Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-03-26
o Gambling Drunkenness and Other Kennebec County Jal
and prominent bootlesgers ana has sat

and prominent bootleggers ana ha. sat
in their homes engaged in friendly
conversation. with hide containing
thousands of dollars in Intoxicating
liquor. intended for illegal sale, prac-
tically under his feet.
We will further show that while
such a convicted bootlegger prisoner
was In the Kennebec county Jail, that
prisoner contracted for delivery in
augusta from out of the State of n
large load Of Intoxicating LIQUOR. and
Iurther while such prisoner was in
the jail. he arranged for the stora ge
OF the intoxicating liquor after e was
delivered in Augusta. And finally we
will show that prisoner who con-
Quoted such operati tons while confined
to the kennebec county Jail was after
wards sent to prison by the Federal
authorities for the crime committed
while he was supposed t. be in the
custody Of Henry F. Cummings.
As another instance that Henry r.
cummings was totally neglectful of
his oath of Office and his duty as
chief executive of Kennebec county.
and as a further violation of the du-
ties imposed upon him by the statute
which Is quoted, we will show that in
the city Of Augusta there existed a
house Of i'll fame wherein immoral
acts were common occurrence and
intoxicating liquor flowed freely, We
will place Henry F. Cummings in this
house on friendly terms with the
proprietress.
The Legislature of the State of
Maine has seen fit to declare specifi-
cally who shall have charges of our
county jails. Chapter So, Section 81
of the Revised Statutes reads as
follows:
Sec. 81. Sheriff has custody Of
1a1l and prisoners, and is answerable
FOR 1ailer. R. S. c.. 81, S. So. The
the Jail In his county, and of all pris-
oners therein, and shall keep 1t him
self, or by his deputy, as jailer, mas
ter or keeper, for whom he is respon-
shall appoint all subordinate assistants
and employees for whom he is re-
sponsible, and the pay of whom, in
GLIDING the jailer. shall be fixed by
the county commissioners. and paid by
otherwise provided by law"
1t Is also important to note that
prisoners are committed to the Jail
Chapter 1877, Section of the Revised
Statutes Of the State of Maine reads
as follows:
"Sec. 3. State prison sentence; i'm
prisonment for misdemeanor. r. S. C.
1876, S. 3. Unless otherwise specially
provided, all imprisonmentS for one
year or more. shall be in the state
prison; and all for a less term, in the
county Jail or house of correction.
When 1t is provided that Imprisonment
shall be in jail. the sentence may be
for Imprisonment there or in a house
of correction; and it may be condi-
tional that the convict shall pay fine
and costs, but that if it is not paid in
ten days, then he shall be imprisoned
for not more than six months"
You will note from the reading of
that section that the prisoners are
sent to the Jail. You will note from the
preceding section that I have read
that the sheriff is the keeper of that
Jail.
1t Is, therefore, clear that the laws
of the State of Maine specifically COM
NIT prisoner to the county Jail and
place upon the sheriff the duty of
| keeping him in that Jail.
We will show that Henry F. Cum
mings. totally neglectful of his oath
Of office and the duties imposed upon
| him by law. has allowed prisoners to
be absent from their Jail. We will
show that such prisoners, while out
of Jail, have committed other crimes.
We will produce testimony to show
, that Henry +. Cummings has coddled
the prisoners, that he has allowed
| dangerous prisoners to be at large,
and further in this connection we will
show that the prisoners, even while in
jail, committed crimes which would
have been sufficient, if committed on
the outside, to have them sent to Jail
refer specifically to the crimes of
| theft, drunkenness. gambling, lascivi-
| GUS cohabitation, and sale Of intoxi-
] eating liquors.
If there is one point upon which
| more than any other. the Legislature
! of the State Of Maine has been more
| careful to make strict provisions, it is
! in regard to the subject of intoxica-
| ton, and the Legislature has seen fit
| to most carefully safeguard prisoners
| in our county jails from the use OF
! intoxica ting liquors, evidently because
| they believed that the use Of intexi-
| eating liquors was one Of the most
| usual reasons for the prisoners being
| inside of the Jail. Chapter s., Section
| ~ of the Revised Statutes reads as
| follows:
"sec. ~. Penalty for violation OF
intoxicating liquor to prisoners. r. S.
c. 50, S. IS. If any prison keeper yio-
lates the preceding section. or volun-
tarily or negligently suffers any pris-
Oner in his custody, charged with OF
convicted Of any offense. to have, any
intoxicating liquor. unless the physi-
| clan authorized to attend the sick in
such prison, in writing certif1es that
| such prisoners health requires 1t and
prescribes the quantity, he forfeits in
| five dollars, and for the second, fifty
| dollars, to be recovered for the county
| by indictment, or by any person suing
/ therefor, to his own use; and shall
incapable of holding the office of
sheriff, deputy sheriff or jailer. for five
years"
| We will show that Henry F. Cum.
mings, totally unmindful Of his duties
as sheriff of Kennebec county. and to.
tally neglectful Of the duties imposed
| did get drunk.
! The State Of Maine has made very
careful and specific provisions for the
disposal of any intoxicating liquor
| seized by the sheriffs or their deputies
| These provisions are very long and
! very specific, and I will read them
| only SO far as they are necessary.
! We will show that Henry F. Cum.
| mings, in total disregard of the pro-
visions of these. statutes, not only
| permitted others, but that he himself
| took this liquor from the Kennebet
| county Jail and delivered it to friends
and acquaintance, and 1t is upon
| these several and specific allegations