Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-06-10


The Kennebee Journals Criticism
portland Press Herald)
The Kennebec Journal. recognized
as one Of Names most conservative
newspapers, recently sharply criti-
cized the officials of the county in
which the Journal is published be-
cause they had assumed to take the
reporter of Boston newspaper into
their confidence; followed his sug-
gestions as to the conduct. of the in
vestigation of the Winthrop murder
case and Disseminated in the favor
of this reporter when it came 10 Civ
ing out the facts as to the progress
of the inquiry.
The Journals attitude with rela-
ton to this matter appears to be
justified. The officials of Kennebec
County and others connected with
this case. did discriminate against
other newspapers; did go out of
their way to prevent the representa-
tives of other newspapers from Sc
curing information: did enter into an
arrangement with the representative
of the Boston newspaper to, allow
him to secure a statement from
Kirby, the man who was believed to
be responsible for the terrible crimes
and did. so the Journal claims, make
false statements to other reporters
as to Kirby's confession and other
wise showed themselves to be par
tial and unfair.
This was largely due, in our opin-
ion, to the inexperience of the Off
GERS and to their sense of impotency
in, the face of demand for the ar
rest and punishment of the murder
er. AT the outset neither the County
officers nor the Chief of the State
Highway Police. who were ordered
by the Governor to aid in clearing
up this case, knew what to do Or
how to do it. The Boston reporter
came along and with the effrontery,
self sutficiency and sheer nerve
which is usually to be found in those
who come from the metropolis" in
deal with those they look upon as
"hick" officials. assumed to direct
the conduct of the investigations.
The reporter was only interested
in exacting as many sensational
stories out of this crime as he could.
1t was natural that the reporter IN
question, finding himself dealing
with officials susceptible to- flattery.
craving publicity; inexperienced
in the conduct of criminal investi-
cations, and knowing himself to be
possessed of more experiences in. this
line of criminal investigation than
the people he was dealing with,
should assume to direct all that was
done.
Hence the employment of aero
planes to "scour the countryside
hence the organization of posses Of
citizens to run down the clues which
were offered; hence the securing of
police dogs" to scent the trails:
hence the encouraging of every un-
usual effort that would make good
copy and add to the popular ex-
element. All of this was done while
the murderer was near at hand ana
mingling with the pursuers for a
part of the time, and while his VIC
tim lay dead and undiscovered with
In "a short distance of the scene of
the original assault.
1t is true that the Boston news
paper man. eventually aided in To-
eating the wife of the murderer:
that he was able to secure from her
information that was of value to the
oncers of the law and that in the end
ne did succeed through the woman's
assistance in securing a confession
from the criminal for which the wo-
man was paid.
During the entire procedure the
officers who directed this inyestira-
ton were the reporters willing fol-
lowers; accepting their compensa-
ton in the form of lavish praise and
commentator, which they knew and
everyone else knew, they did not de-
serve. The only satisfaction the
people have is that for all the mis-
takes that were made the guilty
person did not succeed in making
his escape and in the end by a con-
Iesslon, made it certain that fino5
punishment would be his no matter
now much the case against hin,
might be bungled or mismanaged.
All or which emphasizes the great
need the State has of re-orga nizing
the State Police as soon as the law
passed by the last Legislature he.
comes effective, which is sometime
early in July.
man OF middle age, possessed Naf
ponce experience as well as eyecu-
tive ABILITY. with one or two capabIe
assistants, who have also had exner-
fence in police work, should he So.
iected to head this department Win
such an organization to advise loci
authorities there would be no need of
Gaming upon newspaper reporters for
suggestions as to how criminal in.
designations, should be conducted.
nor would the main effort be to score
IN newspaper. publicity but rather In
the attainment of the main purpose
OF such Investigations, which is the