Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-07
'bERUbE GUILTY
ON LIQUOR CHARGE
CASE APPEALED

l
John Berube. a baker of this city,
| who was arrested Tuesday night by
deputy sheriffs, was tried before
Judge Charles W. Atchley in the
municipal court this afternoon on
two charges, the first. illegal posses
| sion and operation Of still and
possession of a quantity of mash,
and second, Illegal possession of in
toxicating liquors. Judge Atchley
found the respondent guilty on both
charges; on the first bound him
over, and on the second gave him
the maximum sentence of $500 fine.
six months in Jail and six months
additional in default of payment.
Berube furnished $1,000 bonds for
the first count and appealed and fur
, nisheu $500 bonds on the second. f.
Harold Dubord was attorney for the
respondent and offered no defense.
Fully 300 people packed the court
room during the trial.
Mr.. Dubord said that he had ex-
amined all the warrants and would
waive their reading and his client
would plead not guilty to both
charges. Evidence was heard for
both warrants at the same time.
Deputy Sheriffs William J. Cole Of
Hallowell, Edwin +. Megill OF Bel
grade, Carl +. Fellows and Harry w.
Pinkhan were sworn in as witnesses
for the State.
Mr.. Cole took the stand and testi-
fed that he had gone to the prem
Uses at 16 Veteran court with the
other three sheriffs and searched the
southerly side Of the house about Il
, o'clock Tuesday evening. He went
into the basement and found 4 su,l
in operation, 100 gallons of mash
and quantities of alcohol in various
stone jars and other containers, also
several gallons of wine. He found
John Bcrube in possession of the
premises. The still was running into
, q six gallon porcelain jar and there
! were about four gallons of distillate
in the jar. The stuff was found in
different parts of the cellar but
| there were two quart bottles Of
I liquor in the kitchen. The two bar
rcls OF mash were on either side of
a furnace and the still was on the
other side of the cellar with liquid
| dripping from the pipe into the jar.
The only question that was asked
! in the cross examination was wheth-
err Mr.. Cole had ever known Of Mr..
! Berube selling liquor except from
complaints received and Mr.. Cole
! replied in the negative.
The next witness was Deputy Eel.
| lows. Mr.. Fellows said that he was
with Mr.. Cole and he corroborated
all of Mr.. Coles statements except
! the one concerning the still in which
| he said that he saw the liquid drip
ping into the jar. Mr.. Fellows said
| that he saw the liquid dripping into
funnel
! top and that the jar was standing
| beside the jug and was probably
! used to empty the jug into.
The same question as asked Mr..
Cole in tho cross examination was
asked Mr.. Fellows and the answer
was tho same.
Harry w. Pinkham corroberated
| the testimony of the other two sher-
| ifs and said that he found bottle
! of wine In Il cupboard under some
pictures on the first floor. The cross
| examination was the same as in the
| case of the other two sheriffs.
! Edwin r. Mcgill said that he en-
tered the house from the piazza and
! went into the kitchen where he
, stayed at the direction of Mr.. Cole.
, On a shelf he found an empty whis-
! key glass that had evidently been
used and when he started to open n
! closed door close Ivy Il woman in the
! kitchen spoke up and said Yes, you
will find something there for we
| took a drinl, lust before eating sup
| per" He looked in the closet and
| found a quart hottie of alcohol and
two empty bottles.
| In the cross examination MIR. Me-
! gill said that there had been no at
| tempt to hide the liquor in the kit
! chen and he had never known of Mr..
J Ierube selling any liquor except
from complaints received. No de-
| fence was offered and the judge dol
f! led cut the sentences.
| After the case was ended Judge
| Atchley spoke at length concerning
| the case. What the Judge said is in
substance as follows: | want TO sa!
! for the benefit Of Mr.. Berube that
he had better leave off this manu-
| facture and sale of intoxicating IL
! huor. There is no question IN my
mind, Mr.. Bcrube but what you nave
been manufacturing liquor FOR wnole-
sole purposes. You have been aidinS
! and carrying on crime that is Gre
atinc more lawlcssness than any
other crime today. In my opinion
tho man who manufactures liquor
/ sells It or buys it is not good citi-
! zen.
! am perfectly willing to state
that tho men who purchase liquor are
lust as guilty MS those who manu-.
| facture and sell It. You nave not
only been breaking the state laws but
| YOU have been violating the consul
! tuition OF the United States.
IL It was within my power wouIu
. punish the buyer who makes II pos,
sible for the cheap rumsellers an"
| Gootleggers to carry on business ana
! they are responsible under the fed
erai laws at the present time.
The mel who come before me WIN
make and sell liquor must not eS-
meet anything but the extreme pen
atty. .,,,,
There are men In Waterville, cheap
bootleggers who go from their homes
and leave their children to sell IL
o,or while they are absent ana
| know this for n positive fac!. IL
Won can think of any man VINO Is
cheaper than that. allowing his chlio
70 sell rum for him. What can we
expect of our rising generation VINO
vii, later carry on the government.
se their fathers force them to assist
in committing the low-down ni.ny
crime of selling intoxicating LIQUORS:
enfnrrpmQNt OF