Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-06

i.' "hoSc lTAeHuS are IN the unQer-
world and who cannot say no.
Attorney Carter said that: I'm the
Jail parlor Calix Blouin makes ar
rangements for the delivery of liu-
uor to Maine. Ne we hear of Elou-
IN telephoning from the Jail to
Thomas Quirion asking If liquor can
be stored at his place. The alcohol
Is seized. Blouin says that. the liq-
DOR belongs to him, not to Quirion.
Il say that it was possible under
Sheriff Cummings to have liquor de-
livered in this county when the man
who afterwards claimed the liquor
was an inmate Of the Jail at the time
OF its seizure.
1.-THE affair of this Jail should
nave been SO conducted that an af-
fair OF this kind could not have taken
place right under the nose of the
sheriff.
At the Clement House
THE evidence shows that the
sheriff was on familiar terms with
Maud Clements house City Mar
shall Skehan had the Clement house
under suspicion and the neighbors
knew the character of the house, yet
Sheriff Cummings called there. He
was on friendly terms with the
proprletress of this place, this an
improper house.
Good Fellowship" Towards Grim
inaIs
THE evidence has shown that
there has been a laxity and good
fellowship towards criminals. A Jail
where prisoners can get liquor is not
run properly. A prisoner becomes
intoxicated and is arrested by the
Augusta police. The turnkey did not
Know but that he was in the Jail,
although he was away all one night.
That is the condition at this Jail.
Ihis surely shows an inefficiency on
the part of the sheriff.
Attorney Carter discussed about
prisoners being allowed to leave the
Jail.
Il know Bill Bither. He is a very
companionable fellow and I am fond
of him. But Bill Bither was convict
ed of selling liquor and he should not
have been given any different treat
nent than any other prisoner.
The LaBar Testimony
Eugene LaBar says that the
sheriff gave him liquor and brought
liquor to his house for Mrs. LaBar
and Mrs. LaBar's mother Mrs.
Ramsey. Mrs. LaBar says that the
sheriff never brought any liquor
to her house, but considering the
relations of Sheriff Cummings with
the LaBar family, l should say that
Eugene LaBar was telling the truth.
If Sheriff Cummings is continued
in office, it will be an invitation to
the other sheriffs in the State to let
up in the enforcement of the law.
And it will be heydey for Blouin
and his friends.
IA good fellow never says mo. :"
4L,a4 a;,.1.
never said mo" to the bootleggers.
Does Maine stand for the enforce
ment of law" IF so, the governor
and council will vote to make the
office of sheriff of Kennebec county
vacant"
Sheriff Cummings Resumes Testi-
rony
Last week former Jail prisoner
testified that the sheriff and several
ofe his deputies held an inmate
named Bull Montana while a prison.
er named Lansky struck him in the
face. Yesterday morning, when the
sheriff resumed the stand under
direct examination of Attorney
Joseph f. +. Connolly, he was asked
about this incident. He did not see
Lansky strike anyone, or see Mon
tana struck, he said.
The wife of Deputy Sheriff Chase
previously testified that man
named Henry Jones, who she accus-
ed of having the reputation of a
former rum seller. recommended her
} husbands appointment to the force
of Sheriff Cummings. The sheriff
said Chase was appointed by petit
ton of 100 or more persons, but that
Jones never spoke to him about the
matter.
Jones, however, recommended
Arthur G.. Robinson. Gardiner deputy
sheriff who testified for the state,
during the first three days of hear
ing, according to Sheriff Cummings.
Robinson had been one of your
opponents?" asked Mr.. Connolly.
He had" said the sheriff.
The sheriff said he never had
knowledge of any difficulties between
Mr.. and Mrs. Chase. 1t was re-
ported to him some time ago that
Deputy Chase imbibed liquor, and
the sheriff relieved the man from
duty for a month or two, he declared.
Then they" started a petition for
reinsta tement, and the sheriff &C
ceded to it, on the condition that the
man should cease drinking, and with
the proviso that he would be i'm
mediately removed in case of further
trouble.
The sheriff was asked il it is true
that Everett Merrill who testified
that he lost s3S gambling in Jail, was
serving a two months sentence and
also had been ordered to pay fine
of 500 and costs. He said that
MerrilTs sentence was correctly
stated, and that the fellow had told
him he would have to serve more
time because he could not pay his
fine.
THAT'S ALL" said Mr.. Connolly,
and the sheriff left the stand after
Senator Charles B. Carter waived
further cross examination
Prohibition Agent Weaver
Henry P. Weaver, prohibition
agent, testified that he first heard of
James Lett of Salem, May Is. 1928.
He said this alleged bootlegger and
rumrunner did not cooperate with
the prohibition department in 1923.
but admitted that Lett gave aid in
matters designated by Mr.. Connolly
as the Tibbetts and Turgeon cases.
Lett and his alleged companion in
rum enterprise, Catherine McDer-
mott, were caught by Mr.. Weaver
with liquor, at Saco, May Is, 1924, he
said.
Letters to Miss McDermott
The agent was SHOWN Photographic
copies of letters sent to Miss Nc
Dermott by Calix Blouin of Augusta.
asking for liquor shipments. He did
not recall whether the man or wom-
an turned the letter over to dry Of
ficals. He thought one or the other
did so about a day after receipt.
Dist. Atty. Frederick r. Dyer at
tended to the cases against Lett and
Miss McDermott, he said.
Liquor Shipment to 6louin
At the time the letter came to
Lett. Blouin was in Jail, according
to MIR. Weavers understanding. He
said he phoned his chief, Seth May,