Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-04-24

corning her father because OF infiu-
ence of an aunt. Mrs. Alice Getchell,
wife of Avon Getchell.
The witnesses for the defense were
BURNS Getchell of st. Adams, a
brother, Ernest Getchell of North
Dexter; Avon Getchell of st. Adams,
| Mrs. BURNS Getchell, Mrs. Doris
Bragg, daughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
/ BURNS Getchell, and her husband,
Orman Bragg; and Joseph Getchell,
a small son Of Mr.. and Mrs. BURNS
Getchell.
At the close of the testimony for
the defense a rebuttal was conduct
ed by County Attorney James H.
Thorne of North Arson, who Is rep
resenting the State, during which he
called Sheriff John H. Mooers, Show
hogan, who conferred with Lorena
Getchell before she was taken be-
fore the grand jury, and Bert Har-
vile Of Skowhegan and Webster
Nutting of Skowhegan, members of
the grand jury at the January term
of supreme court, who testified to
statements made by Lorena Get
chell.
At lilo Attorney Brown began his
argument for the defense. -,
Following Mr.. Browns argument
County Attorney James H. Thorne
made an able argument for the state.
Judge Sturgis in Is minutes gave his
instructions to the jury. The jurors
retired at 2.35 and after being out
about an hour returned with a YER
dict of guilty. The prisoner, BURNS
Getchell, was placed in charge Of an
officer to await his sentence.
In the case of state VS.. Avon Get
chell, a brother, of BURNS Getchell,
also os st. Adams, who was charged
with incest with the daughter of
BURNS Getchell, Lorena, was brought
into court and retracted his plea Of
not guilty and pied nolo contendre.
He was placed in charge of an Of
ficer to await sentence.
The last case to be tried on the
criminl docket for the April term
WIS that Of state VS.. Maurice l..
Small. an appeal case of Athens,
chrged with violation of the game
law. The following jurors were
drawn to hear the case: A. p. Howes
foreman, of Palmyra; Guy Wellman,
st. Adams; Frank Fox, Athens;
Ralph Webster, Madison; George
Harvie. Skowhegan; Maud William
son, Fairfield; Aianson G. Hume
well, Carratunk. II. +. Smith. An
son; Asa Craig. Pittsfield; Henry
Later, Cornville; +. Salisbury, Ca
The case was opened by County
Attorney Thorne, who stated that on
Oct. 81, 1923, which is closed time
on fox hunting. E. =. King of Show
hogan, head game warden for Som
erset county went to the home of
Mr.. Small with search warrant
and there found six fox skins which
had recently been trapped The
witness for the state was E. p. King
and he told the same story as that
of the county attorney in his open
ing.
The defense was opened by At
torney Sherman NJ. ~Shumway, who
represented Mr.. Small. Mr.. Shum-
way stated that they admitted that
the fox skins were in the possession
OF Mr.. Small on Oct. 81, and that
open time did not begin until Noy.I1,
put that they would prove to the
jury that Mr.. Small was justified in
having the skins at that time. He
said that Peter Melhurn of Brighton
had for n number of years conducted
a poultry farm and that each fall
he suffered a great loss of his chick
ems by foxes and that he had a legal
rignt to protect his chickens: also
tlat he had engaged the respondent
10 set traps to catch the foxes which
were killing his chickens. That all
Oh the foxes from which these skins
were obtained were taken from tbe
traps set on the Melhurn farm NV
Mr.. Small when in the employ Of
Mr.. Melhurn.
The two witnesses for the defense
weere MIR. Small and Mr.. Melhurn
VINO told In their testimony the same
story as told by Attorney Shumway
after the testimony was completed
d recess was declared and County
Al.orney Ihorne nd Attorney Shum.
way conferred with Judge Sturei.
At the opening Of court after receSs
Judge Sturgis stated to the iurv that
according to the defense testimonv
Mr. Melhurn was fully Justified In
Uolalnlng a trapper to set traps for
tne foxes which were killing his
chickens; that by law IL became his
DUTY to direct the Jury to give a vara
dict Of not guilty.
me Jurors were finally excused a.
o.oo wednesday night. Judge Sur.
gas cordially thanked them for their
very faithful and efficient service
uuring the term. Court adiourneS
un.l O'Clock Thursday morning
ana at 10 o'clock the sentences viii
be pronounced. VIII
'u1es boutin Held for the Sept. Term
jules Boutin of Jackmap. who
was the respondent in an anti case
.ried before the supreme court
tuesday forenoon on a search and
seizure charge. which case was moi
pressed because OF a defect in the
warrant as made by trial justice at
Jackman. was arrested on a new
warrant on the same charge, by
Sherin John A. Mooers.
At hearing before Trial Justice
John II. Lancaster, Boutin was held
FOR the September term OF supreme
court and furnished bail In sum of
sIVOO Tor appearance at that time.
kennebee Valley HospitaI
john Pratt of North Arson en-