Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-06

| III bingham.
and in two other cases Of State vs..
the. same George Taylor for obtain
ing money under false pretences, the
first from Mark c. Spear of Madison
ana the other OF Alfred W. Ingalls,,
| also of Madison on Nov. Is. 1923.
Taylor Tuesday changed the plea of
not guilty which he pied when ar
raigned. In both cases nolo conten-
dcre.
The case of State VS.. Edmund Day
Oh Jackman who was out on bail was
dcfaulted because of his non appear
ance at court, and his bondsman,
Thomas Dayon and Arthur Fortier
will have to settle for his non-ap-
pcarancc.
The case of State VS.. Clifford Gill
bert. alias Clifford Dannis of Madi-
| sen. charged with larceny Of an over
coat from Robert Bunker Of Mercer
| on Dec. 10, 1928 when the farm build
ings of Bunker's father where he
lived were burned was opened Tues
day forenoon. The following jurors
were drawn: L. L. Sampson. foreman.
SkowhcGan; l.. + .Quimby. Cam
III luEt, Ntlic Il. ISIiOiey, IllSIlctt .
Lester G. Stevens. Cornville: Fred
Iaseltinc. Hartland: Frank J. Var
ney. Mercer: Il. G. Bryant, Palmyra:
George =. Grecnleaf, Starks: w. O.
Hilton, st. Adams: J. Wilston Boston,
Canaan; Danville c. Dcrrill. Dead
River; John Hudson, Fairfield.
The state was represented by
County Attorney, James Ii. Thorne of
North Arson and the respondent by
Judge Charles O. Small of Madison.
The State claimed that Gilbert stolo
an ovcrcoat which was wrapped
around one of Robert Bunker's child
ron when Gilbert took It to safety to
the home of ncighbor on the night
of the fire. The defense admitted
that the coat was taken in the back
seat of the automobile by Gilbert
when he left the children but that
Gilbert did not intend to steal the
coat and that in tie excitment of the
fire that Gilbert did not think of the
coat until on their return. While in
Norridgewock he found the. coat in
the back of the machine and that he
wished to return it that night but 1t
was so late that they could not go
back to the Bunker nome with it.
Judge Small emphasized the fact that
the coat was not secluded or conceal
cd in any way and il Gilbert had at
tempted to steal 1t he would have at
tempted to conceal 1t.
The witnesses for the state were
Robert Bunker. Mercer. Mrs. Maud
Fentain of Mercer. to whose home
the children were taken. Deputy
sheriff. Harry Merrill of Madison.
The defense witnesses were Clifford
Gilbert. Clayton White of Arson.
who was with the Gilbert boy at the
fire. Gilbert's mother. Mrs. Kate
Dennis of Madison and Miss Lcttie
Danforth OF Norridgewock. The
testimony in this case was brief and
Judge Small gave a very small ar
gument. County Attorney Thorne
argued at considerable length. Judge
Deasy in few simple words charg-
ed tn, jury and after being out for
n short time returned with verdict
OF not guilty.
The case of state US Trevor Howes
of Highland Plantation was opened
bv Attorney Thorne Of North Arson
after recess. The following Jurors
were drawn to serve on the jury:
Gcorre Conforth. Madison, foreman:
Percy Renter, Madison: James L.
Erown. Madison: Glen Harville.
Madison: +. NJ Williamson, Nor
Ecran; Maud IT. Avorc. Skowhegan;
John y. Turwood, Madison: Lila
Perkins. Skowhecan: f.. T. Rogers.
Sllowiecan; Joseph Prcvencial,
Sllop hcran: Annie Hacket.. SHOW
hogan.
The defense is heirG handled by
Attorney William r. Brown of Madi-
son. The state charges HOwes with
assault and battery upon Edward
Ashcroft OF Highland Plantation on
April o5 1922. The state called he
following witnesses who We're sWosn:
Edward Ashcroft. Mr.. and Mrs Eli
Steward. Mrs. Abhie c. Steward,
Sheriff John \. Mooers. and Deputy
sheriff T.. A. Croker of Canaan and
deputy sheriff Tom Tuskins of Scion.
The first witness to testify was Mrs.
Ahbie Steward who stated that Mrs.
HowCs came TO her home on April
%, 1922 and telephoned 20 Ashcroft
and asked him to meet him there.
which he did and that Ashcroft and
Mrs. Howos went away together in
an auto. After time he came hack.
badly injured. The State claims
that do " the road n little ways
ia
stopped the car and blew the horn
md that Mr.. Howes came up to the
automobi', and assaulted Ashcroft.
Ashcroft was the second witness
and he war on the stand for a long
time which was taken up with direct
and cross examination. He was very
reticent and answered briefly all
Questions and often claimed that he
did not know or could not remember.
He said that he and Hoves were re-
lated and had grown up together and
often had had fights am had gotten
over them. The attorney for the
defense put as an exhibit a signed
statement by Ashcroft before a Jus
tice of the Peace which he said that
he had no i'll will toward Iowes and
wouldn't have had anything to do
with the case If he hadn't been scar
cd into ii.
Court adjourned at 80 Tuesday