Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-29
JURY FAILS TO AGREE ON VERDICT IN Case
AGAINST WAYNE MAN FOR DRUNKEN DRIVING

found Briscoe touring car turned
up side down, and underneath it were
l6 bottles of beer. Gagnon he found
nearby. and he was under the influ-
ence OF Intoxicating liquor. Gagnon
said I didn't do it," but that was all
the witness could get out -. him.
The automobile had struck pole
which was broken off near the
aground. On cross examination he
stated that he did not see Gagnon
driving the car.
Officer Clandie Strout of Water
vile had been called there, arriving
after his brother officer. Gagnon
was intoxicated. he declared, but he
had not seen the respondent driv-
ing the car and he thought that Gag
non had said something to the effect
that he was not driving.
Heard Crash
Robert Bowker, night Waterman at
the Lockwood mill, stated that he
was on his one o'clock wind,'' when
he heard the crash. Looking out Of
the window he saw the overturned
car and no sign of life. Then hear
ing a groan he hurried out of the
mill and pulled Gagnon out from I'M
der the car. He could not remember
whether he was under the front or
rear seat. AS he was assisting Gag
non he became conscious that some
one, who he could not say, had
passed him on the street. He had not
seen the man until he was two or
three rods away and then had called
to him to go get help. The man had
walked away as fast as he could.
Gagnon he said was under the inf1u-
linllnr, mil N
he said that he thought he had
pulled Gagnon out from Just behind
the front wheels" p
George d. Hegerty, district super
intendent Of the Central Maine
Power Company. was called to tes-
tify with regard to conversation
with Gagnon over payment for their
pole which was broken by the crash.
Admits Intoxication
In his own defense Gagnon de-
clared that he was indeed very drunk
on the night in question but that he
had not driven the car. He said
that he had been in his house that
night about eight o'clock, when two
strangers in a Hudson car had come
there and tried to trade cars with
him. After some conversation which
had resulted in no action they asked
him If he wanted a drink. He had
taken two drinks out-of- doors, and
upon going into the house to talk
further with them he had taken two
or three more. Then there had been
more or less loud talk and his wife
had ordered them out Of the house.
He had done the same and when they
continued to remain, Mrs. Gagnon
called the Fairfield operator and
asked her to send the police to the
house. The men then left and a few
moments later he became aware that
they had taken his car. He took his
overcoat and cap and went to Fair
field Center. finding them there. Be-
ing quite drunk himself he climbed
into the back seat of the car and told
them to drive him home. The next
he knew he was behind the bars
and trying to stick his head through
them"
Mrs. Laura G. Gagnon, his wife,
corroborated the testimony of her
husband in SO far as the events at
the house were concerned.
County Attorney Frank E. South
ard hopes to dispose of four cases
today, and if this can We accomplish
ed it is probable that all criminal
cases will be cleaned up on Satur-
day and that sentences will be hand
ed out thus cleaning up the criminal
docket for this term.
The four cases for today are: Ac-
quilla Bushey of Waterville, charged
with Illegal possession of intoxicat-
ing liquor; Peter Levasseur of Au-
gusta, charged with single sale of in
toXicating liquor: Ed Vigue of Wat
erviile, charged with driving a motor
vehicle while under the influence of
intoxicating liquor, and William Aug
er of Waterville, charged with re-
ceiving stolen goods.
Mrs. Luther Humphrey is Ill at