Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-04-24
counsel for the defense d

tTAtS.
So far as the state is concerned
we nave become absolutely and entire
iy convinced that there is no gullt at
tached to Mr.. Bangs in this matter.
ana any proper disposal OF the ease
that VIII relieve him from any oppro-
Drum in the case will be entirely sat
lslactory to us. You heard the eVl-
dence given this morning on the part
oi Mr.. NadsWOrth. and it is proper to
state that was followed by an inter
view with Mr.. WadSWorth and the
county attorney and myself, in which
he finally confessed, freely and fully
that he was the man who marked the
ballots in question in this case, and
had also been guilty of defacing ballots
in former elections. He also stated
that neither Mr.. Dill. nor Mr.. Bangs
nor any election officer in Ward were
aware of what he had done in former
elections or at this election, ana that
no guilt is attached to either OF them i'll
any way shape or manner; what he
did was done without their knowledge.
So far as Mr.. Bangs is concerned
the evidence presented to us shows him
to have been as innocent of this crime
as your honor is yourself, and We want
that acknowledgement made publicly
and in such a way that there can be
not even Il suspicion attached to Mr.
Bangs in the future on account of this
matter.
While the case will result in de-
claring MIR. Bangs innocence. as it
should, it has brought about, if Your
hGnar l4l,.u 80 ta hu We iii, ii
the action Of County Attorney Beane
in bringing the indictment. Because of
that Indictment. and in great meas
urc ON account of the way in which
counsel Tor the defense have assisted
the State in arriving at the truth the
discovery of that truth has been made,
and that is not only the result that
ought to be reached i'll SO far as es-
tabliShing the guilt of the man in this
particular case is concerned, but the
result that ought To be reached in par
ticular kind of Il case, for the good OF
this community and for the good of the
State.
Il presume it was somewhat of a
shock to your honor. as indeed it must
have been to every good citizen OF
kennebee county, to learn that for
several years. even in IL small way,
election frauds We're being perpetratod
with some regularity in the Capital
City Of the state.
1t appears that in this ward the
election of an alderman in 19a8 was
changed by this sam" man. 1t has
been said had his plan not miscarri"d
this year change might have been
made that might have involved
change in the whole administration oi
affairs in this city. That that could
go on unknown and undiscovered and
the perpetrator brought t" the point
where he has confessed his guilt will
no doubt tend to prevent anything ot
the Kind recurring in the future, and
that result. the result Of this investi-
cation has done good enough to offset
the time and expense consumed in
this trial the work, trouble and annoy
ancc We have been put To.
"rhn case has been a hardship IT,
Mr.. Fangs, an unfortunate hardship,
but even So far rs he is concerned
believe ii is ieCtter lhHt the at4se
has Eccn trird. because until ii Was
tried. until ar investigation Vas COM
plcted. there must have always resi-
ed dron the election officers in tHat
ward a cloud OF suspicion. Friends of
one officer would think another was
guilty and Vica vcrS,t. Men about the
streets of Augusta, and about tlte
Statr, Ter the cast has heen widely
reported, would have been in doubt
as to who was guilty. 1t should b.
compensation enough to Mr. Bangs
for he trouble he has heen out t".
that lis innocence has been discov-
cred and the guilt fastened upon the
right party.
If your honor please, So far as IL"
State IS concerned We are ready to
have any disposition of the case that
his counsel suggest that shan com
plctal.- ana fully ,Aonerate Mr.. Bangs
from this charge
Mr.. Heath. May it please the
court: l think the position of the
attorney general is Il Very l.ighs mind
cd che. as it has been throughout the
whole If this trial. and have that
to say also in regard To his associate.
the county attorney.
Il shall, of course, ass your honor
to direct Il verdict of not guilty.
came into this case Wit the full he
lief tFat this would h" the result;
with no idea on my part that Was
to come here tn secure any technical
aCguittal uf Mr Bangs. | believed
that il would result as 1t has resulted.
in his co.nplete Vindicatiun | was
here because of MS character and be
cause lie wanted tu be unspotted am
unstaincd. The ease itself as your
honor can see has been tried upon
the part of the defense rather pc
culilIiy. 1t is barely possible although
doubt Ii, that the court and jury
might have been fully satisfied or
the innocence of Mr.. Bangs Without
making the trial So thorough and
complete. If | could have satisfied
myself upon that lCint | would have
been content to have done my duty
simply to MIR Bangs. without doinE
anything that niisht result in the pm
iShmCl.t Of Il man not indicted. |
could rot quit" irduce myself that
my duty t. Mr.. EangS would permit
ne to 90 that. Tie day before this
case commenced information came ri