Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-01

tempting to secrete themselves be.
hind shade trees, but effectually
marking up the soft lawns of the
private properties opposite the jail
Il certainly would have been
exceedingly lax II I. had permitted
the locksmith who came to the door
at 1880 o'clock last night to enter
ana tamper with the locks of the
Jail which is under my charge" said
Sherln Cummings yesterday. when
1 asked him on what authority he
was acting, he said that he was sent
there by the governors private Sec
rotary. Earlier in the evening on a
previous similar effort to gain ad.
mlttance to the building he said that
Chief Arthur H. Field of the State
Highway Police sent him."
Demands Written Order
without any form of written order
and coming here in the car and com
pany of one State Highway Police
officer, how was to know but what
ne was the king-pin of a cleverly
planned general Jail delivery?
Il am sworn to protect the peo-
pie of this county. and their proper
ty," said Sheriff Cummings hast eve
ming. And and my duly CONSTITUTE
~ NCPhtiSo Shall 81 uHtli we are
dispossessed by some authoritative
court order.
Three of the deputies under Sher-
lift Cummings, who were also appoint
ed under Sheriff Eastman and who
qualified under the new appoint
ments, on Friday afternoon were no.
tilted by Sheriff Cummings that they
were dismissed as deputy sheriffs
under Mr.. Cummings and demand
was made upon them to surrender
their commissions at once. These
officers were Oscar Fl. Haglund of
Waterville, William V. Nash of Vas
salboro and Arthur G. Robinson Of
Gardiner.
Legal Circles worried
Meanwhile throughout the day there
was considerable discussion in legal
circles and otherwise as to what of
ficers of the county were legally con-
stituted for the service of legal pro-
CeSSes.
Robert A. Cony, Judge of. the Au-
eusta municipal court. declared that
be would not dare to commit papers to
either the Cummings or the Eastman
appointees. This situation was con-
siderably relieved so far as Augusta
is concerned late in the afternoon when
Carl +. Fellows of Mt. Vernon, dep
uty under Sheriff Cummings who also
was on the list of deputies named by
Sheriff Eastman, was qualified under
the new appointment. retaining his
former commission as we'll
The qualification of Deputy Fellows
was brought about after conference
between the county attorney and sew
eral local lawyers with Sheriff Cum
mings. whereby 1t was agreed that to
expedite the processes of law Mr.. Fell
lows should be qualified under both
appointments. Thus it appears that
with the status Of the new sheriff and
his appointees still in question. the
Mt. Vernon man is the only deputy
of unquestioned credentials in kenne-
bee county this morning.
Deputies with Cummings
Though none of Sheriff Eastman's
deputies had been admitted to the Jail
Friday, and the Brewster appointee
remained in solemn and solitary maj
esty, Sheriff Cummings was surround
ed by his loyal henchmen. On duty at
the Jail throughout the day and last
night at one time or another were Dep
uty Sheriffs Paul Demers of Gardiner.
Edwin +. Megill of Belgrade. Clyde
Chase of Farmingdale, Harry Pinkham
of Windsor, William Ii. Austin of Au-
Gusta, Warren II. Moses of Waterville
and Henry o. Parmenter Of Augusta.
Last evening there was an at
mosphere of unceasing vigilance at
the county prison. Sheriff Cum
mings and his men were unquestion-
ably in command, but there was a
repressed tension as if the arrival
of platoon of Chief Fields officers
were expected momentarily. AS a
matter of fact Mr.. Cummings and
his deputies did not hesitate to de-
clare it as their belief that some
such an assault were anticipated.
John NJ. Eastman occupied the
anamolous position of being the
gubernatorial appointee to the office
in which he was being entertained
as a guest. receiving every courtesy
and hospitality from Sheriff Cum
mingS and his conSOrt