Joseph Cavanaugh was arraigned in the Dover district court on the morning of the 11th. Some time after his appearance, he was visited at the police station by his wife, the same wife who had sworn out the complaint of non-support which had led to his arrest in Medford, Mass. No report as to what may have transpired during this conversation. But there is a report of a letter received by Marshal Wilkinson from the police department in Portland, Maine, advising that Cavanaugh had been arrested there on March 23, 1917, on a charge of larceny, following which he had served a term at the Maine State Prison in Thomaston.
Attorney Galloway is now serving as City Solicitor. The defendant is not represented by counsel. Judge Nason set bail in the amount of $1,500. Cavanaugh was fingerprinted, his measurements taken, and he was transported to Horton’s photographic studio for proper mug shots. (According to a “real” historian, Thom Hindle, Harry Horton’s studio was located at the corner of Abbott Street, now the location of a dermatology practice.) The “boy”, who had been taken into custody two days previously for having sold the watch to Harry “Dutch” (third spelling of the last name), was released after Cavanaugh had assured the authorities that he had taken no part in the theft. Cavanaugh also provided information as to the whereabouts of nine watches, which he had disposed of in Boston, so the police “now felt confident that each and every item taken would be accounted for”. As the reporter noted, they “are entitled to much credit for the efficient work they have done in this case”.
It is Sept. 29, 1920. Cavanaugh appeared in Superior Court, Judge Kivel presiding. He is represented by an Attorney Smith who hails from Somersworth. He tells the court that the Defendant “was a graduate of Thomaston”, not clear if this was once his home or he’s referencing the time spent in prison. County Solicitor Sherry then reviewed the facts of the case, pointing out that not only had the defendant “confessed his guilt” as to the burglary and theft, but also “had stolen clothes in Boston and he asked the court to give Cavanaugh a good substantial sentence”. Judge Kivel imposed a term of not less than three nor more than five years in New Hampshire State Prison.
As Cavanaugh had been wanted in Medford for non-support, going back five years, we find a local resident, Joseph Desjadons, facing a similar charge here in Dover, in that on Sept. 25, 1915, he “without cause did desert and willfully neglect to provide for the support and maintenance of his wife in necessitous circumstances”. The actual complaint isn’t dated until Nov. 9, when he is arraigned in the district court late in the afternoon and enters a plea of not guilty. The case is continued to the 10th. On the 10th, it is continued to the 12th, and on that day, he is ordered held for the February term of court, bail set in the sum of $100.
You may recall that in several earlier cases—McCabe and Verrette—some well-meaning local residents had stepped up and posted bail or signed as sureties for the accused. In this case, it just so happens that the individual who came forward was my grandfather, P.J. McManus, with no indication of what the relationship may have been with the accused. During the time in question, there is a Joseph Dajadon, identified as a “spinner”, living at 109 Washington St., and a few years later, a Joseph Desjardins at 37 Mill St. (P.J. was the owner of one of Dover’s many drinking establishments, located for a time at 341 Central Ave.)
In any event, the spelling appears to be “Desjaden” on an indictment issued by the Grand Jury, and on Feb. 16, 1916, he appears before the Superior Court and enters a plea of guilty, the charge naming his wife as Evangeline, and it now includes a daughter, Evangeline Mary Irene, a minor child. Joseph is ordered to serve six months in jail and to pay costs, with the mittimus to issue upon the call of the county solicitor. Whatever may have been the true spelling of his name, he is free to go with the hope that from that point forward, he will properly provide for his family.
