Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-04

.
ed In preparing the States exhibits.
1t was 2.1S when the Senate came in
| to form the joint convention before
which the trial was to take place Two
minutes later President Nathan Cliff
ford of the Senate called the conven-
| ton to order. The resolve calling for
the consideration of the adoption of
an address to the Governor and Coun-
ell. asking for the removal of Sheriff
Charles O. Emery of York county upon
charges of bribery preferred by Coun-
ty Attorney Asa A. Richardson of York
county, was read by Secretary Han
son. The return of the writ by Mes
senger Charles H. Lovejoy of the SEN
ate was also read by Sec. Hanson.
These formalities having been dis
posed of, Attorney General Pattangall
announced that he had been appointed
by the Governor to take charge of the
case. The counsel named for the re-
spondent We're L. c. Stearns of Ban
gor. Leroy Haley of Biddeford and
Walter j. Fitzpatrick of Saoo The
rules of procedure We're read by Sec
rotary Hanson.
Attorney Haley asked to have enter
ed upon the Journal a general denial
of all the allegations set forth in the
resolve
Attorney General Opens.
Attorney General PattangaH in open.
ing related briefly the story of the case
in which Sheriff Emery is involved
from the States standpoint He stat
ed that it was charged that on Feb.
p Sheriff Emery entered into a cor
rupt agreement with one Asa A. Rich
ardsen, county attorney of York coun-
~ to protect certain persons engaged
in the ILLEGAL sale of liquor and thai
on March g. in pursuance of this
agreement Sheriff Emery paid to the
county attorney the sum of $500 as
bribe
The details leading up to the county
attorneys interview with the sheriff
at the residence of Mr.. Richardson at
Kennebunk, Feb. rs, were touched up
on The attorney general stated that
Edward Emery, a nephew of the sheriff
and agent of the Civic League a for
mer deputy sheriff. Mr. Littlefield, and
Elmer Roberts, We're in the cellar of
the county attorneys residence, di-
rectly under the sitting room register
sitting room between the county at
torney and Sheriff Emery
In this conversation it is reported
that the sheriff suggested some svs-
tenn of regulation as best adapted to
handling the liquor traffic in York and
that under certain conditions certain
liquor dealers might be allowed to sell
upon payment of fines. The county
attorney pretended to assent to the
matter until they reached the point
where the county attorney said: What
do You get out of it? l understand Won
get $50 a week"
The sheriff assented and the county
attorney said; Ought | not to get the
same|' The sheriff again assented.
The matter of getting a larger sum
in the summer when the places at Old
Orchard opened up.
The attorney general stated that the
testimony of the three men in the cell
lar eorroborated that of the county at
torney-that they heard the sheriff OF
York county make the agreement in
regard to the county attorney receiy-
ing an equal share with the sheriff for
allowing the liquor dealers to sell.
The following Saturday, when Sher-
iff Emery agreed to come to the coun-
ty attorneys office in Kennebunk
to pay the first instalment of the
promised $50 a week the three Wit
nesses who were present in the cellar
were in an office adjoining the county
attorneys private Office.
A mole was made in the wall between
the two Offices over the hole a may
was hung with a section partly cut
out so that section about eight inches
square could be lifted by means of a
string.
1t was not until March that the
sheriff finally came. At that time Ed
ward Emery alone WAS in the Office
adjoining the county attorneys private
Office.
The county attorney states that the
sheriff took from his pocket a roll of
bills, but the county attorney gave it
back to him very quickly, went into
his outer office, told his stenographer
to let Ed Emery knew that the sheriff
was there.
Mr.. Emery was signalled to by the
tapping of a pencil unon tho VOL
Mr.. Emery stated that he saw the
sheriff pass something to the couney