Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-22

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This announcement was made last
evening by Judge Connolly in his
chambers at the county court house to
a group of newspaper men whom he
called in. To them a carefully prepar-
ed statement OF the proposed plan was
read, and Sheriff Graham and County
Attorney Beedy were present and gave
their complete endorsement to the
statement as drawn up by the judge.
The plan may be said to be one of CO.
operation with the view of giving the
prohibitory law a fair enforcement.
the court, sheriff and county attorney
being in full sympathy in the mat
ter.
Sheriff Greatly Pleased
Sheriff Graham had a smile on his
face that simply wouldn't come off,
when approached last evening by
Telegram reporter. 1T is the greatest
thing that has ever happened in the
enforcement of the prohibitory law"
was his only comment apart from a
joint statement which he and County
Attorney Beedy made in expressing
their approval Of the proposed plan.
That it is a step which will make most
effective the work of the department in
making the county what the people of
the county have expressed a desire
that il be is evident from the nature
Of the step Sheriff Graham has fire.
Quently expressed himself as having
no luminosity against the liquor sell
er. but is relentless in his opposition
to the violation of the law. A Jail
sentence is believed to be the only
thing that will keep some men
from attempting to violate the law.
With the operation Of the new plan it
is believed that there will have been
put into operation just the machinery
for making the law effective.
Judge connoIIy's Statement
Judge Connolly said to the newspaper
men
Il have called you gentlemen in to
ask your assistance in getting a mes
sage TO a class of our citizens who can
be- reached better by means Of the press
than by any other available vehicle.
Il plan to send a message to those
WHO are now NiOldtltlS anu " tlloSe ciiSo
who contemplate a violation of the pro-
hibftory law.
The personal records of my prede-
ccssors in this position. beginning in
1879. and now in my possession, dis
close that the policy heretofore has
been, in imposing sentence in liquor
cases. to increase the amount of the
fine one or more hundred dollars with
each conviction until the maximum
statutory amount has been reached, and
then to impose jail sentences. Occa-
SionallE. for some extraordinary reason,
this program has been vari~.l and a Jail
sentence has been imposed in the first
instance or at some ether stage. This
system or policy. as 1t may be called
was in line with the temper of the
times. but now seems to be out of joint.
The citizens of this State have elect
cd a Governor who is an avowed pro-
hibitonist. The citizens of this county
have elected a sheriff and county attor-
ncy, both of whom are pledged to a
strict. rigid and impartial enforcement
of the law.
In view of this situation, then, | am
going to inaugurate new policy and
tHItuSu you iott " sSid Il iiiCoSr'soC "
yiolators of the prOhibitory law to this
effect: that ViolatorS Of this law hence
forth will be punished by being i'm
prlsoned.
Il am going to enter whole-heartedly
with the sheriff and county attorney in
an endeavor to give this county an hon
est. impartial ana rigid enforcement OF
this statute so far as the duties of my
post permit, so that We may know what
the law will do when applied in its let
ter and spirit as the same is now inter-
preted and reflected in and by the minds
of the mass of our people.
My message then is that all who vio-
late the law after this date. upon convic-
ton. will be punished by Imprisonment
and fine or by imprisonment alone as the
circumstances warrant. If in any case
eXtenuating circumstances are developed
and Imprisonment is deemed inadvisabe,
such case will be put upon the special
docket, there to remain so long as the
respondent behaves. and in the event of
further violation of any law to be
brought forward and imposed.
AT this point l want to make this
thought clear, that the special docket
will not be refuge for first offenders,
nor will 1 consider sex as an extenuat-
ing circumstance. l say this because I
found when / assumed this position that
many women engaged in the liquor bust
ness for time feeling that they would
not have to pay a penalty for their first
offence but could rely upon their alleged
poverty or number of children as an eff
| fective defence. This custom I abolished
| and l will not now revive it.
Il have said that Jail sentences would
be awarded to future violators. 1 want
to touch now upon cases pending at this
! term. These l believe should be handled
in accordance with the established Gus
| tom. 1t is true, of course, that these
men and women are violators of the law,
| and that they knew Imprisonment might
| be meted out to them, but it is also true
that the court itself has adhered to n
! custom of finings which has now attained
considerable force; that men have been
encouraged for various reasons. poiiti-
| cally mostly to engage in the business
| that if the actions of those in the busl-
ness were not expressly approved by the
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