Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-11-21
Owner Has Word to Say
Denies Charges Gives Reasons
Skowhegan, Me, Nov. II, 1923. ,
kennebec Journal Co.,
Augusta Maine.

SkoWheSan, Me, NOV. II, 1873. >
kennebec Journal Co.,
Augusta, Name
Gentlemen: We notice in your is
sues of the 18th and 18th inst, of the
Kennebec Journal that you have ad-
vertised our business in good shape,
or at least given us unjust notoriety.
We think your articles exceedingly
unjust to a man who has done bust
ness for over y years honestly and
faithfully with the public and we want
TO know how you would feel under the
same circumstances having such ar
ticles published about your business
without first an investigation as to
the. truth of such statements.
Now to explain all the trouble in a
nut shell. The Standard Oil Co., last
Friday and Saturday. installed new
gasoline pump for public service, the
job being finished Saturday after
noon The same afternoon, we tried
unsuccessfully, to get hold of Joe
Murray, the local Sealer of Weights
and have him test and seal the pump
so we might have the use of it over
the two holidays, Sunday and Mon
day. In general, he is man of
much Importance and independence
and attends to his dutt when he gets
good and ready which has been
plainly shown by his manner in the
past, however. VIC were in hopes to
fit to come. Bright and early Sun
day morning, Mr.. Murray came to
my house, asked me to go over to
the garage, open the pump, which
was locked and had not been used
for public service since its installa-
ton, and draw him ten gallons OF
gasoline. Before unlocked the
pump, / asked him if he would test
and seal the same so we could nave
the use of 1t for over the holldays'
which he refused to do. The cans
which he used for his gasoline ana
by which he gained his evidence for
shortage of measure were found to
be leaking freely when filled. He took
the gasoline away with him without
paving for it or making any COM
ments whatever. ana returned rev
minutes after and condemned the
pump. He also condemned another
pump which he had tested ana sealea
q short timo ago. These were left
thus for four days.
Hesides the damage he had al
ready done to our business. he addeo
more by having published such ar
ticles as appeared IN you: paper On
the above mentioned dates. We no"
tice that your article stated that Mr..
Sibald, Prop. of Coburn Garage had
been arrested on two dinerent
charges, one for operating pump that
was not officially tested and sealed
and the other for giving short meas
IRE. Thess charges are not true In SO
far as did not use the pump for pub
lie service until last Thursday after
Being properly tested and sealed ana
that I did not know I had been ar
rested and taken into court to ans,
wer to the above charges until read
of it in your paper.
We have asked Mr.. Murray II ne
gave authority to have these articles
published in regard to short measure
and court proceedings and his ans
wer before witnesses was that he
knew nothing about 1t. On the other
hand, we talked with Mrs. Judkins.
your local reporter and she stated
tht Mr. Murray gave her the. facts
as stated in these articles and that
she was willing to testify to same
under oath If necessary.
Very truly yours.
COBtRN GARAGE,
William III. Sibald. Prop.