Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-12
C0ND. RUSSELL ADMITS GUILT,
Both Commissioners and County
Officials Agree That His Legal
Rights Shall Be Protected.

Monmouth, Ne. Dec. l1.-(SpeciaD.-
Board Of Railroad Commissioners to in
quirc into and fix the responsibility for
the heaI-on collision on the Maine
Central at Annabcssacook Dec. :, was
| Continued. after the examination of a
| few witnesses, until after the January
session of the grand jury of Kenncbec
county This section was taken after
| Conductor Walter III. Russell Of the
| fatal extra had gone upon the stand
| and i'm his answers to preliminary
| questions, show very clearly that he
had no clear conception of his rights
as to Observation-Disclosures by his testi-
mony. He had talked it over with his
| brother. he said. and with no one else.
| He had no counsel to represent him.
| Fred Emery Beanc Of HalloWell
| county attorncy-e!ect for kennebec
| county. was present and after asking
| Mr. Russell whether or not he clearly
understood the possible outcome Of the
investigation. and if he realized that he
| might pc indicted for nlanSlaughter
and imprisoned or fined, and receiving
| only partially affirmative answers, ad-
| dressed the board as follows:
| II don't want to intcrmcddlc here.
| but the fortune Of politics has placed
me where it may be that | Will be COM
PEELED to deal with this matter in 4
different capacity. Now | don't thinl;
that this young man fully appreciates
the position in which he is. that he may
be indicted for manslaughtrr. 4 crime
punishable by imprisonment or = fin"
as the CnUrt may direct. Now | don
want this examination to begin unless
| this boy knows. realizes and fully uii-
dcrStandS his rights under the C"1Sti-
tuition. and lon't want t" he obliged
10 use any statement that he may
make hcrc. think that this is only my
fair position as county att"rncy-elcCt.
Suppose. this young MAN had been
killed. | believe. that Their" sti1l ought
Ito be testimony enough to Le f"unG to
Fix the responsibility"
| Chairman J. T.. Peaks of DoVer asked
Mr.. Russell: Did you know that You
might he held accountable in a criEi-
nal action"'
| ~ don't know much about Law. but
I knew that thcr could M SOM tii"G
Xix" that" Mas III" reply
"kn"uiue, that. 70 you still wish t"
make u voluntary stat"Iu' Mt concern
ing the. wreck" asked County Attorney
Thomas Leigh.
I;rfnrc the witness could rplv III"
commissioners Nj. Leigh and MI.
Hcanc Withdrew to IN nnt"room ana
held i consultation. When they TO-
| t,,'I fh.l: I1p
might step aside.
! At fine clnS, of IT," iur"s CATION Com
miss. oncr CEadbourn" Of lidd"irrd ~
dressed Nj. Russell. wi" looked hin
sGlarcIv il tho owe. but aside from =
slight flush showed II" signs 81 r"iN"uS
ness. Mr.. Chrdl,ournc sail:
| ".Ir Russell | am instructed I" s'N
n Won in I.nliaIf Of rav t,l1ow commits
siorors that We hav.. nothing wv. com
incubation t. say t" Y"r. hit ~" den
think ii fair to examine Nou, OF tEat N"'u
statements nero should go on record To
| he used against you. 1t is evident that
Won do not know your rights IN the prem
iscs VIC have decided that this hearing
| shall he continued until such time rs tn"
| court shall act but we do not think /:
fair to take your testimony now and it
! would be written testimony that could
be used against YOU. This is done aftcr
a consultation with the county officers.
who are very rlagnanimous in the mat
ter. and We shall leave this matter open
until the grand jury has its session. sim
plv holding it over to act further or nCt
at our discretion"
The investigation was held in Cumston
hall ard convened shortly before II
O'Clock this morning. ]. =. Peaks Of Do
vcr. Benj. +. Chadbourne of Bddcford
and Parker Spofford of BuCksport. con-
shutting the State Board Of Railroad
Commissioners. were present. Fred F.