Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-03

duJouInmenC at this time.
Mr.. Connolley said that he planned
to call Corbett, Wefer IL he is pres
ent, and also planned to ask one or
two questions Of United States Mar
shall Woodman, IL he is put on In
rebuttal.
Adjournment was taken to 8 A. NJ.
on Saturday.
Other Evening Witnesses
The principal witnesses at the
evening session were Mrs. Cummings,
wife of the sheriff; Frank ]. Ham of
Augusta, collector Of internal revenue
for Maine and a former sheriff Of
Kennebec county and warden at the
States prison; and Henry G. Emery
Of Manchester. who had been a dep
uty Sheriff for four years and work.
ed for the attorney generals depart
ment; and Chief Arthur HI. Field of
the State highway police.
Mr.. Ham said that there had been
some correspondence between him
self and the sheriff relative to the
disposal of liquors seized by Sheriff
Cummings, but that this correspond
ence could not be produced without
permission from Washington. When
Mr.. Ham was sheriff TRUSTEES did run
away despite the uttermost vigilance
and he was bothered by gambling in
the Jail. Liquor was brought in there
once and once the rum room was en-.
tered. He considered Mr.. Cummings
reputation very good, would say that
Mr.. Cummings Is a teetotaler. En-
forcement conditions, so far as he
could observe, were very good in Ken
nebec county. Willis Pinkhaih had
been deputy under him. was a good
man and Mr.. Ham said he would
have recommended him for like job.
Mr.. Emery A Witness
Mr.. Emery told of talk with Mr..
May. the Federal prohibition director
for Maine, in which he found that Mr..
May was convinced that the sheriff
was grating. Mr.. Emery said that
working for Mr.. Shaw in the attor-
ney generals office he did come upon
some evidence of graft under former
administration. This he took to Mr..
May who said that it was before his
appointment and SO was not of value
to him. Witness said he Is firmly
convinced now that the Sheriff Cum
mings was not taking graft. Mr.. En-
cry said he had never succeeded in
getting an appointment with Mr.. May,
although he had filled out two appli-
cations; that Mr.. May had said that
he hesitated to appoint him because
of his association with Sheriff Cum
mings.
Mr.. Emery testified that Corbett,
one of Mr.. Mays men, had on one
occasion asked him do you know
they are considering you with others
to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff
Cummings at the removal?" Emery
had replied that he did not. Amongst
others, he said that Mr.. Robinson of
Gardiner was mentioned.
"Corbett also asked me-" contin-
ued Mr.. Emery, did I think that If
or some other good friends went
to Cummings would he resign. I
said I didn't think SO, that Cum
mings was good fighter.
I'VE went into Fields office and
Corbett said to Field: Emery says
that Mr.. Cummings is too bull-head-
ed to resign'."
Witness said he had applied to
Sheriff Cummings for position as
deputy. but had never been appoint
ed. Sheriff Cummings had Coop
Grated with him and had told him
to use his deputies in any way while
he, Mr.. Emery, was working with
the attorney generals department.
Henry Cummings trouble Is that
he is too free hearted" asserted Mr..
Emery. II have been with him on
raids and brought liquor in with him
and l have never seen anything
wrong in that JAIL"
Mr.. Carter for the complainants
took Emery under cross examination
and brought out that while Emery
was sleeping in the sheriff's apart
ments at the Jail, he could not see
what was going on in the cell tiers.
Carter questioned regarding the
interview at the, Office of Chief
Fields. "Mr. Fields asked me-" said
the witness, IF 1 knew that Henry
Cummings was backing a house of
i'll fame and I said No, don't know
any such thing" And then, he ask
ed me if I knew Maude Clements.
I said No. because I thought that
Maude Clements lived over in Halo
we'll. I'm kind of out of date, you
know. 1 said I do know something
about Henry and Maud Clements
and L told him how man came to
the Jail one night and didn't want
to stay in hotel and Henry sent
him over to Maud's house like he
sent several people who wanted a
room for the night. 1t was just like
this summer when he sent men over
to my camp who didn't want to stay
in a hotel"
Have the police ever watched
your place." asked Carter.
mot that know Of" replied the
Witness,
Letters written by Emery to Gov
ernor Brewster and to Mr.. May were
introduced. The one to the governor
suggested that in the investigation
of Sheriff Cummings the authorities
ought to also go into the admins
tration Of former Sheriff HARDWOOD
and that Emery being "now Ii
censed detective" could give infor-
nation. The letter to May asked
that If there was,a vacancy in the
office of sheriff of Kennebec county
due to the possible removal of Sher-
iff Cummings that May recommend
Emery and do what he could to get
Emery the appointment. Mr.. Emery
said that May told him that, he
would like to see Emery sheriff of
the county.
Carter, after some questioning,
succeeded in getting from the wit
ness an admission that this sugges-
ton Of May was made two years
ago.
Emery then broke out IN q short
speech. II want to say" he said.
that I am satisfied in my talks with
Mr.. May that he Is fully convinced
that Henry Cummings is a crook.
I consider Mr.. May and Mr.. Cum
mings. both honest men who are
thoroughly convinced that the other
Is dishonest"
you don't think" asked Carter.
Gin view of that statement that
Chnriff Gum m inQS is cnnnerafinR