Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-06
Held by Mayor HichboTn,
Tuesday Evening.
Preferred Charges Denied by
Officer {. |. White.
Evidence Doesn't Seem to Sustain Them
decision, Ldier.

The much continued hearing of Night
Officer Edwin L. White, before Mayor
Hichborn, upon charges which, until
Monday when they were given to the
public We're Shrouded in mystery, was
completed at the aldermen's room, last
evening, in the presence of a large
number of citizens. The number which
had attended the previous meetings
had been constantly growing larger at
each continuance, until last evening,
every inch of space reserved for spec
| tators was filed and the overflow
| crowded the corridor and the rooms
| adjoining. Mr.. White was represented
as before, by Joseph Williamson, while
| City Solicitor Fisher appeared for the
| prosecution.
| The hearing was opened by the may
been preferred against the officer, and
which were as follows:
The main charges were at the hands
| of john F. Magee. of the Nichols-Ma-
gee Construction Co. of Taunton, Mass.
the firm which had the contract for
putting in the pipe line between this
city and Carleton pond in Readfield
for the Augusta Water District. In
them Mr.. Magce accused Officer White
of being intoxicated on the night of
June 90 and the morning of June 23. of
| using violent and profane language and
of neglect of duty as police officer and
| i'm addition to these charges. others
were preferred by Bert d. Pray of this
city. he accusing Officer White of fire.
| quenting the saloon formerly kept by
Dwight l.. Tasker and of being fire.
quently furnished with liquor by the
aforesaid Tasker.
The charges of Mr.. Magee were vOlu-
minous in detail and interlarded with
profanity to a degree which would have
made even the prince of blasphemerS
the late Capt. Kidd. pirate, turn pale,
had he heard them. Page after page of
typewriter copy was filled with the
details of the affair which had prompt
ed Mr.. Magec to prefer the charges,
but at length the end was reached and
when the mayor asked Mr. White what
he had to say to them, the reply of that
gentleman was but two words: "Not
guilty
The occasion Wfrich furnished the OPP
portunity for the alleged misconduct of
Officer White was Il Stabblng ARRAY
which occurred at one of the italian
camps, on the night of June %. and on
which night, or rather the morning at
ter Officers White and HARDWOOD went
out to the camp to arrest the men who
had been accused of doing the cutting.
1t was during the interval between the
time when the officers were preparing
to start and the hour at which the men
were arrested that Mr.. Magee found
grounds for making the charges which
he preferred.
Five witnesses were called by the
prosecution. they being Judge A. G.
Andrews, w. Is. Getchell. Charles
leighton. Bert d. Pray and Night Off
Ger Edward D. HARDWOOD. The main
point which was desired to be brought
out by the evidence was substantial
ton of the charges of drunkenness on
the part OF Mr. White, that he used
profane and abusive language to Mr..
MaSee. and that his conduct was COW
ardly at the camp, at the time of the
arrest of the men, but the evidence Sc
cured in support of the charges was not
very extensive.
Mr.. Getchcll testified that he had
heard some profanc language when the
party was at the City building, but
that Mr.. Magce, as well as Mr.. White'
was indulging in its use. The other evil
dence of a like nature was brought out
by the testimony of Charles Leighton,
who arrived at the camp at about the
same time as did the officers. Mr..
Leighton said that at the time the men
were being arrested. Mr.. Magee re-
marked to Mr. White that the officer
did not need the gun. repeating the re-
mark and that Mr.. White said: &c
d-n YOU, who is arreSting these
men?" AS to Mr.. Whites conduct. Mr..
Leighton said that he was somewhat
excited and might have been a lttie
scared while at the camp.
In the testimony of Night Officer
Harwood the fact was brought out that
VI lille on the way to camp and going up
Winthrop street, he had seen Mr.. Ma
gee, who was in a team ahead, take
drink from a bottle, the statement be-
ing substantiated- in the testimony OF
Mr.. White.
No evidence was introduced by the
prosecution which would indicate that
Mr.. White was intoxicated at any time
during the night of June %, or the
morning of June %.
The last witness for the prosecution
was Bert D. Pray. His testimony was
that he had lived in the city % years
and was a painter by trade. He was a
friend of Dwight L. Tasker and ire
ouented the saloon kept by Tasker.
Was frequently in the saloon after 1t
had closed for the night. He said he
| had seen MI. White come to the Win
| dow after the saloon was closed and tap
on the glass. He then would go round
to the back door where Tasker would
let him in and then Tasker would take
liquor to him. He admitted that he. had
not seen Mr. White in the place, but
had heard his voice.
| On crOss-eXamination. Mr.. Pray ad-
nitted that he had made the charge