Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-09
FORD'S LETTERS


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not at the time believe Judge Hill
would give warrant to a constable.
Another of the notes read:
Dear M-You know what it means
10 me ana you to have p ali o. X Try
and see him this evening. Get him
into your room.'
This was the more sensational be-
cause Of the statement previously made
BY Ford that by 'P." he meant Sheriff
Pearson.
Another of the notes contained this
sta temcnt but was unsigned:
May, don't get excited. PL' saw
nothing can DO you any harm / can
do him more harm than any man living
If | want to. He won't fool me. Your
name was never mentioned. Don't be
afraid
Here Judge Foster sprung another
surprise. He said: Il am Informed that
eX-Deputy Arthur B. Leach has been
| notified to be in this court, today, but
he has not appeared. He is in this city
and if he is able to come into court
shall ask for bench warrant to COM
pei him to do so. | will ask DR.. Ii. Il.
Dunn to tell u.s.
DR.. Dunn said that the ex-dcputy,
who confessed that he received 500
from Michael ]. Callahan, is now very
sick in this city.
He is completely Frustrated said
DR.. Dunn. He has no special disease,
but is on the verge of complete nervous
prostration, and l directed him at 10
this morning, not to leave his room.
He has slept but little Of late
Gould he come into court?" asked
Judge Hill.
He could not" replied DIR. Dunn.
Leach was understood to have left
the city, and the announcement that he
is here and seriously and perhaps dan
serously sick was a complete surprise.
I'VE rest here" said Judge Foster.
County Attorney Whitehouse called
John M. Bell in rebuttal. He said he
was in the pool room of Frank d. Ford
when Ford and Deputy Plummer came
in. Ford motioned to him to leave the
room and he did so.
|, John p Gallagher, deputy United
States shipping commissioner, said he
saw Plummcr and Ford outside Ford's
place on Fore street while two other
deputies were inside the shop. He no
ticed that a man was watching them
and tried to "tip off, one of them.
After they parted and Plummer went
into store witness said he followed
him and told him that someone watched
him while he was talking with Ford.
Plummer seemed to be Interested and
asked him where the man went in.
Charles L. Richards said Mr..
Whitehousc, and the crowd eagerly
watched for the owner Of the name to
| rise. Everybody had heard of him but
few knew him even by sight. An old
man with white hair and muStache and
leaning on a stout stick walked feebly
to the witness stand and was told to
sit down.
The old man said he is -. He said
that before January, 1901, he met Mr..
Plummer, who said to him: Your
name is Richards, and you are the trap
builder, 1 understand. / am to be one
of the liquor deputies and you ought to
be able to give me some tips" Witness
said he replied that he gave away no
man.
Judge Foster ross-examined him at
some length.
You are a professional trap builder,
understand" he said.
I'm a carpenter, a rough stone ma
son and a bricklayer," said Mr.. Rich
ards.
"And you build all the liquor traps
for the Portland rumsellers?' said
Judge Foster.
when I'm called on to do a job by
any man, be he a rumseller or not, I
do the best / cam said Mr.. Richards.
Witness said that in December, 1900
he was sent for by Ford. whom he had
never met before. Ford said he had
made a pull with Plummer," and he
wanted a trap made. He showed the
witness where he wanted a hole cut
through the wall OF another tenement.
The witness made his measurements,
ordered timber and the next day di-
rected the work of making the trap.
Judge Hill adjourned the hearing un-
til 10 o'clock Monday, when thef argu-
ments will be made by Judge Foster
for the respondent and County Attor-
ney Whitehouse for the State