Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-29
DEFEND PRACTICE
Continued from Page One)

lures from the fund. Senator Reed
took the expense account of Law
renee NJ. Knox, which showed ex-
penditures of approximately SIS for
liquor from September II to Octo-
Der ).
On some days expenses for this
purpose exceeded living costs of the
agent. The highest days liquor bill
was $l0.o0, but it was explained that
in two instances the agent had to
pay ''cover charge" at the Para
disc and Martinique Cabarets in
Philadelphia to gather evidence. a
Senator Golf, Republican, West
Virginia. wanted to know il the
agents could keep sober when drink
ing so much almost daily, but
Wright assured him that they did,
explaining that usually they travelled
in threes and that one agent paid
the liquor bills for all.
The smallest daily total for liquor
in knox's account was 65 cents.
THAT must have been a bad day"
remarked Chairman Reed amid
laughter.
Wright told the committee the
usual price for drink of whiskey
was 80 cents and that beer ranged
from 10 cents glass up to 40 cents
bottle. He explained Knox's eX-
penditures, made in 1923, by saying
that from his activities the first
paddock injunctions in Philadelphia
were obtained.
Another of the special agents paid
out Of the w. c. T. L. fund was J.
A. Tatro, who got $3.50 a month sal
airy and 50 day expenses.
"Tatro was getting after the de-
natured alcohol aristocracy in Phil
adelphia," Wright explained
Then YOU have a bootleg aristoc-
racy?" asked Senator Reed.
Il should say So" the witness re-
turned.
Wright gave the committee the
names of all men who had been his
assistants or who had served as
special agents, except in the case of
four, whom he describe as under
cover" men whose names he did not
care to disclose except in executive
session.
This committee does not believe
in under cover government. Sem
ator Reed said, but passing for the
time being the question of eliciting
the names in public the chairman
designated one of the men as Mr.
x; another as Mr.. Y: and the
fourth as Mr.. Zero.
Wright explained that all of these
men went around buying liquor in
order to bring action against law
violators. "Mr. X travelled alone.
buying drinks and then later pass
ing the word along to other agents
who did the follow-up work and
work and caused the arrests.
Up to last June 4. Wright testifi-
ed, the state had drawn upon the
w. c. T. U. for approximately s11O,-
600 of the $4,000 fund. Explaining
the process, he said Mrs. Leah Cobb
Marion, treasurer of the w. c. T. u.
was the custodian Of the fund while
1t remained in the hands of the
temperance organization.
Charles ]. Rhodes. of Brown Bro
theirs and Company. Philadelphia
bankers, became treasurer of the
fund at the request of Governor
Pinchot and Mrs. Marion made re-
mittances to him. Wright and
Woodruff, as trustees. then drew on
Rhoades as the money was needed
for enforcement work, but the spe-
cial counsel explained that the fund
in the hands of the state officers
never exceeded $4,000.
AS the fund become exhausted
the trustees would make requisi-
tions on Rhoades for enough to
bring it up again to $4,000. account
ing for what had been spent when
the new .requisition went in.
A single session or the commit
tee was held today and the exami-
nation of Wright was not concluded.
He will be heard again tomorrow
and the investiga tors also want to
question Attorney General Wood :
ruff, who failed today to respond
when his name was called.
Wright explained the attorney
general had gone from Harrisburg
10 attend the Yale-Harvard boat
races last week and he had heen
unable to communicate with him.