Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1871-08-10

To ne Editor Of The fmerIoda
The official records which any body can
examine show that from the April Term
OF the County Commissioner. Court for the
year 1859. until the corresponding term for
ISL. Sheriff Squirting acted a. officer in s.!
cases The curious fact appears that 81
OF these cases were 90, up BY himself: that
i. he was the actual complainant and start
ed the case. But il is certain that some
one will say, "Of course Gen Squirting
case where he was a complainant = for that
would look like stirring up lawsuits and
prosecutions for the sake of getting a Zee,
and would be nearly As bad as for a mag
istrate to make complaint before himself
Stlil We must answer that in all the 81 cases
Gen. Squirting was the officer acting a.
Sheriff, and the county paid the bills though
nearly all the cases occurred la Ellsworth
where the Sheriff received a salary a.
Marshall
Gen. Squirting l. certainly an able bodied
man and would thank nobody for intima-
ting that he has not the physical power to
do the duties Of his Office In fact many
of our citizens believe that Gen. Squirting
can quell disturbances. make arrests, aud
bring criminals 10 stand still. without
analyZing their belief. They are eonien,
10 accept it because they see a man on the
street with badge OF authority who /.
quick in movement, and who does not hes
itate TO declare loudly that he does not
fear the face OF clay.
Any man wishing to make show. with
the advantages given by official position
can do wonders in putting down strife aud
disorder; aud in place no larger thar
this, rarely has 10 require help in exc
cutting his process. But will it be believed
that this remarkable officer out Of these s.
cases of assault and battery, rum selling
and street drunkenness has actually requir
ed ian aid" to be paid for by the county
in - cases. Can any blind admirer OF ou
Ellsworth Sheriff credit this when he con
siders the old men. broken down men
helpless drunken men. crippled men an,
women. and kegs of rnm which go to max,
up the resistance in these cases. Nay. Il
some cases two aids have been needed
TO uphold the hero, and the expense Il
each case has ranged from one dollar I,
six
The files of the Police Court tell anotb
er tale of careless negligence. A larg
proportion of the writs in Judge Drinkwa
ter's court have their return day altere,
by the Sheriff who has neglected to sery,
them in season for the original return day
thus in fact spelling every writ. For Their
is statute of Maine which forbids al
officer to make or change a process. Sue
actions are unheard of outside of Hancoc,
county.
This is part and parcel of the way il
which business has been done for the pas
three years. The public has neglected it
duty in submitting so long. And We doub
even now If any exposure would have beer
made had not . defiant reckless at,emp
been made to force again upon the peopl
an officer, of whom they will rid them
selves at Whatever cost
Our Sheriff is either Of courage an.
capacity not SO great as is claimed or he /
careless in spending the peoples money
and looks out only for the welfare Of hang
ers Oh whom he can at convenient time
fee at the expense Of the county.
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