Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-03
Federal Plot Trap High Sheriff Cum

bars Of the rum room to obtain
liquor. ,o,,ar
saw liolior or mash where prisoners
could get 1t. His attention was
called to testimony that ne was
present with a prisoner wnen there
was bottle of liquor on me noor'
When liquors are produced Tor
evidence in court, he said they are
taken from the rum room in large or
small hand bags. He himseI hao
seen the sheriff taking them OUT III
this way. on only one occasion mao
he personally been permitted TO go 10
the rum room. Sheriff Cummings was
out of town and left the Keys WIN
Mrs. Cummings. ..,.,,
that you framed him up. tnae ns
was not guilty? How Is he regarded
bv the people of his own commune
ity?" asked Judge Connolly.
"As a crook" replied the witness
Deputy Cole said he had made one
or two arrests for intoxication at
Island Park. Asked what pay ne re-
ceived. the deputy said ITO the pest
of my knowledge, haven't received
any pay yet"
Deputy Cole also testified that the
slide between the Jail and the
kitchen was kept locked, except at
J meal time. The key was always III
I the possession of the turnkey.
! When the Sheriff had been IN
town witness saw him practically
| every day. He had never known the
| sheriff to take a drink. He was
! known as a teetotaller. Cole SAID
that he had never been at the
| Clement house and never knew any
officer who had.
| Asked regarding the story py
| Tracey, on the stand last week. that
he saw the witness with a pottie VI
| LIQUOR on the Jail floor, Cole SAID IL
was untrue. He also said that. while
he was not strict teetotaller, he
was not a drinking man. Did not
think he had touched liquor, even as
a medicine, since becoming deputy
sheriff.
! The Tracys were found guilty,
after trial by jury. No liquor was
planted on their property to secure
| conviction.
| There was no cross examination.
| Deputy Sheriff Harry Pinkham
| was recalled by Mr.. Carter and ask
| ed if he knew what Bushey's first
| name was and said he did not; that
he had never known what 1t was.
He did not know which Bushey It
! was that Chief Skehan saw down
street in Augusta.
A recess was taken at this point
until 2 o'clock.
Afternoon Session
At the opening of the afternoon
session. Seth May of Auburn, Fed
eral prohibition director for Maine
addressed the Governor and Council
relative to his being called TO TESTIFY
in the case. and then gave his testi-
mony.
Paul Demers of Gardiner. deputy
sheriff, said he had been instructed
by Sheriff Cummings to enforce
all laws, particularly the prohibitory
law. There had been nothing to
cause him to be suspicious of his su-
perior. Records of the Gardiner mu-
nicipal court which he transc he
! We're here introduced as a defense
exhibit. He was not croSS-eXamined.
Edward f. Magill of Hallowell,
deputy sheriff testified briefly along
the same line as Demers. HalloWell
| court records which he copied were
introduced
Winthrop Judge on Stand
Judge Herbert Z. Foster of the
Winthrop municipal court said he
had known Sheriff Cummings Is or
20 years and that he had the repu-
/ tation of being a teetotaler. Cum
mings and his deputies had always
Shown a Willingness to serve and he
had no complaint to make against
them.
Judge Atkins of Gardiner
Will c. Atkins, judge of the Gar
diner municipal court said he mad
! seen nothing to indicate neglect of
duty on the part of Sheriff Cum
] mings. Il am here as an impartial
witness, involuntarily," he said. THE
same is true of all the witnesses"
said Judge Connolly.
WatervilIe Court Judge
Judge Charles w. Atchley of the
Waterville municipal court was ask
ed if he had had occasion to get
statistics on arrests in his city. He
replied he had looked up the arrests
for intoXication. He found there were
61S in 1912. as compared with onl
one in the first three months of 1926.
What kind of police force have
ytu?"
Il had rather not say"
How many officers have your"
Eight l am not saying anything
against the police Judge Atchley
described Waterville's cosmopolitan
population.
Conditions in Waterville have been
satisfactory as Sheriff Cummings
seemed to have centered his efforts
there.
| Jail Physician Testifies
DR.. Charles w. Dyer of Augusta
testified that he was the Jail physi-
clan and that he often visited the
jail. sometimes twice a day.
HANo no 6
the matter been brought to your at
! tention that the inmates of the Jail
nave been drinking liquor?" asked
Attorney Connolly.
NO, renlied the witness.
Did you ever smell liquor on the
inmates or any one at the iail?"
NO, never.
did you over see or hear of any
gambling at the Jail?
"Ve~ once. l saw game of penny
ante
Did you tell the sheriff about the
game?
NO. did not. 1 remember that
some one was keeping his eye on
the door downstairs.
Did you ever smell any LIQUOR on
the sheriff?
] did not.
did the sheriff cooperate with you
in your work?
HE did.
What was the condition of Will
liam Shaw, one of the prisoners
He was sick, but part of the time
he was taking.
What was the treatment of - }
at the Jail?
Il was called every time he said he
was Ill. Shaw had applied for a.
Z n rfl hut of4n L.