Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-22
Deputy Sheriff Leach Trapped
and Makes Confession.
Admits Receiving S2lO in Brides from
SaIoonkeeper Callahan.
Discharged by Sheriff Pearson and
Placed Under Arrest.

of Deputy Sheriff Arthur Il. Leach on
charge Of accepting brides from Ii
quor dealers.
Deputy Leach on being put under
arrest, confessed his guilt and told the
story of his wrong doing to the Off
GERS with whom he had been associat-
ed during the administration of Sher-
iff Pearson.
1t was said that Michael J. Callahan
had gone into 4 plot with the sheriffs
department to implcate Leach in his
own guilt and compel him TO take his
share Of the punishment.
Callahan made an appointment with
Leach to meet him, Sunday evening,
and Leach fell clean into the trap
while Leach ana Callahan talked two
deputy sheriffs We're listening and
plainly overheard Leach admit to Cal
lahan that he had accepted brides from
him. Callahan lead Leach on to talk
over all the various transactions which
they had carried on and the two Of
iicers in conceament got a full his
tory Of Leach's treachery to Sheriff
Pearson.
Last night, ut the sherffs office. Mr..
Pearson. Mr.. WhItehouse and Deputy
Perry with others were in consuta-
ton until late hour. Leach was
summoned to appear there and he did
so. He was asked about taking brides
and at first denied it. Mr.. Perry told
him that everything was known and
that it would be better for him to
make Il clean breast Of the whole mat
ter. At last he cid so.
During his story Leach charged that
others had been taking money besides
him and said that he was not the first
to fall. He admitted that he knew
nothing about the others, but only had
suspicious.
Leach said he had accepted brides from
Callahan on several occasions. He said
that the full amount which he had receiv-
ed was $40. He had entered into an
agreement with Callahan to protect him
and certain others Of the rumsellers and
had done 50 to the best Of his ability
He said that he had resisted for a long
time the temptation to take money, but
that finally he had decided that he might
as well have some of the cash as not
thinking that if he did not take much he
might escape detection. He thought that
even if Callahan should say that he hal
accepted brides the statement would have
no proof and that his word would be TAX
en- in preference to that of a rumseller.
At the sheriffs Office. today noon. there
was considerable excitement. from the
fact that Leach was shut up in the next
room to theirs, and there was DISPOSE
ton to say as little as possible about the
matter.
1t was decided to issue an official state
ment to the public relating to the arrest
of Leach, and the following was prepared
and submitted to Mr.. Pearson. being full
ly approved by him. The statement here
follows:
AS the result Of an investigation which
has been going on since the indictment
of Michael j. Callahan in the grand jury
conducted by Sheriff Pearson and two OF
his deputies under instructions of the
county attorney, conclusive evidence was,
last night, had that Deputy Sheriff Ar
thur b. Leach had accepted brides from
Michael J. Callahan at different times
amounting in all to two hundred and ten
dollars ($2l0, for protection of various
parties in the liquor business. Mr.. Leach
on being charged with it has made q full
confession. He was discharged, this
morning, by Sheriff Pearson from his
commission and has been placed under ar
rest and Will be arraigned in the munic.-
pal court, tomorrow morning.
Rev Samuel F. Pearson, the high sher-
if. this afternoon, gave out the follow
ing statement
Mr.. Leach was one of my most trusted
men. For six months prior to my taking
the office of sheriff he had charge of my
books and accounts as pastor of the Cos
pei Mission, and | believed him as hone;r
a man as God ever made.
When the charges Of bribery were
made ! told the county attorney that |
with him, heart and hand, in his investi
CATION, regardless of who was hit. l
wanted TO know If there was a member
of my force that couldn't be trusted. |
did not believe that there was. | am
now convinced to the contrary.
II have done in his case exactly what
would do with any other deputy under
similar circumstances. / pity him from
the bottom of my heart, but he must take
the consequences of his fall
Leach says:
The accusation is true. that have ac-
cepted money from Callahan at two diff
erent times. / shall put the county to no
expense to convict me. In the municipal
court, tomorrow. 4 shall waive a hearing
When the matter comes before the supe
rior court in September shall also waive
a hearing and plead guilty.
This affair was not of my making. l
have never been guilty. of connecting
any scheme to obtain money through my
Office, and / have never, even by intima-
ton, encouraged anyone to offer me mol
ey. No one can realize the amount of
temptation that confronts deputy sher-
if who is trying to enforce the prohibito-
ry law. As l kept the books and was COR
sdered close to the sheriff. the liquor
dealers have made special mark of me
and | have been repeatedly confronted
by opportunities to accept brides.
Il meant to be honest and do right
but the temptation finally overpowered
me- One day Mike Callahan came to ME
and told me he had fixed up a deal. that
he did not expect me to give him or his
friends any protection, but that he had
some money which had been sent to me
and / was a fool not to take it. | re-
fused. He tucked the bills into my pock-
ct and / was weak enough to let it st ~
there. At another time he repeated the
same scheme. 1t worried me a great deal
and | repeatedly made up my mind to 20
to the sheriff and confess, but did not car
ry out the resolution.
Leach gave bail in $1,000 for his appear
ance in the municipal court. tomorrow