who
was sentenced to four months. told
the officers who arrested him he
would commit suicide They prom.
ised him a good funeral. But he
aid not end his life. Rossi's two
children wept bitterly as he was
taken away.
Additional indictments will he
asked at today's session of the sne.
cial grand jury.
captain Hicks plight is even
nadder than his admission to bail
indicates. He was released after An
agreement with District ATTORNEY
Eyer 70 appear at the next term
Of the Portland court, Changing his
plea to that of guilty and received
2 sentence In the Federal peniten.
tiaIy at Atlanta. In the interim he
VIII return to Eastport and disnose
OF his two ships. TRAVELLING Equipment
and other gear of an honest fisher.
man.
Pleads for Children.
District Attorney Dyer pleading
Tor leniency for Mrs. Patten. mon.
toned her two children.
1t seems to me that they should
have been two pretty good reasons
Tor the Pattens keeping out Of the
liquor business said Judge Peters.
Asked II Mrs. Patten had been 60.
spced In any way the District AT.
torney replied that he thought the
wife had the more masterful mind
cf the two" The court Then ruled
that since the penalty sfor the al.
fense the couple were charged with
WAS eight months, the husband
should serve six and the wife two.
Fines evidently mean nothing 10
some people," said Judge Peters. in
sentencing George Hansen and
Prank Crocker to four months
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