Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-21

the eleven finally went over to the obsti
nate one and returned a verdict of guilty
If manslaughter. - The prisoner served a
sentence of nine years in the State prison
During diligent and active practice
in his profession he found time to dis
charge other important duties which the
good citizen often finds imposed upon
him and willingly assumes In 1878 he
was chairman of the commission on THE
new insane hospital, and wrote the re
port which was published by the state,
He advocated the adoption of system,
after careful investigation, that was in
dorsed by the highest medical authorities
He entered in 1915, into the agitation
which secured the abolition of the dealt
penalty that had been recently revived,
although with few years exceptions, it
had remained undisturbed on the statute
since prior to 1910, when it became the
settled policy of the state. This agita
ton resulted favorably. The result Yves
largely due to the leading and influential
part he took in the measure and by
moulding public sentiment on the sub
lcct.
1t is interesting to note here that
another distinguished graduate of Colby
University, the late j Young Scammon,
Of Chicago appeared before a committee
of the Maine Legislature as early as 1897,
accompanied by a delegation of students
from that college, to advocate the same
measure, and made many converts. Some
of the latter, who afterwards attained
high stations in public life, We're efficient
in keeping the State moorcd safely to
this humane legislation. Again. in 1888,
after he had become judge of the superior
court, he appeared before the judiciary
committee at a public session in opposi-
ton to bill to restore the death penalty
and | well remember his cogent argument
replete with statistics, and persuasive
eloqucncc that seemed unauswerable
In 1879 he was chairman Of the com
mttee of citizens in the city Of Augusta
that erected the graceful and artistic
soldiers monument which adorns the
public square III that city
BY act of the Legislature of 1878 the su
perior court for kennebec county was es-
tablished, and on February 18TH he was
appointed to its bench. This court aux
iliary to the supreme judicial court had
Jurisdiction of all civil suits at law, except
real actions, and exclusive original and ap-
pclate jurisdiction in criminal matters
in the county, including capital cases.
This court sat in Augusta with five jury
terms each year until year 1889, when
two sessions were held in Watervile and
the Augusta terms were reduced to three
After the second year of its establish
ment, its powers were enlarged so that it
comprised the entire criminal jurisdic-
tion, including capital eases In its civil
department included divorces and all
civil actions except real actions and tres
pass g. c., exclusive, up to five hundred
dollars and concurrent jurisdiction with
the supreme judicial court of all such
actions when the damages exceeded that
amount.
| The twelve years during which Judge
Whitehouse presided in the superior court
are remembered for the ease and u1banity
with which he dispatched business. In
dustrjous and polite clear and interesting
In his charges to the jury he soon became
popular, in the right sense of that word
with the bar and retained its respect and
esteem His rulings Were rarely eve,
reversed by the law court. His judicial
life resembles that Of Chief Justice Yves
ton, ante, page 46s, of his city, and with
whom he has many traits and qualities il
common but, perhaps having more activ,
humor and the cultivation Of that natura