The Portland daily press., 1893-06-21
HANNAH THoRNDIkE's GOOD NEWS
She Was Sentenced for Life and Has Re
ceived Pardon.

Governor CleaveS has granted par
don to Hannah Thorndike now serving
aIlife sentence at Thomaston for murder.
The Governor accompanies the pardon
by the following state nent of the case:
Hannah Thorndike was indicted for
the murder of Honora Sullivan at the
December Term, 1878, Of the Supreme
Judicial Court in the County Of Knox.
A trial was had at that term and the
prisoner was found guilty of murder in
the first degree. A mol pros was subse-
quently entered as to murder in the first
degree, and the record at the date of the
sentence stood "Guilty of murder in the
second degree" The prisoner was SEN
tie need to Imprisonment for life and a
warrant for commitment was issued on
the Goth day of March, A. D., 1880, and
she has since been confined in the State
Prison at Thomaston.
The Executive Council after a full
hearing on the 18th of June, instant, rec
commended that the Governor be advised
to grant full and free pardon to. the
prisoner.
The petition for such pardon is signed
by Hon. Charles E. Littlefeld, ex-Attor-
ney General of the State, and eighteen
petitioners set forth that they have
knowledge Of the evidence upon which
the prisoner was convicted, and believe
that no greater crime than manslaughter
was committed by her and that pardon
should now be granted.
A pardon is also recommended by many
of the leading and influential citizens OF
Rockland, including Mayor Knight, John
S. Case, A. F. Crockett, S. M. Bird,
David Tillson, Oliver Otis, William T.
Cobb, N. A. Farwell w. S. White, n. M.
Lord, George w. Kimball, E. A. Butler,
Edwin Sprague, C. A. Burpee, T. E. ST
monitor, G. L. Farrand and City Marshal
A. j. Crockett. 1t is represented by
these petitioners that Hannah Thorn
dixie has already received sufficient pun
ishment for the crime which she COM
| mitted.
Other facts appear in the case that
have very important bearing. The
County Attorney who appeared for the
State at the trial, states that ''the case
was one of manslaughter, and recon-
mends a pardon. A pardon is also rec
commended by the present prosecuting
officer of the County of Knox who repre-
| ccAto UilC OtdtOs
In communication presented at the
| hearing for pardon, the Justice Of the
Supreme Judicial Court who presided at
| the trial and heard the testimony states,
SIN my Judgment Hannah Thorndike
was convicted Of higher crime than she
was guilty of. / think her crime was
| manslaughter and not murder. / have
always been of that opinion and have al
WAYS felt that she ought to be hardened
| when she had remained in prison under
for the crime of which she was actually
guilty"
Our statute provides that whoever
commits manslaughter ''shall be punish
| ed by Imprisonment for not more thar
| thousand dollars If Hannah Thorn
dixie was guilty of manslaughter only
she has already served in prison more
| than three years in excess of the extreme
| penalty that could have been imposed
| for that crime.
That her crime was manslaughter ano
not murder is the expressed, deliberate
judgment of the distinguished presiding
Judge who heard the evidence at the
trial, of the County Attorney who pros
ecuted the case, and the members of the
Bar and prominent citizens in the vicin
ity who are familiar with the facts.
Under these circumstances executiv,
clemency seems to be not only justified
but demanded. | therefore concur il
the unanimous recommendation of tn,
Executive Council and grant the pardon
| HENRY B. CLEAvEs.
Executive Chamber, June 10, 1898.
|