Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-12
GOV. HAINES HAS
NOTHING TO SAY ON
O'C0NNElL MATTER

Gov. Haines was Intercepted Sat
urday morning and asked if there was
any developments in the OConnell
matter, to which the Governor replied
that he had absolutely nothing to say.
He was then asked if the proposition
of moving for action against the Pc
nobscot county sheriff under the pro-
visions of Chapter 1877 of the Public
Laws Of the State of Maine. as passed
at the last session of the Legislature,
had been considered and again stat
ed that he had absolutely ~nothing to
say.
Chapter 1877 of the Public Laws of
the State of Maine reads as follows:
Chapter 1877
An Act to amend Section SO of Chap
ter 2s of the Revised Statutes, as
amended by Chapter Al of the Pub
lie Laws of 1905, relating to nom
feasance of duty of sheriffs, deputy
sheriffffs and county attorneys.
Be it enacted by the People of the
State of Maine, as follows:
Section / Section 50 of Chapter 90 of
the Revised Statutes, as amended by
Chapter Al of the Public Lews of 1905,
is hereby further amended by adding
after the word syear" in the 18th line
thereof. the following:
1t shall be the duty of the attorney
general to take charge of all investi-
cations before the grand jury in case
of refusal or neglect of any sheriff,
deputy sheriff or county attorney, to
perform any of the duties required by
this section, and in case of finding of
an indictment, to conduct all subse-
quent proceedings in court in behalf
OF the State as prosecuting attorney.
In all such prosecutions the attorney
general shall act in place of the coun-
ty attorney, and is hereby invested
with all the rights, powers and Fprivi-
leges of the county attorney for that
purpose. the powers of the county at
torney with respect to prosecutions
under this section being hereby sus-
pended so that the said section as
amended shall read as follows:
Section So. Sheriffs and their deputies
and county attorneys shall diligently
and faithfully Inquire into all violations
and institute proceedings in case of vio-
lations or supposed violations of law,
and particularly the law against illegal
sale of Intoxicating liquors. and the
keeping of drinking houses and tipping
shops. gambling houses or place, and
houses of ill-fame either by promptly
entering a complaint before a magis-
ltrate and executing the warrants issued
thereon, or by furnishing the county at
torney promptly and without delay, with
the names of alleged offenders, and of
the witnesses. Any sheriff, deputy sher-
iff or county attorney. who shall wilfully
or corruptly refuse or neglect to perform
any of the duties required by this Sec
ton. shall be. punished by fine not ex-
ceeding one thousand dollars or by I'm
prisonment not exceeding one year.
Tt shall be the duty of the attorney
general to take charge of all investiga-
tions before the grand jury in case of
refusal or neglect of any sheriff, deputy
sheriff or county attorney. to perform
any of the duties required by this Sec
ton, and in case of the finding of an
indictment to conduct all subsequent
proceedings in court in behalf of the
State as prosecuting attorney In all
such prosecutions the encouragement
shall act In place of the county attorney,
and is hereby invested with all the
rights, powers and privileges of the
county attorney with respect to prose-
cutions under this section being hereby
suspended.
For services under this section, sher-
offs. and their deputies, acting under
their direction, shall receive the same
per diem compensation. as for attendance
on the supreme judicial court, the same
fees for travel as for the service of war
rants in criminal cases, together with
such necessary incidental expenses as
are Just and proper; bills for which shall
be audited by the county commissioners,
and paid from the county treasury. But
said commissioners shall not allow any
per diem compensation to said sheriffs,
or their deputies, for any day for which
said sheriffs or their deputies are en-
titled to fees or compensation for. at
tendance at or service in any court The
provisions of this section as to compen-
sation of sheriffs and their deputies, and
the provisions of section five of chapter
one hundred and seventeen shall not APP
ply to the sheriff of Cumberland county,
and his deputies acting under the pro-
visions of this section
approved April 81