Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-01-05
The Governors Word
fcon<;ousd from Paoe One)

spiracy cases shows that they vio-
lated our State laws. Warrants
should be asked for without delay
SO that defendants cannot escape
from our Jurisdiction. I expect visor-
Gus prosecution of all these cases
I'm sending this telegram, felt
that action should be taken against
these law breakers, but circumstances
| have since arisen to throw diff
ferent light upon the question.
After a conference with the Unit
ed States District Attorney. Mr..
Frederick r. Dyer, who prosecuted
Grant and Levin, I am of the opinion
that the witnesses in the Federal
court should be granted immunity
and not be prosecuted in the State
courts for offences admitted by them
at that time. 1t Is readily seen that
a witness for the United States gov
eminent would hesitate to tell all he
knew, IL he felt that the State au-
thorities We're waiting to seize him as
soon as he left the court room. The
Federal authorities cannot convict in
those conspiracy cases, unless their
witnesses are willing and ready to
tell everything they know. and these
witnesses must be made to feel that
they will beg iven immunity both in
I'm handling liquor conspiracy cases
the witnesses on whom the prosecution
must depend are not always men of
high standing. but they are the only
tools the prosecuting officials have to
work with and the best possible use
must be made of them. There must
he no conflict of Jurisdiction between
State and federal officials, and District
Attorney Dyer has requested that the
L. fpn AZ q
prosecution. Mr.. Dyer and his asso-
GATES have done such splendid WORT;
that the people OF Maine. are under
deem obligation to them. and no one
realizes more than myself what their
work means for law and order in
Maine.
IT believe the State is under moral
obligation to honor the immunity
IRON sod the government witnesses by
the federal authorities. and especially
so since the federal authorities In the
Sheriff Wescott Hancock county case
promised immunity to the witnesses
for the State of Marie. This is nv
tual courtesy and is necessary II
criminals ere to be brought to justice
"In view Of the fact that the dis
trict attorneys office NAV find IT ad-
visable to undertake similar conspir-
acy ceses in that county and in other
counties in the State, ] DO not want
to Interfere in any way with the sue
cessful outcome of these cases. ara
accordingly have instructed County
Attorney Shaw of Aroostool; to diSrc-
gard my tcle gram of January first
herein referred to. Four arrests were
made as result of nv telegram. but
TO further action will be taken on
! thceo cases insofar IS | am concerned.
THE county attorney of Aroostook
row has an opportunity to demon
strate his ability as a prosecuting ofil-
GER. He can run down those law
breakers all over the county who We're
not witnesses and whose names have
been disclosed. and he will have the
fun cooperation Of the new sheriff
The people of Aroostook county really
want enforcement and will support
their officials who stand for it.
Il want the county attorney ol
Aroostook to carry on an aggressive
prosecution against the old-time Of
tenders. and there is ample oppor-
tunity for him to make splendid
record