Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-01-30

the Maine Central railroad station In !!
was the principal witness |
for the defense. He said that he |
works the second trick, getting done |
shortly before IL o'clock at night and |
that he had started to walk to his .
home which is near the scene Of the |
occurrence. He had watched the I
events and had seen the deputy Jump !
on the side of the machine. He had |
seen him bend over as the deputy |
had testified but had not seen d |
bundle drop from the automobile nor |
had he seen anyone jump from it. |
He had seen the bundle in the road
way, however, and had watched the
deputy pick it up. The deputy had
said that he had got the liquor and
che thought he knew who they were."
A case Of illegal possession Of in
toxicating liquor against Bushey.
arising from the same occurrence
was dismissed.
Levasseur Case
The trial of Peter Levasseur of
Augusta, charged with single sale of
intoxicating liquor was then begun.
John wager, at one time porter and
bell boy at the Hotel North, testi-
fed that he bought half pint of
liquor from Mr.. Levasseur at the
Pine Tree restaurant at the end Of
the Kennebec Bridge on November
%, at the request of one DUDE. He
said that about a month later Levas-
seur had approached him and told
him that he would give him $25 If
he would let friend drive him out
of town in his automobile. This he
had reported to the city marshal.
Cross examination by Attorney B.
F. Maher appearing for the defense,
developed the fact that he has since
been living at the Hotel North and
taking his meals at the State Lunch,
all these bills being paid by the Au-
gusta Police Department. He denied
that he had told LevaSseur he would
get out of town If Levasseur would
pay him a certain sum.
Dennis DUDE was then called and
declared that he had asked wager if
he could get him any liquor. About
two hours later wager had delivered
it to him. He said that he was work
ing for the City Marshal in this case.
On cross examination he denied
that he was a Federal Officer or
ever had been but said that he is
Federal Informer". He was asked
by the attorney for the defense if he
is the same Dennis Bushey that has
been in trouble in Bangor as re-
suit of attempted eXtortion" in con-
nection with some liquor cases there.
but this question was ruled out. The
state rested it's case with the testi-
mony of hese two witnesses.
After the opening by Attorney Maher
Peter LeVasser, the respondent, was
called to the stand. He testified that
on the night of Nov. % John wager.
a government witness. came into his
restaurant and ordered a piece of pie
and a cup of coffee. Peter Lambert
was there. Wager asked the respon-
dent for liquor and the respondent re-
piled that he had none. wager came
to the restaurant the next day and
after buying a cup of coffee again
asked the respondent for liquor.
II told wager that 1 wasn't doing
any business" testified the respondent.
Continuing, the respondent testified
that his wife and little girl were
there on the occasion of Yager'S visit
and he was arrested 10 minutes after
wager left, on a liquor charge.
Did you ever sell any liquor to
Yager?" asked Attorney Maher for the
defense.
The respondent said that he met va
ger on a corner after his visits to his
restaurant and after the respondent
had been arrested on liquor charge
wager told the respondent that he
would give him enough money If he
would go away and stay away.
Never offered Bride lss
did you ever offer Wager money or
any other consideration? asked After
ney Maher.
II never did" replied the respondent.
On cross-examination the respondent
testified that he had been convicted
once of liquor selling.
You say wager never bought drop
Of liquor from you?" asked County At
torney Southland.
Never" replied the respondent.
Peter Lambert of Augusta testified
that he was in the respondents res
taurant on the night of Nov. % when
wager called there.
The witness did not pay much at
tention to wager, who ordered piece
of pie and cup of coffee. He heard
Yager coaxing the respondent for IL
uuor and heard the respondent say
that there was nothing doing. wager
asked the respondent for liquor three
or four times, but neither wager nor
the respondent was out of his sight.
The respondent told the witness that
he didn't have anything to drink.
Mrs, Ievasser, wife Of the respon-
dent, testified that wager came into
the restaurant about 5 o'clock on the
afternoon of Nov. % and was refused
liquor by her husband. wager asked
for a half pint and her husband told
him that he didn't have any liquor.
Yager didn't appear to have been
drinking at the time he called.