Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-03

William S3n0L ! OF fAUSdSkdy
Federal Dry enforcement Officer,
Who Testified Yesterday
molly, as we'll as the reply of Mr..
Sanborn. The first, under the date
of Oct. 81, 1921, asked for irforma-
ton about Bither and whether or
not the county attorney would rec
ommend the granting of a permit to
the former druggist.
The reply from Mr.. Sanborn to Mr..
May strongly advised against allow
ing Bither to handle liquor. 1t out
lined three cases against Bither in
the county courts, two nuisance and
one possession, as well as Blthers
criminal record.
No Permits Issued
"Was the license reneWed?" quer-
led Mr.. Connolly after reading THESE
letters.
NO permit was issued" respond
ed Mr.. May, somewhat angry.
"When was it issued?"
Il can't tell"
after this letter was written from
Mr.. Sanborn?"
Eyes, a long time after. I refused
the application for permit on the
strength of that letter, but later got
recommendations from people who
had formerly refused them"
How long had your department
been interested in the investigation
of Sheriff Cammings?" asked Mr..
Connolly, Unexpectedly.
THAT is impairment, I will not
answer" said Mr.. May.
Then l will put it this way. Has
your department investigated the
conduct of the office of Sheriff Cum
mings before now?'
What is the object of this ex-
animation" asked the governor.
Il hope to show that back of all
this are the officers of the Federal
government" explained MIR. Con-
molly.
Are you prepared to offer evil
dence as to the improperly of their
CAnduct?" asked the governor.
VWhat do you mean by impro-
priety?"
well, it is a serious matter if
Federal officers are prosecuting this
man. said the governor.
Il think | can produce such evil
dence," said Mr.. Connolly.
Wouldn't it be better to produce ii
later, instead of fishing in this man
ner?" asked the governor.
'ln 1924, did you tell Mr.. Sanborr
that Governor Baxter would have tc
try Sheriff Cummings" Mr.. Con-
! molly asked Mr.. May.
, This tribunal cannot try Mr.
May" said the governor
Mr.. May is here on the witness
| stand, out of order" responded Mr.
Connolly" He volunteered to testify
in criticism of Frank Libby, former.
~ clerk of the Superior Court Of
Cumberland county, and did sc
without authority"
Are you undertaking to punish
Mr.. May for that?" asked the COVER
nor.
Mr.. Connolly abandoned further
examination for the time being.
Judge Connolly Outlines Defense
Opening for the defense, Judge
Connolly said that it was his under.
standing that the rule of the courts
! would be followed; the defense
| would present its case. the prosecu,
ton offering such evidence as it hat
/ in rebuttal. He did not anticipate
that any new evidence would be of
fered by the State which would re.
quire preparation to answer. He hat
, just read over the newspaper reports
of Mr.. Fishers opening for the
prosecution. 1t had surprised him by
! the charges made and the lack o.
| supporting evidence which had beer
! offered
The opening had charged non.
| feasance in office; that the sheriff
| had been the friend and associate O.
! criminals; that he had fraternizec
| with criminals and wealthy bootleg.
| gers. At this time there had been NJ
| evidence to show graft and that wa:
! the one reason why officers did as
! sociate with and fraternize will
| criminals.
No wealthy bootlegger had yet ap,
! peared in the case. excepting, pos
! sibly one incident at the JAIL which
I would be admitted. Strange, as i
might appear, said Judge Connolly
| they would admit many of the thing!
charged. They would then show
them to be half truths-truth in 81
far as they went, but not the whole
| truth. The defense would give tn.
! explanations, which the prosecution
could have secured with half the eff.
fort expended to get what they did
and this would put a differen
! aspect on the case.
There had been evidence Of visit.
to the rum room at the Jail by the
! Sheriff. These had tended to show
]
| that room. There had been no evi.
dence to show who received the
! liquor. 1t would be shown in the
| defense. The Sheriff had to appear
before courts in Augusta, Waterville
! winthrop, Gardiner and HalloWel
against liquor dealers. He had t.
produce evidence and this evidence
was the seized liquor. There would
! be the evidence to show that it wa:
! taken to these tribunals in a grip
a grip such as had been described
in this case.
Judge Connolly contended that the
! prosecution could have ascertaineo
this with very little effort.
Taking up the phase of the
prosecutions testimony which placed
Sheriff Cummings in the home Of
Mrs. Maud Clement. s Swan street
, this city, an alleged house of il
! fame, the Judge said that it would be
admitted and rational and sensible
explanation given.
| If the Sheriff had not visited the
J Clement House, said Judge Connolly
| suppose they would have charged
| him with failure to enforce the law
| The federal officers have been or
the trail of this>man for the past two
years. he declared. They have
neglected their other work in an eff
fort to trap him. They have failed
| to get a case.
Visited Clement House in Line Of
! Duty
| The Judge then said that they
| would admit the visits to the
Clement house and they would show
| that they were all made in the line
OF duty. It would be shown that he
was there in company with his men
searching for still which was said
to be concealed in that house; that
he was there on complaint of Judge
Cony, that he was there at the re.