The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-04-08

WORD ABOUT MR.. BURRAGE'S ARTICLE.
Mr.. EDrroR:-In reference to the interesting
and candid article of Rev. Mr.. Burrage, which
you copied from lions Advocate into yester-
days PRESS. permit me to suggest;
1.-The writer admits the correctness of my
statistics, which have, observed, been called
fairness or intelligence. An increase of POT
per cent in State prison crime since 1851, or
twenty times as fast as the population. -
HIT is true that capital punishment was
abolished in 1876, but it is also true that at
least as many murderers have been pardoned
during the five years since 1876 as were hung
during the five years before 1876, so that the
increase from four murderers to twenty-one
between 1851 and 1880 still remains unaccount-
ed for.
HIM. Burrage offers no evidence to sus-
tain his opinion that since the war our judges
have gradually enlarged their terms of sem
tence in accordance with the discretion given
them by statute. I think, on inquiry, he will
become satisfied that such is not the fact.
IV-It will be observed that Mr.. BurrageS
own figures show, even in Cumberland county,
a very large increase of convictions during the
past twenty-nine years. During the fourteen
years prior to 1866 he gives only $40 convic-
lions, but in the fourteen years since 1866 no less
cent in fourteen years, while in the whole
twenty-nine years the population OF the county
has gained only ten per cent.
V-Mr. Burrage says that, so far as the sta
tisticS of other States have been examined
there has been q still greater increase of crime
than in Maine. He gives no statistics in proof
of this statement, and have never yet been
favored with any. I have never undertaken
to make comparisons between Maine and other
States, but I suspect that Mr.. Burrage may
find it difficult to point out any Northern
State where crime has increased so rapidly as
in Maine during the past thirty years.
VIM. Burrage is in error when he asserts
that only 191 convicts were in our State prison
in 1879. The number given by the warden was
207, to which should be added the sixty-eight
State prison convicts crowded into the five jail
workshops since 1873, in all 275.
VII-So with his statement that only one
out of 5000 of our population were State prison
convicts. The true number was 1894 He has
been led into these two last errors by ex-Gov.
Dingley's article, to which he refers.
will not make further reply to the article
of Mr.. Burrage, but shall in a few days ask
your indulgence to publish a communication
which, trust, will put the whole subject of
increase of high crime i'll Maine during the
cavil. G. w. G.
DR.. Stanwood Heard From.
1t was announced from the pulpit of the
First Church on Sunday that DR.. Robert G..
Stanwood, formerly Principal of the Water
bury English and Classical School, who sud.
denly disappeared last summer while visiting
his mother in Brunswick, Me-, and was thought
to have been drowned, had been heard from in
Brunswick, Ga, where he was recovering from
a severe attack of brain fever.
DIR. Stanwood was spending the summer va
cation with his relatives in Brunswick, Me-,
and expected to return to Waterbury in Sep
TENDER to again take charge of the Classical
School. On the aft ernoon of Aug 25th he
complained of not feeling very well, and
thought row on the bay would do him good.
He procured boat and started down from
Bungamuc, which is abrout three miles west
of Brunswick, about 2 p, m. He rowed down
the bay as far as Little Flying Point, and was
seen to go ashore and cut bush, which he set
up in the boat for sail. He then proceeded
on his way down the bay, and was next seen
on Grab Island, about five and half miles from
Bungamuc landing. His coat was off, and he
was evidently making strong effort to force
progress. He finally got clear of this, and was
seen to rise and put on his coat and to throw
the bush overheard. He was not so far as
could be learned seen after this, but his boat
was found next day on Spruce Point, the lower
end of Cozzen's Island, four and half miles
below Crab Island, and about ten miles from
Bungamuc landing. In the boat were found
one oar and DIR. Stanwood's coat and hat; the
latter was placed under the inside rail in a
way to prevent its blowing away. The boat
contained no water, nor were there any marks
to show that it had suffered injury. DR.. STAN
wood had with him light cap which he was
accustomed to'wear when rowing, and this ac-
counts for his hat being found in the position
named
1t was an extremely hot day, and as DR..
Stanwood had complained of pains in his head
it is possible that he was overcome by the heat
While in an unconscious condition the boat
may have been carried out to sea by the tide,
and he may have been picked up by passing
steamer or vessel of some kind, and the boat
being abandoned it drifted back on the incom-
ing tide to the point where it was found.
Brain fever may then have supervened, rem
dering it impossible for the doctor to clearly
explain his position. Enough was probably
gathered from his delirious talk to lead those
who had the care of him to the belief that his
home was in Brunswick, Ca, instead of the
town of the same name in Maine, and thither
he was sent. The latter place is a seaport
town about sxty-five miles from Savannah
Waterbury Comm american, april 4th.