Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-09-16
HEAVY SENTENCE
FOR MOTORIST ON
LIQUOR CHARGE

while on the second count, that of
operating a still sentence was sus-
pended pending an analysis OF the
cotents of the kegs found at the Dill
home.
Attorney z. L. Goodspeed was
counsel for the defendant. Seven
witnesses were called for the state,
and several for the defense. the trial
lasting from 10 o'clock until 12:15.
Chief Of Police r. c. Dunn Of this
city was the first witness called and
he testified that on Friday evening
he was called to the junction OF
Brunswick and West streets where
the accident in question had occur
red, and found that the horse owned
by George Esterbrook had received
a broken leg when it was hit by
Dill's Ford car and that Dill had
been badly cut in the accident. He
said that in his opinion Dill had been
drinking as he smelled of liquor and
talked at random, and called the Of
ficers names. The car was about 500
feet from the scene of the accident.
Officer C. Watson corroborated the
statements of the chief. State De-
tective Arthur G. Robinson was then
called and said that while he did not
go out to the scene of the accident
he was in the local police station
when Dill was brought in and said
| that he could tell that Dill had been
drinking by his walk. talk and &C
lions. officer Fred Heath testified
practically the same as did Harold
Watson who drove Chief Dunn out
| to the Brunswick road. F. A. Shop
| herd who lives at the corner OF
| West street and Brunswick avenue
| told that he saw the accident as he
was sitting on tine steps of his
home. He telephoned Chief Dunn
| and later Dill came to his house and
| told him that he had better telephone
| the authorities as there had been an
accident. He also said that Dill
| was evidently under the influence OF
| liquor. Mr. Esterbrook then took TIE
stand and declared that as he was
| crossing Brunswick avenue to get
| onto West street his horse was
| struck by Dills automobile and its
| shoulder broken. He estimated the
speed of the Dill car at 80 miles an
| hour. He also said that Dill show
ed signs of being intoxicated. The
| light on his wagon was not lit but
| it was not dark.
Chief Dunn was then recalled in
connection with the second charge,
and reported that three kegs of in
| toxicant and what was thought to
| be coil part of still were found
at Dilrs home on the Brunswick
road. The respondent testifying in
(, his own defense informed the court
| that he was the father of IL chill
dren and that he had only been at
| home for two weeks, having been
employed In Guilford. He said that
| he made hop beer. using hops. bar
| ley, yeast and sugar; that he was in
| the habit of taking two or three
glasses a day. OF the three kegs
| found, one contained blackberry
and cherry wine which had soured.
and another rhubarb wine which had
also soured; the third was the beer
made of the above ingredients which
| he claimed was Notwithstanding. He
| claimed that the can in question
came from a mail order house. and
! that it was used for the purpose of
| cooling drinking water in the cellar.
| but he said that he also STEPPED his
| hops in the can when making the
above mentioned drink. He said that
| the copper tubing came from mo-
| tor boat which he once owned.
, He further testified that on the
morning of the September 18th he
| had taken his wife to Whitefield, that
! in the afternoon hesmet an old friend,
George c. Marston whom he invited
| to ride out to the Dill home. that he
| might look the place over. They ar
rived at Mr. Dilrs house at about
! three o'clock in the afternoon, and
| that during the afternoon they had
visited the cellar and partaken of
| two glasses each. but felt no i'll eff
! fects, that he had returned to town
with Mr.. Marston about six o'clock
in the evening, left him near the
! Johnson House on Water street. and
| Immediately left for home. On reach :
| ing Brunswick avenue he turned on
his lights, as it was getting dark, and
there was quite a heavy fog.
! On passing over the top Of Iron
Mine Hill he said that he remembered
distinctly of changing his lights from
| dim to bright. and that he continued
at a slow rate of speed, and because
of the glare of the street light at the
point of the accident as well as the
heavy blanket of fog. he was unable
| to see the horse in time to prevent
hitting him. He stated that he prob
ably was more or less bewiiiered. and
! thought it not unusual that a man
! should act little queer having re-
ceived the cuts and bruises that he
did with the blood streaming down
| his face. He said that he stopped the
car as soon as he coud and went back
| to ascertain the extent of the dam
age, that he told Mr.. Esterbrook that
he had no lights on his wagon, but
that he was sorry that the accident
had happened. Dill went on to ex-
/ plain the reason for his boisterous
talk at the police station. saying thai
any man would be angry when ac-
cused of being drunk when he was
not.
The next witness for the defense
was George c. Marston who corobor-
ated the story of Mr.. Dill about hi.
visit to the farm, stating that he fell
no i'll effects from the concoction, anC
that he noticed nothing unusual abou
Mr.. Dills actions. Ethel Dill, ard j
Prescott Dill. daughter and son o
the defendant. and his brother Bel
Dill, all testified practically the same
In summing up the case Judge At
kins pointed out that there wer
seven witnesses for the State. all o
whom could have no motive in mis-
, representing the facts of the case
while the majority of Mr.. Dill's wit
nesses were relatives. After care
full resume of the case he pronouncet
sentence as above. The first cas-
was appealed and bonds of $500 wer
furnished by Mr.. Dill's mother ant
brother for his appearance in TIL
January term of court. The Judg
ordered that the contents of the ke'
!; found be analyzed before sentence il
the second case that of operating