Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-12-17

| conduct at Belfast Park on July ~,
| 1926. was unbecoming an officer and
| the request for reinstatement was de-
| MED.
| Your complainant says that the
F.! evidence upon which said findings
were made showed him to be 1nno-
cent Of the conclusion reached by the
Chief Of the State Highway Police
and that under the evidence which is
herewith presented and made part
of this complaint together with the
letter recording said findings your
complainant should have been rein
stated.
And your complainant further says
| that said Arthur III. Field has not
| properly executed the duties of his
said office in that he has improperly
and without just cause. discharged
your complainant without the direc-
| ton and approval of the Governor
and Council. that such dismissal for
/ conduct unbecoming an officer on
/ such insufficient evidence is detri i
mental to the morals an deficiency
Of the State Highway Police force.
which renders It necessary that said
decision be reviewed by your hon
orable body to ascertain whether it
would be approved or disapproved
and / respectfully pray for hearing
on the same.
Chief Fields Letter
| The letter sent by Chief Field to
! Attorney Thompson, Dec. s, in which
| the chief reviewed the case and de-
MED the request for reinstatement of
Sewell TO the State Highwa-- Police
force. read as follows:
Dear Sir:
4 referring to your letter of Deem
| Der l, 1926, relative to the Sewell
hearing at Belfast.
Il have read the transcript of
| records of the hearing held at Bel
fast, November 2. 1926. and find from
SewalFs testimony. that the after
4 noon of July 20, 1916, at the Belfast
City Park. Belfast. Maine. he drove
a motorcycle equipped with a sidecar,
! machine which was a total wreck,
distance of as to 100 feet at speed
/, of Is miles per hour, driving off
| roadway in between trees and turn
! ing around tree. That later the
| Park officer approached him. COM
! planning of his (Sewall's) parking his
car improperly. That Sewall saw one
| parking sign. That he did not move
| his car when requested to do so. That
later he and another officer looked
! for and located the park officer, then
/ an argument followed.
! There is also testimony that Sc
| wall drove his car very fast dis
| lance of 141 feet; that when brakes
were applied the tire dragged along
| the grass for Is feet. burning and
tearing the grass; that he passed
/ within seven to ten feet of women
I: and children; that he was asked to
| move his car to a proper parking
| place and did not move it.
In judging this case, | am basing
| decision principally on Mr.. Sewalfs
| own testimony, finding that he drove
his car in a public park at speed
| of, or more than Is miles per hour,
! covering ground of from rs to 100
| feet, passing near women and chill
| dren. driving into and parking in the
! shrubbery. contrary to signs placed
nearby, and then following an argu-
ment with the park officer. did not
move his car.
| Il find that Mr.. Sewalrs conduct
| at the Belfast City Park, July %,
1926, was unbecoming an officer,
/ therefore. the request for reinstate-
ment is denied.
| Respectfully Yours.
| (SignedD ARTHUR H. FIELD,
| Chief State Highway Police