Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-15


them adrift as a separate town
under the name of Saint Thomas.
Lively Hearing
Over Resolve for
TOpsham Fair Ass0.
A spirited hearing was held be-
fore the committee on claims We'd
nesday afternoon on u resolve in ia =
vor OF the Sagadahoc Agricultural
and Horticultural society, appro-
priating $1053.71, the amount of the
stipend for the year 1921, alleged to
have been withheld by the State
through error.
Dana s. Williams Of Lewiston,
conducted the, case for the propon-
ents and the resolve was opposed by
Attorney General Ransford w. Shaw
and Frank p. Washburn, commits
sioner of agriculture.
A feature of the hearing was the
statement Of Isaiah r. Merrill of
Brunswick. treasurer of the society
for the last II years. that if the re-
port of the Brighton fair were to be
obtained from the department of
agriculture. it would be found that
NcI"itioHS "tiC ll't 6'Ou.
"Bridgton got its stipend" said
Nj Morrill,. Put we haven't got a
member of the Governors council on
our list"
Edwin c. Patten. secretary OF tho
society. paid his respects to F.. l..
Palmer. an agent of the department
of agriculture who visited the fair
in 1921 and Is alleged to have caus-
ed all the trouble. saying that he
wasn't man enough" to come out
and tell what was the trouble when
he intimated in Mr.. Patterns office
that something was wrong. He gave
poor Official" added Mr.. Patten.
Heretofore, officials from the de-
partment have used us like gentle
men. but Mr.. Palmer did not"
On the other hand Commissioner
Washburn declared that Mr.. Palmer
was one of the most efficient and
trusted agents of the department.
The session was really continual
ton of hearing started some time
ago. when Mr.. Palmer made his
statement to the committee rela-
tive to conditions as he found them
at the Topsham fair.
Mr.. Williams in his brief opening
statement for the proponents said
Mr.. Palm r had given a long list of
games of chance which he found at
the fair.
Mr.. Morrill, said that he did not
observe any gambling at the fair.
although there were paddle games
and others. He said Palmer told
Lester G, Mills. superintendent of
vendors, that some of the games had
got to be cut ont. and Mr.. Willis re-
ported to him. Mr. Merrill said that
he Immediately got in communica-
tion with the department of agricul-
over to Topsham. but Mr.. WASH
burn was in. Then he tried to get
Mont Soule. but Mr.. Soule had a
cunning rip planned and couldn't
come over. He found Major f. E.
Philbrook, the deputy commissioner.
who was judging vegetables and
asked him If there was anything
wrong with the fair. Major Phil
brook replied that 1t was one of
the cleanest he had ever, seen.
No one from the agricultural de-
partment complained of the games
to him, Mr.. Morrill, asserted.
IF thera had been any illegal
removed. would they not" asked
Senator Emery. chairman of the
committee.
Certainly"
Attorney General Shaw-Do YOU
deny that they were running openly
what is known as the add-a-ball
game?
Mr. Morrill-That is something I
know nothing about.
Mr.. Shaw-Did you have palmists?
Mr.. Morrill, know nothing about
that. >, -.
Mr.. Shaw-Was there game
where they sold tirkets on blankets?
Mr.. Morrill, saw that.
:, Mr.. Shaw-Isn't it true that others
might have run and you didn't see
them?
Mr.. Morrill-That might be posi-
BILE
Representative Rounds, member
OF the committee, asked:
What have we got for evidence
that there were any gambling games?
Is there any evidence?"
Mr.. Shaw-Don't YOU go to fairs,
Mr.. Rounds?
Mr.. Rounds-Yes. but those are not
the things l am looking for.
Mr.. Morrill, again declared that
there was no gambling and said that
If they had to be bothered by such
man as Palmer running about, they
would rather give up their stipend.
lie told Attorney General Shaw that
the society simply asked for the
money because the officials thought
the claim just.
Mr.. Willis. the superintendent of
vendors and midway, testified that he
saw no gambling games or games of
chance about the grounds.
He saw Palmer on the grounds and
Palmer did not point out to him any
games that were illegal, but quoted q
chapter Of the statutes to him.
x asked him what it meant. and
he refused to answer me-" said Mr..
Willis. Il couldn't find time out there
m the grounds to look 1t up" They
iidn't stop any games as a result Of
anything that Palmer said.>
Attorney General Shaw-Didn't you
see the add-a- ball game and the
roll-down out there?
Mr.. Willis-I saw the oll-down;
yes. sir.
Mr.. Shaw-And the blankets?
Mr.. Willis-Yes.