Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-05
SEEKING CLEARER
UNDERSTANDING

ONOE no RNCiN1
There seems to be in the public
mind. as we write this. certain I'M
pressions connected. with the Win
throp tragedy that should If possible
be clarified. Any attempt on the
part Of the Journal to do this may
be open to suspicion Of prejudice.
We admit there has been occa-
sion for prejudice. but we would not
let it influence our comment; 1t
would not be to our advantage to do So.
Neither is the deprival Of the COMES
sion as great as some may assume.
Although State papers and the AS
ISOLATED Press were left outside 10
cool their heels while an out-of-State
papers enterprising reporter was
given the privilege Of interviewing
Kifby-for a monetary consideration
we hear, evidently convinced that
this would be profitable venture
it was possible in one way and an
other, and despite encouragement on
the part Of those assuming to be
public servants, to give our readers
all the essential news.
We do not believe the authorities
of the law have a right to suppress
information unless they may clearly
prove that 1t is for the public inter-
est-not for the private interest Of
any concern or individual. The
Journal reporter states that about
noon Wednesday the county attorney
was asked IL there was anything new
in the case and his reply was: mo,
nothing" although later, Wednesday
evening, when 1t was understood he
had received what purported r be a
confession he admitted that Kirby
had sent for him that morning and
had said to him: Il am guilty OF the
cha4ges which you have brought
against me-, Notwithstanding sever
al hours after that alleged confess
sion he declared to a Journal report
er there was nothing new in the
case.
When the county attorney was
asked by reporters for the details
of the confession his reply was
has got the drop on you
fellows. He bought the story and
it's his stuff"
We do not understand that the story
to the out State paper really
amounts to anything in serving the
ends Of Justice, or that the county
authorities supposed it was serving
the. ends of justice when they con-
tributed to bringing 1t about. APP
parently all the excuse they care to-
make-if excuse it be-is that they
SO were helping to donation to Mrs.
Kirby. This view of it seems to be
borne out by the attitude Of the As
ISOLATED Press at Boston, which.
coming into possession Of the story
Wednesday night, did not think the
alleged confession Of sufficient i'm
portance to send out over the wires
to It's members. Kirby's previous
demonstrations as liar rob his
statements Of credence. What he
now says and what he neglects to say
indicate that he is an accursed liar.
It seems to us, especially in view
of the twaddle about Kirby and Mrs.
Kirby that has been peddled out to
the public, that we should briefly re-
view in our minds the salient fea-
lures Of the awful tragedy. 'lest we
forget. We should not forget the
horrible cruelties inflicted upon two
innocent women, nor forget our
wives, mothers and sisters exposed
today to Just such hellishness as that
manifested by Kirby. Anything cal
culated to condone that hellishness
or to encourage it 1t is our duty to
condemn and prevent insofar as it
may be within our power to do so.
How many Of US are permitting pity
for Kirby and Mrs. Kirby to inter-
fere with our correct understanding
of the situation?
An important question arises here.
Are we to permit tragedies like this
to be exploited for the making of
money. especially by the criminal in
volved? There appear to be great
possibilities for doing this. If the
privileges for doing this were put up
at auction it might bring money in
to the county treasury; yes, blood
money. But if this is to be done it
should be under a strict accounting
OF the money received, otherwise, IL
Kennebec County should ever hap
pen to have corrupt offlcials-we do
not Tor a moment think it now has
such-there might be a considerable
rake of, judging from what we hear
about the sum paid to Kirby.
what might not the Movies" be
Wiling to pay! What a picture for
the morbid minded moron! Kirby
supplied with egg sandwiches. Gig
arettes and black coffee served by
TRUSTEES whose board is being paid
by the county; an enterprising re-
porter wearing out typewriters and
burning ribbons with speed, a county
attorney Withholding the real con-
fession in the interest of the afore-
said enterprising reporter, county
paid attendants supplying packed ice
for fevered brows of the chief actors,
pr other methods of first aid--what
marvellous film 1t would have been.
It will be said, Of course, that
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