Morning journal and courier., 1881-03-30
courts in civil causes was taken up on motion

courts in civil causes was taken up on motion of MT. Harrison.
 It provides that clerks of courts, other than probate courts, shall receive for entering each civil cause three dollars; for recording each judgment in causes brought by appeal from justices of the peace, and for recording each judgment on default or non-suit where such Judgment is rendered at the first term, three dollars; for recording each judgment in complaints for divorce, on default or non- suit at the second term, and in all actions where damages less than two hundred dollars are recorded, seven dollars for recording judgments in all other cases, ten dollars
 MT. Harrison approved of the measure, on the ground that it would do away with term fees for lawyers and facilitate the progress of business in the courts. The bill commanded the unanimous support of the judiciary and he considered it a wise and judicious enact ment passed.
 At Il a. nn the special order of the day, being the resolution authorizing the release of Charles J. Allen from the State prison was called for by Mir. Welch of Torrington. On gaining the floor, Mir. Welch as chairman of the State Prison committee, opened the dis cussion of the resolution He spoke of the petitioners for the prisoners release, his wife, who had been true and loyal to him during his sixteen years of incarceration, his aged father and the daughter of the man who had been killed. He then described the inn placable hostility that had been exercised to- ward the prisoner, hostility that is shared in to this day in the feelings and traditions of the town of New Milford.
 The opposition to the release was voiced by MT. Hill of New Milford, who narrated the circumstances of the crime from the view of it entertained by his constituents. He thought it had been unfair that the resolu- tion which had originated in the House should have been reported in the Senate, and considered the course unwarranted.
 MT. Futile, of East Haven, gained the floor and spoke against his release. He was opposed to letting Allen out, because it would endanger the lives of innocent men. Already the House had released two murder CTS during the session, and this he consider ed record enough for one session. He held that public security and justice demand that the petitioner sioll be continued in impris- onment.
 MT. Cowen, of Derby, also opposed the resolution for release, holding that as 1t is well nigh impossible to secure conviction for murder, the State should see that the law, when once applied, should be fully executed.
 Mr. Mitchell, of New Britain, made an earnest appeal for the release of Allen.
 MT. Harrison said that Allen had been a good soldier; also that his bravery on the night of the Shipman tragedy should win him release and freedom. He then spoke of Aliens kindness towards the prisoners with whom he must come in contact. The univer- sal testimony is that his kindness is as tender and true as a brothers. The man is no Uriah Heap. He believes, but no one can draw it from his lips; his actions speak for him more eloquently and inn passionately than words. In Hawthorne's ''Scarlet Letter. is recited the beauty of kindly deeds and mercies. There was par don for Hester Prime, whose life of deep re- pentance led to richest fruits of goodness and kindness. There should also be pardon for Charles J. Allen, whose deeds of gener- osity in his prison have been full of light and g1adness for the suffering, sick and desolate men around him. The life of Victor Hugo's hero, Jean Val Jean, is being re-enacted in the life of the prisoner Allen at Wethers- field; life devoted to the interests of his closing appeal, exalting the sentiment of mercy, and invocating it's inspiration in the action of the House, leading the Representa- tiVes of the State in their defense of justice not to forget forgiveness, was splendid ex- ample of forensic eloquence. Scarcely had MT. Harrison concluded his speech, when, on the motion of MT. Welch, of Torrington, the previous question was ordered. The yeas and nays were called, resulting as follows: Yeas 139, nays "A. The Speaker declared the resolution passed and the committee report accepted.
 At 2:25 the House adjourned until 10 a. m Wednesday.
 As soon as the resolution was passed, the friends of Allen carried it to the Governor, who signed it, and later in the afternoon the papers were made out, and Charles Allen was relieved from custody and went forth from the State prison a free man.