Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-07
SUPREME COURT

40 Inc trlal or David Withee OF
Skowhegan, charged with a statutory
olfense and in which Viola Howard
CT augusta, an inmate at the State
Reformatory for Women, is named
was continued today at the Supreme
Court before a drawn jury.
Inc State was represented by
county Attorney Harold Z. Weeks
and the respondent by Attorney
Dana S. Williams Of Lewiston.
1t was admitted Friday morning
that Written was married on DC,
80 and ii, 1924 a d that his wife was
not Viola Howard and that the clerk
at the Oxford Hotel on those dates
Is now in Florida. The States evil
dence was continued by Earl Tantish
who was one Of the boys who was
at the dance in Vassalboro with the
Paradis and Howard girls and Roy
Jones.
Mrs. Henrietta Bowman, the par
ole officer 1T the State Reformatory
for Women was called and told OF
the escaped girls telephoning to be
taken back to the institution and
that she performed her duty and
took them back from the, station
where they were met.
The defense was opened by Dana
S. Williams who stated the case very
briefly and said that Mr.. Witheel had
plead no. guilty and that was the
defense. The witnesses sworn for
the defense were Mr.. Withee, Mrs
Withee, l.. B. Haskell. Roy Jones,
and William Morrow chief of Show
hogan police force.
The only ones t. testify were MIR.
Withee. Mr.. Morrow and Mr.. Jones.
After the defense testimony Mr..
Weeks had the clerk of court, w. f.
Seekins sworn, who when asked If
Mr.. Jones had ever been convicted
of crime in the supreme court said
that Jones had plead nolo at this
term to a charge. Judge PhilbrooN
gave his charge and at 12.2O the
Jurors were placed in charge of the
sworn officers for the dinner hour
and at . o'clock began their deliber-
atoms of the case.
The jury returned at 3:15 with a
verdict of not guilty. The respon-
dent was dismissed and left the
court room with tears rolling down
his checks accompanied by his wife.
who had loyalty stood by him and
confidently believed in his innocence.
Large numbers left the court room
after the verdict was pronounced
who had been in attendance through
out the trial.
The respondent in the case Of
state VS.. j. c. Mclaughlin of Gull
ford, charged with forgery on May
"a, 1924. was arraigned and pleaded
not guilty. The case was continued
and bail placed at $500 was furnish
ed. The bondsmen were Peter Bebe
and Charles w. Huff. The respon-
dent was represented by attorney
James H. Thorne of Madison.
The case of State VS.. James George
charged with illegal deposit. was mol
pressed because Of defect in the
paper. The respondent was dis
charged. II. II. Brazzell of Fairfield
appeared for him.
In the case Of State VS.. Albert
Punty, charged with arson, Punty,
who had plead not guilty changed
his plea and plead nolo He was rep
resented by attorney w. B. Brown
of Madison. Bail from day to day
in the sum of $500 was given by his
father, Joseph Punty and Frank Du-
by.
In the case of State VS.. Maurice
Jordan of Scion, charged with op-
Grating motor vehicle on the high
way from Skowhegan to West Ath-
ems on October 10, 1924, while under
the influence of intoxicating liquor,
occupied the closing hour of Fridn
afternoon. The case was tried be-
fore drawn jury made up of Clyde
Fcss, Norrdgewock A. b. Everett,
Norrideewock; Robert f. Marden,
st. Adams; Annie M. Walker, Madi-
son; Nathan Gray, Pittsfield; Lou