Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-11-08
PORTLAND Man in
JAIL, RESULT BIG
LIQUOR SEIZURE

As the result of d chance seizure,
ST gallon cans of illicit alcohol are
now harmlessly reposing in the
rum room" of the Waterville City
building, and Luke Caiazzo of 81
CampShire street, Portland, quite as
harmlessly inhabting the county
Jail at Augusta.
This sc gallons is part of loo
gallon load found on the road be-
tween Clinton and Durham lit
tie after 2 A. NJ. Saturday.
Incidents leading up to this big
seizure of booze, perhaps the larg-
est haul of it's kind in this vicinity
for many years, commenced when
the Fairfield fire department re-
ceived call to go to Burnham to
help fight the big hotel fire. Just
before getting into Burnham, one
Of the fire apparatus trucks devel-
oped symptoms of mechanical trou-
bic. SO driver and crew stopped
at the side of the road, nearly op-
posite the home of Charles Proctor
Two or three other cars that had
followed up parked likewise near
the spot After tinkering for some
time, a heavy car approached and
passed at a good rate of speed, al
though there was not a whole lot of
right of way available between the
cars and men who were standing
around. This car had hardly pass
ed when another big car came roll
ing up the road, and in trying to
get through between the parked
cars. the driver had to steer a track
in the form of d gently curved fig
ure S. However, before he got
through he hit one of the firemen,
Ernest Ackley of Fairfield, throw
ing him to the ground, the driver
in his excitement ditching his car.
Mr.. Ackley was badly bruised, but
not seriously injured, and was taken
care of. while others rushed to the
car that had hit him. which was
not badly damaged. They were not
long in discovering that the rear
end of the big Marmon touring car
was packed nearly to the top with
gallon cans, one or two OF which
having sprung leaks, gave off a very
strong odor of alcohol.
The driver of the car was I'M
hurt and gave his name as Luke
CaiazzO, admitting the nature of the
contents Of his car. Someone in the
party called Deputy Sheriff Fred w.
Greenlaw of Clinton. who appeared
on the scene a little later, putting
the man under arrest, later turn
ing him over to Deputy Marshal
Poirier Of the Waterville police and
Lieut.. S. NJ. Frost of the State
Highway police. who took Caiazzo
to this city, where he was locked
UP.
When these officers arrived only
about 80 gallons of the $50 were
found in the car. the rest of it hav-
ing been carried into the fields and
hidden in the bushes nearby, evil
IDENTIFY by many of the men who
were on the spot when the accident
occurred. Search by the officers in
creased the number to So gallons,
which was the amount taken to Wa
terville in truck owned and driven
by A. o. King of Benton.
Caiazzo was given a hearing be-
fore Judge Charles w. Atchley in
the municipal court Saturday morn
ing, charged with illegal transport
tation and illegal possession. He
by the judge, and a sentence of $500
and costs and six months in Jail.
with six months additional in de-
fault of payment, was imposed on
each charge. The respondent ap-
pealed the sentence and being I'M
able to furnish bail in the sum of
$500 was taken to the Kennebec
county Jail.
The witnesses to testify were
Deputy Sheriff Greenlaw of Clinton,
Eddie ProulX and Russell Zeaman
of Fairfield, and A. o. King of Ben.
ton.
1t was brought out in the trial
that the big Marmon touring car
which contained the cOntraband
load was especially built for this IL
legitimate business, with heavy
truck springs under the rear end,
and hard wood blocks between the
springs. Persons finding significance
in numbers might be interested to
know thats the lower spring was
made up of exactly 10 plates. the.
upper of u. While Maine number
plates were attached to the car,
other plates were found inside it,
one set being California. In the
drivers pocket book were found
lot of data and newspaper clippings
Of court cases the man had played