Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1878-01-08


il. or account for il satisfactorily.
The State exercises q Just benehcence ana
honors itself in bcstpwing aid on those sol
diers who have been incApactatei by disabH'
tiles incurred in ia service from supporting
themselves bv their own lasOr, ard on the de-
pendent relatives of the fallen.
The appropriation for pensions la'tycar.was
tSentv-fve thousand dollars, and was nearly
il not entirely exhausted by the applications
tina. were allowed. The number OF applica-
tons made and the number granted were each
slightly in excess Of the corresponding num-
Der in the preceding year. There Is every
reason to iaier thl, the applications the
present year will DC as numerous and deserv-
iny as in the year past, and 1 therefore rec
ommend the appropriation of the customary
amount for pensions.
Office OF Attorney General.
The Attorney General reports that the sui:
brought by him IN 1876 for the recovery OF
the State tax assessed upon the Maine Cen
tral EulrJll company FOR 1879, and argued
upon an agreed statement of facts before the
Suprrnle judicial COur; O; the State, has
been decided IN favor of the State by that
court. and that the cause has been carried by
the cnmpny = the Supreme Court Of the
United states On writ of error. The case
cannot b. reached, Il the regular order Of the
docket b, observed, in less than two years.
Under statute of the United States permit
ting the prcfermcnt on the docket Of case
- which = State j. a party, upon showing
.ufi reason, motion has been entered
and argued for sn earlier hearing and the
counsel Tor the company has expressed has
willingness TIA. !: should be had. The mo-
ton nos awaits the action of the court. Il
p, plain tina: the Attorney General has done
all IN his power % bring this suit to an end
and tina. the counsel for the company has gem
,rously seconded his Efforts.
Actions have been brought against the AZ
lantic and s.. Lawrence and the Newport q
Dexter railroad companies for the aTrearages
Of S,a.e ;lN due from them, and It - pre-
sumei that oo,n cases will be argued aad de-
termned ~ the next law term.
Three trials for murder have occurred
w.;hia the year. llnthc Morgan aui her
sister. Mrs. S)phronia j. Libby, were ound
guilty OF murder in the second degree or
taking the life of the infant child OF lan;he
Morgan, and sentenced 70 imprisonment for
life. Isaac y. Cox, fourteen years OF age
vas found guilty OF manslaughter for killing
his father, aad sentenced TO six years impris-
onmcnt. EdTarl ". Smith was found guilty
OF murder in tho frs, degree for the murder
OF Melissa +. ThAyer a. Blcksport IN Octo-
Der, 1876. IN the latter case motion IN ar
res. ef Judgment vas argued a. the June
i.r tenn, a7i '1a decision has not yet been
rendered.
In the tNo ca..s first mentioned, the char
acter and -lnit.jn OF the guilty persons ari
th, ci,cur ,tln.cs attending their acts wee
.lch t.,t mitigation must be tempered with
r..r - ,ac minds Of oll acquainted with tie
I..-. The murder - BGcksport vas I'M
d1uotslly "a az: % unrtleycd strocsty.
viii not UnlegtISs ID discuss the relations o'
the law a5o..sa.nc ,hc death penalty . crime.
uat | desire simply T. express anew NJ firm
belief in is Immunity and wisdom. since
tie plsslg, OF th, law there has been but =
single in,nnc, Of conviction ot crime IN
which tue penalty Is affected by y.
The recommendation OF the Attorney
Il neral are cn,t.ed TO your consideration az
the results Of the experience OF an officer
whose connection with the subjects % which
ia, refers. gives him TIE best claim q Dc
heard. am compelled, however. with great
Difference q hls opinion. - withhold my ap'
proyal Of his proposition - do away win
c1rlpers' iuqlests, ana % substitute therefor
som, other mode 0t investigation. Ia a4lI-
non % the primary functions which the coro-
ner's inlles: performs in ascert aiming H.,
guilty aul clu,.as theic immediate appreEea-
sion, and incidentally in generating those
upon whom suspicion is cast by the commn-
nifty, the spectacle OF a public, formal and
instan. ',itry into the manner of death
supp,sed - have been caused by violence,
exercises most salutary moral iSidence.
IL affords paipAble evidence of the care OF
the STATE for the lives of iU citizens and OF
the promptness and zeal with which it seeks
% discover and punish tue guilty, and tends
thu, to heighten respect for human life, and
- deter from the crime of taking 1t. The
Attorney General also refers to the great
cost Of expert testimony" in criminal trials,
and raises the question whether economy add
the purposes ior which such testimony IS
gwen, cannot both be subserved by providing
by Law f.. the impartial selection of single
expert witness in aay trial where the testi-
mony OF witness Of that character Is de-
sirable. /. is for yon to consider whether
snch linn tation is expedient and IN accord
ance with the liberal spirit of the constitution
towards the accused.
1.-THE Land OHcc.