The Portland daily press., 1872-09-18
Twenty-Nine Years in State Prison.

lWeMty-NHne n cars IN Stute Ff1sOn
Thomas Thorn is pardoned. For nearly the
period of an average lifetime this man has
been shut from the world in the walls of our
State Prison for the crime of murder The
general community have forgotten the man and
the crime, and we briefly review them. Thirty
years ago Thomas Thorn, young seaman, be-
came enamo1ed with young girl named Lois
Alexander, at Harpswell. On his return from
sea he found her the wife of q middle-aged man
named Wilson. Thorn made Wilson's house at
Great Island his home, and perhaps the old love
that had existed between the two young people
was revived. 1t is certain that close intima-
cy ensued-report said it was criminal On
Sunday morning, Feb 5, 1913, Wilson was
found dead in his bed with his skull broken,
and investigation showed that a pair of tongs
was the instrument which produced death. The
attendant circumstances connected Thorn di-
rectly with the murder, and the woman as ac-
cessory. He was tried at the April term of the
Supreme Court in this city, Chief Justice Whit
man presiding, with Judges Shepley and Tenny
as associates. Otis L. Bridges was Attorney Gen
eral, and Augustine Haines County Attorney.
These appeared for the government and the
Court assigned the late Hon. w. P. Fessenden
and Francis o. j. Smith to the defence Hon.
VIM. w. Thomas was foreman of the grand
jury, which found an indictment against both
parties; and the trial jury was composed of Lu-
Their Dana, foreman, Jacob c. Baker, Samuel
Bryant, Elisha Higgins, Samuel Haskell Sam
uel P. Hancock, James Maxwell, Joshua Par
sons, Nathaniel Small Peltiah Small, Warren
Sanborn and Samuel w. Wilson. Thorn was
found guilty of murder in the first degree. His
counsel filed exceptions and a motion in arrest
of judgment, but they were overruled by the
Court The woman was tried as an accessory,
but acquitted and discharged. Thorn was SEN
fenced to death and committed to prison on the
18th of the following Maya young man TWEEN
ty-four, unable to read or write, but possessed
of average natural abilities. A few years since
his sentence was committed to Imprisonment
for life; but for all these years the criminal has
been practically dead to the community Thorn
received the ordinary prison education and be-
came fair scholar. We have read number
of letters written by him in 1865, which were
expressed in excellent language and were cor
rect in spelling and punctuation, and the Chi
Biography was fair Since his incarceration he
has given evidence of sincere repentance for
his crime. The testimony of the officers of the
prison has uniformly bcen in his favor. Indus
trious, gentle aud obedient, he has won, so far
as q man can in his situation, the respect of his
keepers. And now, after the repeated and
long -contiuued efforts of himself and friends
who have believed in his repentance Gov. Per
ham has, wisely, we hope, exercised the e1ecu-
tive clemency and the prison doors have been
opened.
What is to be this mans future? Is he to
suffer double condemnation-the double pun
ishment that community too often infiicts upon
the criminal Is he to stand among men with
the stripes of his prison garb burned indelibly
into his flesh? The law has been vindcated;
will society be satisfied? Will he find friends
ito take him by the hand and help him to an
honorable place, and give him the means of
earning an honest livelihood? For the sake of
our humanity let us .hope so. If this is to be,
well; il not, better for him that the iron doors
had remained closed, and the little remnant of
life left to this man been spent within the alls
of the prison.