Not-so-good old days

Back in May, 1911, an unexpected turn of events altered the course of justice. In those days, what we now call Superior Court, heard all cases in the county courthouse in South Paris. However, back then, what was referred to as the Supreme Judicial Court alternated between Paris and Rumford.

CRIMINAL DOCKET WELL CLEANED UP AT THE SUPREME COURT

The May term of Supreme Judicial Court for Oxford County, held at Rumford, finally adjourned on Tuesday, in time for attendants to take the afternoon train. Criminal business largely occupied the time of the first three days, and a large amount of it was disposed of.

In the case of Mike Bennett, cried for nuisance, the jury disagreed.

B. Helsi of Rumford, was convicted of liquor nuisance, and received a sentence of three months in jail.

Peter Bouchard of Rumford we also convicted of nuisance, and received the same sentence, three months in jail.

Several liquor cases against John Watts were disposed of, in one the sentence of the lower court, a fine and costs of $106.82 and sixty days in jail, being affirmed, and another case being continued with a plea of guilty.

For illegal transportation, the case against Jesse Barker was nol prossed on payment of $57.05.

In liquor cases against Frank Janice and Charles Stasulis judgment of the lower court was affirmed.

George Bradley, Wilfred Willett, Willis Provost and Gus Provost of Rumford, all young fellows, had been indicted for breaking and entering the summer cottage of Henry Keeman at the lakes. Bradley and Willett pleaded guilty, and received each a sentence of seven months in Auburn jail. The Provost boys pleaded not guilty, but on trial were convicted and were sentenced to ten months at Auburn.

Monday was largely devoted to the trial of George H. Seavey of Bethel, charged with criminal assault upon Mahala Armstrong, his wife's daughter, a girl of ten years. County Attorney Parker for state; Wheeler for defense. Seavey was found guilty. His death early the next morning, before the time for sentence to be pronounced, is related elsewhere.

The "elsewhere" referred to in Seavey's case turned out to be:

Summoned to a Higher Court

GEORGE H. SEAVEY DIES NEXT MORNING AFTER BEING CONVICTED

In court at Rumford on Monday of last week George H. Seavey of Bethel was convicted of felonious assault. Early the next morning he was taken ill in his cell at the lock-up, and though a physician was summoned, he lived only a few minutes. The physician pronounced it apoplexy, but this attack was doubtless brought by the strain of the affair.

Coroner Elliott was called, but considered an inquest unnecessary.

Joe Bill Held for Murder

A very short hearing was held in the Rumford Falls Municipal Court Thursday in the case of Joe Bill, or Ignatio Albanese, of Rumford, charged with the murder of his wife. Two witnesses, Deputy Sheriff Niles and Coroner H. L. Elliott, testified as to the statements of Mrs. Bill before her death. Joe Bill was held without bail on the charge of murder, and on Friday was committed to jail to await the October term of court. He seems to be in rather better spirits than at first, and sleeps well, as he formerly did not, but expresses his realization of the fact that he is destined to go to state prison.

Readers may recall that "Joe Bill" was the Rumford man who turned himself in for the murder of his wife while court was in session.

As is our custom, we try to exactly reproduce the grammar, spelling, punctuation and style of the original. Commas might appear where least expected and remain absent where we’d expect them if the item was written nowadays. On the other hand, consistency was not considered of utmost importance, so variations of a spelling might appear within one story. In addition, some words were abbreviated differently than today. Where brief explanations of terms are considered necessary, they are presented in brackets [] within the quote. Otherwise, explanations appear at the beginning or at the conclusion, without quotes. Parenthesis () used in a quoted passage appeared in the original.