State v. Clayton Brooks Hale

The respondent was tried by a jury and convicted of the offense of “indecent liberties” with the person of a fourteen year old boy in Waldo County. His exceptions to certain rulings of the presiding justice raise issues to be determined here.

Before considering the exceptions, we must dispose of one other contention not technically before us. Respondent has addressed a motion for a new trial directly to the Law Court. No such motion was addressed to the presiding justice. It is well understood that prior to 1959, the review of criminal cases by the Law Court was by exceptions and, in felony…