Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-26
AMdavits County
Attorneys Deny
Secret Complaints

Portland, April 25.-[P)-Two affi-
davits, bearing on the question of a
complaint secretly filed against Hen
ry F. Cummings, former sheriff of
Kennebec County, as mentioned in
a statement of Governor Ralph O.
Brewster published in a local paper
on Friday afternoon have been Sc
cured by Ralph w. Farris, associate
counsel for the deposed sheriff in his
recent hearing before the Governor
and his Council.
These sworn statements are signed
by Frank E. Southland, present coun-
ty attorney of Kennebec County and
Walter NJ. Sanborn, former incum-
bent of that office.
The opening paragraph of the affi-
davit Of the former county attorney
reads:
Il. Walter NJ. Sanborn, attorney
at-law of Augusta, Maine, after be-
ing duly sworn, depose and say that
during the years 1928 and 1924,
was County Attorney of Kennebec
County, and that during that time
never filed complaint secretly with
the Federal prohibition administra-
ton, or with any one else, against
the sheriff Of kenncbec County. on
his attitude towards the enforcement
of law"
Governors Statement
The paragraph in the Governors
statement which referred to "a COM
plant secretly filed" read:
THE efficiency, the integrity and
intelligence of the Federal Prohibi-
ton administration in Maine was
overwhelmingly shown and the orr
gin of their suspicious regarding the
attitude Of this respondent toward
the enforcement of law was shown
to have been in complaint secretly
filed with them by the county at
torney of kennebec County in carry
ing out his conception of his duty
under the law"
The affidavit OF County Attorney
Southland set out that he had never
filed any complaint, secret or other
wise, respecting the sheriff of Ken
nebec County.
In an interview in the office of At
torney Joseph e. F. Connolly last
night, Mr.. Farris expressed his sur
prise at the -atement issued by
Governor Brewster, saying 'as there
was no evidence introduced that any
county attorney during the admins
tration of Sheriff Cummings had ever
filed a complaint secretly or other
wise"
He declared that in order to get
at the matter in the right way he
talked with former County Attorney
Sanborn and County Attorney South
ard, and both denied filing any COM
plants against the former sheriff.
Contrary to the Governors state
ment," declared Farris, 1T was the
sheriff of Kennebec County who has
been ordered removed for inefficency
who cleared up f e situation in Wa
terville, as was testified to by the
Judge of the Municipal Court of Wa
terville when he took. the stand in
defense Of the sheriff and testified
that there had been only one convic-
ton for drunkenness in the city of
Waterville in 1926.
Fears Political Effect
1.-THE afldavits of former County
Attorney Sanborn and the present
county attorney absolutely refute the
statement which Gov. Brewster gave
out for publication last Friday. 1 am
sorry that the governor saw fit to is
sue statement as I am Republican,
at present a member of the Republi-
can city committee of Augusta and l
feel that these statements based on
false promises are injurious to the
party's success at the general election
in September.
This late statement of the gov
ernor was consistent with the govern
or's attitude throughout the whole pro-
ceeding and his ruling to allow the
federal prohibition administrator to
enter his appearance during the pre-
sentation of the sheriff's defense was
most unheard of proceeding and in
violation of all rules Of equity and
justice, in a judicial or quasi-judicial
proceeding.
He allowed the witnesses for the