Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-05


expected by the police. when the detec-
tives finally attempt to arrest the al
legged murdercrs. Meanwhile. private de-
Boston and vicinity on the strength of
the report that both Lefty and Horo-
WITT were recently seen in that city.
District Attorney Whitman, who has
been spending the weekend at Mancf1es-
ter, Vt. will return to this city, tomor-
row morning, and resume his work in
the case. Lie1t. Charles Becker deposed
head of the "strong arm squad,'' was,
today. preparing himself in his cell in the
Tombs for his ordeal, tomorrow, when
he will be arraigned III the court of gem
eral sessions to plead to the indictment
charging murder.
Commissioner Waldo declared in his
statement, tonight, that at no time in
its history has the police department
been SO wen prepared to stand an in
vestigation as at present.
"The best interests OF the public and
of the police department itself demand
that a thorough and impartial nvesti-
cation be made without delay in order
that the guilty. If any. be brought to
justice, and that the confidence of the
people be restored in the police he
said. my only desire is that every
allegation which has been made shall
be thoroughly Investigated and that
every one who is guilty of any wrong
doing shall be dismissed from the po-
lice department, to the members OF
which they may have brought dis
grace and that they may be sent to
prison as a warning to other mis-
creants.
Gambling can exist only because the
gamblers can obtain what amounts to
protection from the courts Gamblers do
much of the corrupt election work of
the political parties. who place the iu-
dietary on the bench. Members of the
police department could not obtain graft
from gamblers If they did not have the
excuse that. while it was matter of
common knowledge that gambling was
being carried on in "A given house. they
could not obtain evidence. which the
courts would accept as even sufficient
proof of which to issue warrants.
"Under conditions which have existed
for many years in New York, the en-
forcement of the gambling law has be-
come most difficult and led TO much ras-
cality.
'Gambling cannot be suppressed with
out the cooperation of the courts
"No attempt is made by any members
of the depastment to deny the existence
of gambling houses. The excuse of an
honest or dishonest inspector for house
that is running is that he is unable to
secure the necessary evidence on which
he can obtain warrants for entry to sup
press the nuisance.
1T is impossible to say that, under
the system of checks now employed,
there can be no grating in the police
department, but it can safely be said
there has been no protection sold, which
anyone has been in an official position
to deliver.
1.-THE systematic circulation of false
rumors against the police administration
cannot be attributed entirely to male
violence. 1t is necessary to seek some
other cause. For months prior TO the
publication of the Rosenthal affidavit. 1t
was common rumor among gamblers that
a fund was being raised and that young
newspaper men were being employed as
press agents for the purpose of discred-
iting the police administration, which
had caused the gamblers to close their
doors.
1.-The police department is made the
object of attack by every self-seeking
politician. who is willing to sacrifice the
public good to his own desire for pub
licity ana political preferment."