Daily Kennebec journal., 1910-09-09
Mr.. Beane and the Spotter System.

oH september lltn, l9OS, IN WaterVllle
during the last campaign, Hon. Fred
f. Beane denounced the spotter sys-
that he would never make such a de-
tective agency of his office. saying that
such evidence as had been furnished
MIN by Sheriff Plasted and his officers
had been good enough for him The
report of this declaration can be found
in the Waterville Sentinel of Saturday
Sept 12. 1908, Page ), fifth column. at
the top Of the page.
In Augusta. on August 3Oth, 1910.
during this campaign. Mr.. Beane SAID:
Il have no love for the spotter. and no
respect for the man who will employ
spotter. and never will
Mr.. Beane's memory seems surprise
irglv defective for while he was county
attorney, Rev. H. n. Pringle, of Wa
terville, called Mr.. Beane by telephone
and stated to him that detective
c"spotter," Mr. Beane called i,j in his
employ had secured evidence against
Thomas Mclaughlin, a liquor seller OF
Hallowell. and that the witness could
be furnished to the county attorney if
he desired it. Mr.. Beane insisted at
once that he wanted the ''spotter" to
use his own word). Three days later.
Mr. Pringle, finding that he wanted to
use the "spotter' on other work. wrote
the following letter to Mr.. Beane:
Waterville, Me, Sept 9. 1907.
Hon. Fred f. Beane.
Hallowell. Me.
Dear Sir:-I regret that | will not be
able to name the Witness at this time to
whom l referred by telephone last Fri
day night.
He is doing some work. which continues
longer than ! anticipated, and it would
give it all away to have him appear in
Fl. N. Pringle
Mr.. Beane, three days later, Sep
tember IL. 1907. wrote back to Mr..
Pringle, insisting on having. this spot
ter as witness to use against the
liquor seller McLauhglin of Hallowell
even insisting that the case would de-
pend greatly upon the spoilers" evil
furnished. Mr. Beane's letter was as
follows:
Hallowell. Me, Sept. Il, 'o1
Rev. Fl. N. Pringle,
Waterville Me
Dear Sir:-I do not have a strong case
against Mr.. Mclaughlin and have no di-
rect evidence, therefore in the interest
of enforcement. I must ask you to give
me the name of the witness which you
agreed to send me last week. The con-
viction of the respondent will depend
greatly upon your action. The case will
not be heard by the Jury until some time
mail.
Yours respectfully.
Fred Emery Beane.
This "spotter" (as Mr.. Beane calls
them) was present at the September
term of court 1907. and was paid as
witness for the State, being allowed
by Mr. Beane two days attendance
This is proved by the following letter
which was sent by Mr.. Beane while
county attorney to Mr.. Pringle about
the time of the September term of
1907 had adjourned:
Hallowell. Maine, Sept. 2s, lsb7 /.
Rev. H. n. Pringle.
WaterVille, Me
Dear Sir:-George f. Hermon, witness
in the Mclaughlin case, will be allowed
two days attendance and mileage from
Cherryfield. ~~
Yours respectfully,
Fred Emery Beane.
The witness, George F. Hermon. it
will be seen by the above. was pro-
cured wholly by the direct efforts of
Mr.. Beane. while he was county at
torney. so that his statement. Il never
employed a spotter.' which he made
in Augusta on August 30th, is not
correct. Nor is his statement made