Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-26

| "Have you seen them mix splits
| with ginger ale, lemons and sugar
in JAIL" asked the attorney.
| eyes, SIR" replied Mr.. Shaw.
| Mr.. Shaw was questioned by Judge
Connolley relative to this 30 called
| poem, line by line, as to what he
meant by certain references. He
could not recall who hung curtains;
was poor hand to remember names
and there were a number Of French
fellows in the jail at that time.
Queried as to whether he made ref
erences to immortality going on Shaw
| said he could not say.
One line Of the verses referred q
| "the boys getting covered with paint
and powder" Judge Connolley had
difficulty In getting an answer until
Councillor Linnell said to Shaw: "Mr:
Shaw, can't you answer yes or nor
Then witness said, NO.
He could recall but one man who
/ looked into the cells during that
SUNDAY night in Kennebec JAIL" 1t
was Bull Montana. Didn't know
whether he belonged in Augusta or
not.
Lawrence D. Greenwood was the
second witness called. He identified
| himself as head of the Church OF
the Open Door, Augusta. and the
| Mission of the Open Door at Wis.
cassett. He had been in missionary
work 40 years and did missionary
work at the Kennebec jail for the
first time in the fall Of 1924. and
continued until the late summer OF
1925.
seen a prisoner drunk IN jail. Asked
who he was, he said, II dislike to
give away a man I was trying 10
help. I have the answer, and II you
| insist I will give IT,"
Mr.. Fisher said he thought it
would be required. Gov. Brewster
conferred with Atty. Gen. Fellows
and then said that spiritual ad-
| wiser had special rights, but that
having taken the stand he must give
] full testimony. Mr.. Greenwood then
said the mans name was Crawford.
Asked to tell the circumstances. he
said: Zone day he came in and he
was so drunk he didn't know one
end of the banjo from the other.
| played along in the hope that he
! would sober up. But he was GER
| tainly drunk"
Mr.. Greenwood said he was In jail
while Kirby was in Jail. that he
spoke with him every week.
| Warns Of Danger q Kirby Suicide
did you ever warn q deputy sher-
| If that there was danger OF his COM
| hitting suicide?"
"If you mean the turnkey did. l
| went on Friday to see Kirby. On
Monday he said he expected to be
sent to Thomaston. He said he ex-
| pected to be in court at $50. l said
would come early to see him.
KIRBY replied I won't be here. :.
81 asked him what he meant ana
| he looked at me and said again
won't be here" He told me he had a
communication which he wanted me
| TO give to his wife in case anything
happened to him. He repeated sew
eral times that he would not be here
and then 1t dawned on me he had
confessed he intended to commit sui
eide.
II told him by no means do that
| thing; it will help you in. not out.
and he replied I won't be here
II was so impressed, particularly
after left the Jail, that l called the
Jail. talked with Barrows and told
him Kirby was going to commit sui
eide" ceased making visits to the
jail
well, I got out while the going
, was good"
What did Barrows say to you?"
HE said I guess there's nobodyH
feel very bad about it, do your
I replied it would be bad for the
jail
On cross examination Mr.. Green
wood said Kirby was not member
of his denomination, but did not be-
lieve he had imposed himself on
Kirby. Denied smuggling out letters
from Kirby or giving any, letters to
the papers. He said that the only
letter he took out was the one for
Kirby's wife.
Asked if he had been ordered to
keep out of the Jail or words to that
effect, Mr.. Greenwood said that was
practical true.
Greenwood said that he took the.
letter. put 1t In a safe where he stay
ed He said a Salvation Army Of
ficer had carried out letters and that
was thing he would not do.
Last Letter from Kirby
"Barrows asked me If 1 carried out
anything. Thinking he meant mail
l said no, but then l recalled the let
his request 1 brought 1t over and
read it to Cummings and Barrows
in the front room of the Jail. told
three people about it. Cummings
turned to Barrows and said I don't
think much of anything about that.
do you"
didn't you consider it your duty
to go to the jailer and tell him that
this man was drunk" mo, / did
not"
Mr.. Greenwood said he did not tell
the turnkey about the suicide talk
of Kirby until the next morning.
gested that somebody be put in the
cell with the prisoner.
Did you know of any watch kept
over Kirby?"
II did not"
II tried to keep my trust with
Kirby a sacred trust and tried to
find Mrs. Kirby. l wrote to Mr..
Thompson of the Boston Post for her
address. He sent me a telegram say
ing he had located her and he asked
for the letter. saying that he would
see that she got it. l thought my
responsibility ceased then. It was
printed in the Boston Post.
After that l met a man on the
ing to let you in the Jail any more. Il
went to Sheriff Cummings some time
later and asked about the talk that
1 was going to be kept out of jail He
literally tore into me. going some.
and called me not less than a half
dozen times a damned liar. and
asked why didn't you read the
whole letter. toll him I did.
Mr.. Greenwood said he didn't
know about the Salvation Army Of
ficer from his own knowledge but
that Barrows told him and he sup
posed he was telling the truth.
Since then you are not permitted