Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-04-05

"wednesday, in the York county bribery
investigation, which is being conduct-
ed by the special session of the 10TH
Legislature. During a recess of the
joint convention, in the forenoon, a
resolve was passed by both Houses in
favor OF the adoption of an address to
the Governor for the removal of Asa
a. Richardson, State attorney for the
county Of York, and leading witness
for the prosecution in the Emery case,
upon charges of soliciting money on
agreement to refrain from prosecut-
ing liquor sellers. substituting an UNI
signed paper for an Indictment in the
case of q violator of the liquor law
giving false testimony before the joint
convention using improper methods in
order to secure evidence in the Emery
case. and conducting the affair of the
office in an ignorant and incompetent
manner. This turn of the bribery
hearing was not wholly unexpected. as
it had been rumered at the time of the
sudden adjournment. Wednesday
night, that such a proceeding might be
adopted.
4 remarka BILE revelation of the wide
open condition of Old Orchard during
the past summer was revealed IN the
cross examination of witnesses for the
defence in the Emery hearing by At
tarney General Pattangall, in which
it appeared that the Cony Island plan,
rather than the Bangor plan, was foi-
loved. that beer was served upon tht
tables of the leading hotels and res.
taurants Of Old Orchard, that in one
place. which was not even visited pA
special liquor deputies, but which was
raided by officers from Biddeford, bot
Ties OF beer were used as wall De-
tween two rooms in the place. II alse
appeared from the cross examination
of the county attorney that some ar
rangement existed whereby Old orch-
ard was immune and frequent raids
were made in Biddeford and Saco.
It also developed that the judge or
the Riddeford municipal court was ac-
customed always to give an aitefna-
tive but never a straight Jail sentence
in the case of yiolators Of the liquor
law and that in four terms OF court IN
York county in which County Attorney
Asa A. Richardson was proseculihs
officer but five violators of the pro-
hibitory law received jail sentence.
So closely interviewer are the Emery
and Richardson cases that the only
witnesses that were allowed to be eX-
cused when the joint convention ao-
iourned. Thursday afternoon, Were
those from! Sanford and vicinity, VINO
testified to the good character OF Sher-
if Emery and who were not cross-eN-
amined by the attorney general All
of inc others were ordered to remain
as most of them will be called, either
nv tho state or the defence, in the
Richardson case.
Sheriff Emery was on the stand
nearly two hours, the taking OF les-
tinony in his case. consuming a great
deal more time than it otherwise
would have done on account OF the
fact that the witness spoke IN such
a low voice that it was Impossible 10
hear him only a few feet away from
where he stood and it was necessary
for the stenegrapher to read all ms
answers. after he had given them me
RESPONDENT stood the cross -eXamiha :
ton of Attorney General Pattangali
fairly well. about the only point that
he left unexplained being the sudden
beginning of conferences between nm
and the county attorney in regard to
the enforcement of the prohibitorS
law in Kennebunk, while they had
had no such conferences until about
the time of the events upon which the
resolve for an address was based.
The sheriff admitted both of the
conferences with County ATTORNEY
Richardson but denied that he had
made any agreement with County At
torney Richardson in the first confer
enee for paying him money to refrain
from the prosecution of liquor sellers,
or that he had rendered any money
to County Attorney Richardson at the
conference at the latter's office. /
was contended by the defence tina :
States witnesses only heard part OF
the conversation at the first confer
enee and that they distorted it from
its connection and that in the case
of the alleged bribery of the sheriff
the money was brought into the room
by County Attorney Richardson and
that it was never at any time in the
possession of the sheriff.
A feeling exists among the mem
bers of the House and Senate thar
almost anything may happen before
this bribery investigation is conclud
ed and that possibly resolves may be
introduced into either House or SEN
ate asking for an address to the Gov
ernor in the cases of officials in other
counties, Said one senator to {.
Journal reporter, after the adjourn
ment of the convention, Thursday
afternoon, the shocking revelations
of official corruption that we have
heard in this York county case are