Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-02-11


You know Canton and others help
pay expenses from rentals from
these games? Largely. but I've al
lowed only decent games to run.
rye stopped some games and then
the men would come back with an
other game. one that could be run.
You phoned Weeks to have men
arraigned and have case dismissed? ?
Told him I expected him to have
their dismissal without a record.
How? Why, Mr.. Parker. you
know how as well as I. We've both
done It.
He didn't do it? No, I suppose
he considered he had sufficient evil
dence. I don't question his hon.
esty.
Consulted any attorney as to legal
ity of the games? All will say they
are technically gambling, but never
sought legal advice.
You rely on your own judgment?
Well, not wholly. But I've been in
the game there some time. fought to
know something about it.
Give Weeks any instructions for
Canton fair? No. I felt that he
knew how l felt about the fairs and
thought he'd soften up a little and
go and do all right, not be quite so
rigid. Told him we were a little
more 1enient at fairs and stood for
things we wouldn't at home, for they
would be a nuisance.
What do you mean by "softening
up?" Well, l thought he should be
little easier with games.
Then you wanted Weeks to go
there and let gambling go on? No.
only the games that were all right.
went to Andover to see what the
games were and if they wanted
those that were all right, they could
have them. Mr.. Pennell told me they
were all right, so far as the State
stipend was concerned
l think Mr.. Weeks has told the
truth as near as could be about the
affair at Canton fair. We visited the
game together and talked them over.
Told him they We're all right and he
insisted. the other way. Don't re-
member telling him he had been a
good officer. Did tell the committee
that there were things about Weeks
l didn't like and they might lead to
point where we couldn't work To-
gether.
Told him that if he arrested the
men I'd call for his commission and
did. 1t was not because "he persist
ed in enforcing the law" but because
he disobeyed my orders.
What orders? Any orders I might
give him.
Don't regret discharging him? No,
1 feel as though it had reached
point where we couldn't work to-
gether. If I had regretted it, I
wouldn't be here-for had it put UP
to me that if I'd reappoint Weeks,
this matter would be dropped.
The examination of witness closed
at 4.30
Mr.. Dyer-I don't propose to argue
and will submit the case without ar
gument. You've seen the sheriff of
Oxford county brought here and
charged with permitting lotteries and
gambling and q series of official
acts that" if true would place him
behind the bars for a term of years
You have seen witness against him
stand here and say they never knew
or saw wrong thing about him.
The fact is they had some games
at the oxford fairs and it comes
right down to the baby doll game
and I'll say, here that there's not a
"a tv, hi x,,l
q chance at it.
Here's the situation. Oxford Is a
great and glorious county and a
grand part of the State of Maine and
it you are going to permit the driv-
ing of the red-blooded spirit out OF
the county of Oxford by these "high-
brows." then I pray 1 can leave that
county.
Harry D. Cole has been good
sheriff and could be elected again. ]
only ask that he be treated right.
Ralph T. Parker
Mr.. Parker-There is no pleasure
for me in this case. But there are
4 few of us in Oxford county who
stand for right and wrong and when
citizens complain that great public
wrong has been DONE it is then our
duty to present the case to the proper
tribunal that the liberty of the peo-
pie and life Of the State be pre-
served.
Mr.. Cole is accused Of protecting
gambling at Andover, Canton and
Norway. My witness from Norway
did not appear. but we didn't need
him. Out of the mouth of the sher-
iff he has convicted himself. Look at
these exhibits. He admits they are
same as those at Norway. three or
four booths. When asked why ne,
as sheriff, did not stop the crime at
Norway, he said: "Why, Mr.. Par
ker, there were tens of thousands
playing. / couldn't arrest them ALL"
Mr.. Sheriff, why didn't you arrest
one? d.
Counsel dismsses case without ar
gument, but because it seemed to
him not proved. If every word of
evidence were struck out, Sheriff
Cole has convicted himself, of allow
ing the grossest, the worst case of
ooihOhh6 CAiolu Coults ever SAW
Mr.. Parker reviewed the actions of
Weeks at the fairs and with much
sarcasm found that instead of doing
his duty he should have whispered:
"Oh, men. this must stop" But he
did do his duty. Mr.. Cole would
have permitted the games to run and
when stopped by his "rebellious dep
uty" he appeared on the scene. The
fair men were afraid and probably
the arrested men feared something