The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-04-11
RICHARDSON FOUND
GUILTY
Sheriff c. O. Emery Ac-
quilted and Resigns
Tables Turned in the Case of Bribery
Investigation Before Legislature

Tables Turned in the Case of Bribery
Investigation Before Legislature
Late Friday night, the Legislature
which earlier in the day had acquitted
Sheriff Charles o. Emery of York
county of the charges of attempted
bribery and bribery, found one of the
charges against County Attorney Asa
A. Richardson to be sustained. This
was the charge that through an igno-
rant and corrupt act OF the county
attorney one, William L. White, es
capped punishment for violation Of
the prohibitory law. The vote in the
Senate was 16 to eight for conviction
on this charge The vote in the
House was 67 to 66 for conviction. The
action of the Legislature constitutes
a request to the Governor and Council
that County Attorney Richardson be
removed from his Office and empowers
the Governor and Council to take
such action. He will not be removed
from his office until a successor has
been appointed however The eXecu-
tive council passed a resolve advising
the governor to remove him. The
address to the governor and council
from both branches of the legislature
gave as the causes the second count
considered in the hearing.
Following his acquital Sheriff En-
cry filed his resignation with Govern
or Plaisted in little reading as fol-
lows:
Hon. Frederick W. Plaisted, Governor
of the State of Maine:
Sir: | herewith tender you my res
| ignation as sheriff of the county of
York, and ask that the same be ac-
cepted, and my successor appointed
at your earliest convenience.
In view of the fact that charges
involving my official integrity have
been made, and that case based
upon these charges is pending in the
supreme judicial court of York coun-
ty, | deem it my duty towards my
friends, my family and my party, to
retire from public service until my
innocence is established in court, as
fully as ! have been able to do be-
fore the legislature.
Yours very truly
CHARLES o. EMERY.
Sanford, Me, April :, 1912
The Governor stated that he wished
to consider the matter thoroughly
before taking any action and no de
eision from him was announced dur
ing the day.
The only business taken up Satur-
day was the passage of two resolves
and an act for finances.
One resolve was for the payment of
the witnesses and counsel for all eX-
penses in the Emery Richardson hear
ings. amounting TO $4,000. The other
resolve was for the pay roll for the
House and printing and binding.
A recess was then declared.
THE SENATE VOTE
In the A. Richardson case the senate
vote was as follows, an the question:
Guilty and Not Guilty.
Guilty: Allen. Boynton, Clifford
Dodge, Donigan, Harrington, Fulton
Hill, Kellogg. Leach, Mullen, Noyes
Osborn, Reynolds Sanborn, Winslow
Not Guilty Blanchard, Clark, Cow
ell, Irving, Smith. Milliken, Stearns,
Therriault.
Both branches adjourned without
date at 1117 a. m, the same day. In
the Senate President Clifford express
ed his thanks for the courtesy shown
him during the time he has presided,
and said that he should not be back
again in any capacity.
On motion of Senator Staples a un-
animous vote OF thanks was given
President Clifford and the officers of
the Senate.