Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-08

ters he had published, stating that whei
| he wrote them he did not have Sheriff
| Ballou in mind at all, and assuring me
wanted to do whatever he could to helr
! him. The letters, he said. We're simple
| campaign literature When he had fin.
ished. l asked him why he came to me
to say all this, and he replied that he
wanted me to advise him as to what nc
, could do to help Mr. Ballou.
II frankly told him that. although
did not think he had intended to injure
Mr. Ballou, when he wrote and published
those letters to the press. nevertheless.
the actual effect of them had been inj,i-
rious to the sheriff. and if they had not
been published, Mr.. Ballou in my opin-
ion, would not have been summoned be-
fore the Legislature AS to the claim
that the letters We're campaign material.
| did not see how such a claim could be
fairly urged as regards those letters
which he had written after the mayor
atty election was over. In concluding
my talk with Mr.. Oliver, told him
squarely that | could not and should. not
give him any advice. but that he must
use his own Judgment.
Mr., Shaw was asked by the reporter
if nothins had been said in these va
rious conferences about Mr. divers re-
signing as deputy sheriff after being ap,
pointed. as stated in the interview III
the kennebec Journal,
Il am coming to that" replied Mr.
Shaw. The next morning, Monday.
Was informed on reaching my office that
Hon. Noble Maxwell was at Mr.. staples
Office and that they wanted me to go
over there. which l at once did. | found
Mr. Oliver sitting alone in tile main at
flee, while in the adjoining room were
Messrs. Maxwell and Staples and Sheriff
Ballou. Mr. Oliver remained in the outer
room alone. and the door between the
two rooms was closed. The first topic of
conversation on my joining the group OF
gentlemen named. was the proposed res
ignation of Mr.. John S. Balou. as a
deputy. which Mr.. Staples said he had
not been able to secure up to that time.
After some discussion. Mr.. Staples went
in search of young Mr.. Ballou and after
a time returned with him. Some further
talk then followed and finally Mr.. John
$. Ballou signed resignation. which
was handed to his father.
1.-The matter of Mr.. divers appoint
ment was then taken up. and | exp essed
the same opinion l he'd all along held.
At this point Mr.. Oliver for the first
time came into the room where We 9TH
ers We're. and urged that he be appointed,
stating that if he We're appointed he
would not qualify. He went on to say
that he was about to go to the 10 o'clock
train from Rockland TO meet the Rev.
Mr.. Berry. and that he wanted to be able
to say TO Mr.. Berry that young John
Ballou had resigned. and that he had
been appointed a deputy In his place. He
added that he would say this, in order
to persuade Mr.. Berry not to put in evil
dence anything that that gentleman, or
the Civic League might have against the
sheriff.
Il remarked TO Mr.. Oliver that while
was not personally acquainted With Mr..
Berry | knew of him as a Very able
shrewd and careful man. and l asked Mr.
Oliver what he would say If Mr. Berry
should happen to ask him If he had ac-
cepted the appointment and had quail
fed. Mr.. Oliver replied that he should
tell Mr.. Berry that he was considering
the matter. l then said: Mr.. Berry. in
all probability. will then request you to
telephone him before night your decision
about accepting and qualifying. You Will
find that you cannot pull the wool over
Mr. Berrys eyes, and what will you do
them To this Mr.. divers reply was
We'll, / suppose shall have to tell him
that l will accept and qualify: but he
continued. I will resign in a short time,
I will get letter from my physician
stating that it will be very ufiwise for
me to hold this Office and perform the
duties, and give you my word of honor
here all of you, that I will resign i'll a
few weeks, and my word ought to be
good for that. 3t8
MIR Oliver then turned to me and
asked me what objections | had to his
appointment i replied that that was a
matter unnecessary to discuss there. but
that If he would step into my office some
day, l would tell him frankly what my
reasons were for advising against his
appointment.
"At this point Mr.. Oliver left hurriedly
for the depot to meet Mr.. Berry. as J
understood. After he had left the room
] said to those remaining, Messrs. Max
we'll Staples and the two Ballous: Here
is man who tells you. in effect. that
he will play false with Mr. Berry and
the Civic League. Now, what reason
have you to expect that he will play hon.
estly with you, and resign as he promises
to dor
"Then suggestion was then made that
before qualifying, Mr.. Oliver should give
an undated letter of resignation to Mr.
Ballou leaving Mr.. Ballou free to I'LL IN
| the date whenever he saw fit to accept
/ the resignation. thought that possibly
it might be well to proceed in that way
though / stated frankly that l had nc
lconfidence in MIR. divers political prom
| Uses l then left the gentlemen In Mr.
Staples office and returned to my own
That same afternoon, Sheriff BAL
lou came to me- to say that Judge sta
pies had been una BILE to get letter OF
resignation from Mr. oliver, though
Mr.. oliver had again given his wore
/ that he would do just as he had prom
ised to do, but that he was unwilling
to give a letter to that effect. MT
/ Ballou told me that ii was his oWr
opinion as we'll as the opinion o.
i NTa.c,s MAXWELL and StaDleS that Mr.