Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-11
AN ABSOLUTE DENIAL
BY Rev. H. N. PringIe of Slurs Against
Judge B. r. Maher.

Inc CnTlSlldu SlNlC AedSuC VI Ahe'iii''
Waterville Me-, Feb. 10, 1909.
Kennebec Journal:
An editorial this morning, entitled
AN Indiscreet Judge" appeared in the
Waterville Sentinel and does great
injustice to Judge Maher of the Au-
gusta municipal court, who is charged
with having "importuned" and used
an element of deception" to secure the
writer's signature to warrants issued
by him. This editorial also says, he
Cd refused to attach his signature to
warrant until he had learned from
his own Investigations that there was
a good cause for taking action. His
Investigations convinced him that he
would not be justified in swearing out
warrant for the search and seizure
process"
On the contrary. Judge Maher never
asked or requested me to sign or make
complaint against any one and in
the case referred to above the facts
are exactly the opposite. l knew that
Mr.. Jenness was selling liquor and be-
fore the occasion referred to and since
have made complaints against him.
County Attorney Hildreth told me yes
terday that Mr.. Jenness was fined
$1,000 in a case which I started against
him on Dec 80. There was no motive
or need of Judge Maher doing what
was charged to him, so that the ac-
cusation is as foolish as it is false
We had 400 bottles of liquors seized
from c. E. Sturgis' premises on Dec
| 90 and three other warrants were is
\: IN cniv
The Sturgis premises were vacant and
the owner in Jail, so l asked Marshal
Fletcher to visit the house about sup
per time to connect some one with the
| liquors. He found Mr.. Sealey there
and l arranged to bring charge
against him for illegal possession OF
Intoxicating liquors. Meantime, l con-
sidered the propriety OF having other
warrants issued for the Togus parties,
who might think that no more raids
would be made that day. Judge Maher
expressed his willingness to issue such
warrants and I think that he or his
clerk begun then to make them. Later
I decided that SO much time had been
| used in getting the liquor from the
Sturgis place that it was too late in
the day to start any more cases and
| that the prospect Of seizure at Togus
was not very bright anyway. l then
signed a fifth warrant, which L sup
posed was against Mr.. Sealey. but
which was against Mr.. Jenness, whose
place we had raided in the afternoon
In the morning l learned that the
case might be lost on account of my
lmisapprehension at the time I signed
| ;eo,
| to the allegation made in the warrant,
but as to the particular warrant under
my pen at the time of affixing my
| signature. All the blame for this mix
| up belongs to me, as it was very care,
| less and unbusinesslike for a COM
plainant to sign warrant without
| looking it over carefully. l think |
| never did that before and probably
would not have done so then. except l
was anxious to avoid missing the cleo
| trio car. which was nearly due. l as
sisted the officers in some of the
searches. was in and out the municipal
court room several times and, in con-
sequence, this confusion or mistake
occurred. City Marshal Fletcher, Re-
| corder Lancaster and a clerk. l think,
We're all witnesses of what is stated
above in regard to my signing the
| warrant under misrepresentation.
| In view of the fact that have start
! ed two cases against Mr.. Jenness,
| which have made most of the trouble
| for him at the recent term of court. it
would not seem necessary for judge.
or anyone else, to urge me to make
| complaints against Mr. JenneSs. The
lcharge that the judge employed "an
element of deception" to have wa
rant issued against Mr.. Jenness is as
ridiculous as the recent report that Mr..
Jenness is doing detective work for the
| Civic League. I wish to state that
never dealt with a more upright mag
! istrate than Judge Maher. There has
never been any indication that any
person or organization is protected by
him in the slightest degree from the
processes or penalties of the criminal
law. Judge Maher is getting reputa-
ton as a law enforcement magistrate
and naturally that creates a crop OF
detractors. some of whom have appar.
emily been interviewing the Sentinel.
H. n. PRINGLE.