Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-12-26
CALVIN DAY,
Charged With Having Threatened
to Shoot Dr.. Sanborn,
Was Sentenced for Life in 1873 Pardoned
in 1884.

Through something of a coincidence
it was recently learned that Calvin
Day. who was committed to Jail, last
| week, in default of furnishing bonds to
keep the peace, for the alleged threat
ening to shoot Dr. b. r. Sanborn, the
superintendent of the insane hospital,
has spent time in the State prison, and
that on the charge of arson.
he was committed. June s, 1875 on
the charge of setting fire to buildings
in WATERFORD, in which were a number
Of colorcd persons.
He was sentenced to serve in prison
the remainder of his life.
At a meeting of Governor Frederick
Robbie and Council. held. May 90, 1873
he was pardoned, on the ground of
illness.
This was first brought to DIR. San
born's attention, few days ago. by
John Beal, who is at present in this
city. Mr.. Beal was at the time of the
charge against Day, a resident of Wa
terboro, and recalling the circum-
stance, called at the Kennebec Jail
where Day is confined and recognized
him as the same person. Mr.. Day did
not deny it. There seems no particu-
lar reason for his doing So as the
penalty now imposed on him is to keep
the peace. He is confined merely be-
cause he has not the wherewithal to
obtain his release.
Journal reporter, and at once allowed
he was the man but says he was wholly
innocent of the charge of arson. and
| ii was on those grounds that the Gov
ernor and Council granted his par
don.
| He expresses moreover great UNI
bragg, that he should now be i'm
prsoned as he denies in toto all the re-
cent charges against him about his
threatening to shoot DR.. Sanborn.
Il am" he says, "as innocent of this
charge, as l was that of arson, made
against me in 1873. And all want is a
chance to get out and look into this
matter
Have you no friends, or relatives
who can help you?' was asked.
Not one; and here l suppose I must
stay for six months in consequence.
The circumstances of his conviction
of arson were unique. Charged with
the offense his wife turned States evil
dence, on which he was convicted.
She. shortly after his Imprisonment
married IL negro, who was one of the.
inmates of the house that Calvin
| burned. Thereby hangs tale. Calvin
SAYS, and his counsel at the time sub
mitted evidence of his innocence that
was -four feet long"
DR.. Sanborn is interested in the new
| turn of affairs. and says that he is
| looking up the case. He is somewhat
amused at the thought that ex-Gover-
board of trustees of the insane hos
pital should have been the one to have
released a man who should subsequent
ly have been the one and the only one.
as far as he is informed, to have
threatened to shoot him. in his capacity
of superintendent OF the hospital.
Irrelevant as the circumstances of
Days former trouble may be, he
doesn't quite like the color of it.
When Day became one of the county
iail dwellers, the authorities We're con-
WINGED that he had done time" before.
Amongst other indications was ques-
ton that he asked, one day as to
letter he wished to send by mail.
shall l seal it, or deliver it to you
Open?" he asked.
One acquainted with States prison
regulations knows that there all letters
are sent under inspection of the Off
cials. and are, in consequence, delivered
70 them unsealed. This custom, how
ever. is enforced in some of the county
jails in the State.
At present Mr.. Day seems to ENJOY
| his meals and his pipe with the best
of them.