Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-06-29
Editors Letter Box
Wilkinson Replies to Gov. Hurley

vSltNiVSOU hcpIeS 70 SoV.
Editor of kennebec Journal:
| In your paper of June 25th was
printed communication signed py
me where: ] complained that there
had been a failure on the part of the
U. S. District Attorney to prosecute
a man who had severely assaulted
me, and while my complaint was Ill
rected toward that office | note that
in your issue of June eth there is
reply to the same signed by Cover
nor VIM. P. Hurley of the National
Home. The only references made in
that communication concerning the
officers of the National Home were
that the surgeons of the Home had
been lax in not seeing to it that the
weapon was removed from my as
sailant when they had knowledge of
his possession of it, which | note IS
not denied, and the fact that one
department Of the Government was
attempting to shield another which
is evidenced by reply from the Gov
ernor of the Home to an article which
primarily concerns the failure of the
District Attorney to proceed in what
conceive to be the proper way in q
matter Of so muchs consequence. It
was my intention in submitting that
communications to- do no more than
simply make known to the public the
methods followed in this matter for
what good effect it might later have,
lbut inasmuch as it has been written
that half truths were contained there
in, / deem 1t my duty to reply to such
an answer. In preparing that COM
lmunication / was particularly careful
in setting out the facts as l knew
them to be, and which are stated up
on facts borne out absolutely and en-
tirely in letters which possess re-
ceived from the authorities who had
this matter in charge, and I may say
THAT this correspondence may be ex-
amined by any fair minded man. or
will gladly submit it to any tribunal
if my honesty concerning the same is
still in issue, in order that it may he
seen that l have not overstated my
cause. Gov. Hurley states in his let
! ter at the beginning that my article
is half truth, but he neglects to
state in what respect have attempt
ed to deceive. He closes his article
by a statement that my communica-
ton was prompted by disgruntled
attorney who had received no fur
Their fees. Every complaint that I
have made in this matter has been
my complaint prompted and urged by
nobody. and whatever assistance |
! have found it necessary to require mas
been paid for. His fees were not
contingent upon anything that l was
to recover since my attempt was one
SOLE to have a criminal properly
pr, ted and not to recover money
However, that the real issues may
not be confused. I would again say
that my complaint is that this mat
ter was not taken up fearlessly and
properly last winter. proceedings in
sttuted by the U. S. District Attor-
ney and the criminal brought to ms
tice as the law provides. and with
out the assistance of either the De-
partment of Justice, the Governor of
the Home or the Board Of Managers.
who do not need to be appealed to in
such cases. Also, and this fact I
learned from the above mentioned re-
ply. that the sanity and condition of
this man was not determined by i'm
partial physicians but by surgeons
who had already neglected to proceed
as they should have with reference %
the case Contrary to the statement
contained in the reply. the reas N
contained in letters from the L. s.
Attorney for not proceeding were not
that Weilers physical condition
would not permit it, but that it would
be too expensive for the Government.
RICHARD WILKINSON.
National Home Maine