Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-26
Continued from Page Five)

well, didn't think. of it at the
time" said Mr.. Brann, and then he
agreed that he believed the sheriff
would have acted on his complaint if
it had been made. His brother, he
said, was a trusty and slept in the
boiler room, where he worked. He
was asked If the man had access to
the outer world through the boiler
room door, and he said that the door
was open.
Pressed by Mr.. Connolly, Mr..
Brann admitted that in the six or
seven months of visits to see his
brother at the Jail. he saw the man
under the influence of liquor but
once.
He does not know where his broth
er now is, he said. Two months ago
he was at Brann's house. He did
ing.
Why didn't you ask" queired the
attorney. 81
Because 1 did not want to-"
you were not interested"
"No."
Yet you went to Jail to see him."
Il wanted to-
You were on good terms with
him."
Eyes"
Has he any friends?"
mo, Sir"
Everett r. Merrill of Augusta
Everett r. Merrill of Augusta was
called as the next witness. He testi-
fled that he was committed to Ken
nebec Jail Jan. %, 1925, to serve four
months for driving an automobile
while intoxicated.
did YOU ever see any prisoners
drunk asked Attorney Fisher.
Yes" replied the witness.
Often?
Eyes, quite often.
At this point Gov. Brewster re-
quested that the audience be quiet.
Did you ever buy any liquor in
the jail?" asked Attorney Fisher.
Yes" replied the witness.
who did you buy the liquor OFF,"
Il don't know. l didn't see the
mans face. reached up for it
through the slide.
Paid Four Dollars a Pint for Liquor
How much did you pay for the Ii
quor? .tt.
-Four dollars a pint.
Ever see any gambling in the Jail?
"Yes.
what did they play?
DRAW poker. straight poker, stud
poker and deuces wild. Continuing,
the witness testified that he has seen
the sheriff bring a valise inside the
Jail and bring another one out.
Did any other prisoners but you
buy alcohol" asked Attorney Fisher.
"Oh. yes. we Clipped in,' replied
the witness.
as it true that the man who push
ed the liquor through the slide must
have been in Jail.
at is true.
How much did you spend for al
cohol while you were in Jail?
81 can't tell.
Make a rough guess.
"Seventy-fiv dollars would be
pretty close to the amount.
"Were You a trusty?
mo. not that know of.
"How often did you buy alcohol?
Sometimes three or four times a
day and then 1t might be week be-
fore | would buy any alcohol.
Women in Cells with Men
did you ever see any women so
into the Jail.
Eyes.
Ibid they go into cells with men?
"Oh, yes.
On cross examination by Attorney
Connolly, witness testified that he
had been arrested for intoxication.
Were you In the Jail when you
held the office Of member OF the COM
mon council of Augusta?
"No. don't think SO.
did you recognize the voice OF
hands when you got this alcohol:
81 wasn't looking at the hands.
was looking for the alcohol.
'"Nho was working in the kitchen
at this time?
"Nelson Thibodeau, a man named
Cormier and another man whose
name l do not remember.
"Did YOU tell Sheriff Cummings or
anv of his deputies that you had
been buying liquor?
Certainly not.
"Where was the sheriff when you
bought this liquor?
81 don't know. I never asked. IN
1t was in the forenoon ABOUT Gov
that he used to see the sheriH go
in and out the rum room. lie never
saw Sheriff Cummings give any
LIQUOR to a prisoner. He had never
seen the sheriff take a grip OF liquor
from the rum room and give to any
Had seen Phil Guiggre Of Water
willie drunk in the prison a NUMBER
of times. He wanted to fight. Man
was on the floor and sheriff IN the
office; saw him there when the door
was opened.
He never knew Of a woman being
in the Jail after the lights were out
at night. -
In buying liquor through the slide
into the kitchen he usually oougnt
half a pint at a time. The amount
which he bought In a day depended
on how he got to feeling. Thought
the most he ever bought in a day
was a quart. Drank 1t all himsell.
Was diluted one-half with water.
When questioned regarding the in
cident of the blanket hung over the
cell door witness said that a man
and woman went into the cell AMI
hung the blanket. A prisoner called
Bosso, now at Thomaston, was given
10 cents to haul it down. He did.
The man and woman were on the
bunk.
Carroll L. Tracy Next Witness
Carroll l.. Tracy served six months
for selling liquor. Saw prisoners IN
toxicated in the Jail. Could buy
liouor from the kitchen. Cummings
was never in the Jail when gambling
was going on. Saw sheriff go to
rum room on many occasions with
a satchel which was empty ana
come out with il full.
Christmas day 1924 most of the