The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-11-23
GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL.
A Pardon Denied the Learned
Blacksmith"
Especial to the Press ]

Especial to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, Nov. 22.-The Governor and
Council were in session today.
Clarence l.. Tanner of Augusta, went be-
fore the Council in favor of pardon for N.
ID. Smith, who broke into and entered Chas.
w. York's house in Portland. four years ago.
stealing coat and several rings. Two in
dictments were found against him and he
was sentenced to three years in State Prison
on each, the prisoner pleading guilty. He
has served out four years. 1t was said by
the counsel that Smith, who is also known
as the Learned blacksmith" was in poor
health and bis imprisonment had been ade.
quate to the crime committed. The council
refused to grant pardon.
An order was passed directing the commit
tee on elections to count the Presidential
vote, the returns from which ere nearly all
In. The committee will at once begin work.
the same clerks as before, Major G. j. House
and Walter b. Rand, being employed The
count must be completed by Thursday, the
18th inst, whea the council will meet again
and declare the vote.
Miss Barton, of the Portland School for
the deaf and dumb, was present at the meet
Ing this forenoon to secdre the immediate
payment of her appropriation from the State.
The Governor has made the following nom
inations
Justices of the Peace and Quorum-Zephaniah
B. Rawson ,Chesteryille; Isaac w. Hanson. Au-
burn; Ezekiel w. Mitchell, Freeport; Milton +.
Kicker, Auburn: George G. Goldman. Deering;
Lewis Wyman, Palmyra; Charles Wiggin. Ban
Trustee Soldiers Orphans Wainwright
Gushing, Foxcroft.
state Detective P. Bassett, Norway.
Trial Justices-Charles II. BuzzelI, Monroe,
Fessenden b. Turner, y btefeld.
Fish and Game Wardens-George L. Byron,
Philips, Eustis.
Gen John j. Perry of Portland appeared
before the Council for the pardon of George
Knight OF Poland who was sentenced for
life to State prison, for the murder OF his
wife, Mary Knight. She had been bedridden
for two years, and her throat was cut on the
night of Oct. 6, 1856. knight had started for
Gray Corner fourteen miles away the aftel-
noon OF that day and was found in Gray with
his team the next morning.
Gen. Perry claimed that the woman COM
mitted suicide, and said if the law had al
lowed Knight to testify he could have been
able to tell where he was, but the law for
bade his taking the stand in his own behalf.
The.fact that his mother testified at the trial
that she slept with Mrs. Knight ON the night
OF the murder and no one came near the bed
was presented as evidence of knights inno-
cepce. Furthermore the jury was 25 hours
In bringing in verdict. His affidavit that
he was innocent was read and letter favor.
Ing clemency from Judge Walton. Knight
has behaved well IN prison. No action was
taken by the Council.
Hon. M. v. MckuSlck OF Calais, pleaded in
the interest of Henry ID. Mclaughlin of that
city, whose sentence in State Prison for
adultery expires in the spring of 1889. Nc
Laughlin was said to be in poor health. The
Council granted pardon.
Frank Kennedy of Boston, sentenced to
State Prison from Androscoggin county for
breaking and entering at Lisbon, was also
pardoned.
The nomination of Col. S. Fl. Allen as war
den of the State Prison was tabled and will
be considered again tomorrow morning.
The Council has decided to settle the tie in
the vote for county commissioners in An
droscoggin county by giving the long term
to William Beal.
The Council will adjourn tomorrow to
meet at 8 O'Clock next Thursday evening.
This late hour is fixed to allow the members
to eat their Thanksgiving dinners at home.