Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-07-30
ANOTHER PARDON WANTED.
The Sequel Of Mystsfious Crime in wash
instsn County Five Years Ago.


pardon cases just now. The Governor
and Council disposed of two at its
meeting, this week, and at the same
time notices of two more hearings were
given. Now word is received at the
State House that another Thomaston
prisoner is expecting executive Glenn
ency.
Influential relatives have moved 10
secure pardon for G. Howard Park
er, resident of Campobello. who is
now serving 10 years sentence in the
State prison. The case has been placed
in the hands of A. d. McFaul of Ma
chias.
As a result of this application for
clemency dramatic story of Maine
life is revealed. AT the trial at which
Parker was sentenced all the facts ex-
cept the bare detail of the procedure
were kept from the public.
Five years ago John Black and his
sister Ann We're the most picturesuu
residents in the rural neighborhood of
West Lubee. They lived on a lonely
peninsula fronting South bay in a big
iiVuoN eiial ihCS ildu oNCupitu ever SlIlcs
1850. Their whole life had been given
to money getting, and so frugal and
thrifty had they been that they were
known to have many thousands of dol
lars in an old red chest that they had
brought from Ireland. They were
warned repeatedly that their lonely
condition and their wealth invited rob
bers, but they refused to intrust their
money to a bank.
One night the expected happened
Two masked men entered the Black
house, and after browbeating the old
couple broke open the red chest and
took away the contents. Black and his
sister We're left tied up so tightly that
their lives We're endangered They
We're nearly frantic by the loss of the
money they had labored through so
many years to save.
Black created sensa ton by directly
accusing a prominent young farmer in
the neighborhood. The old man even
described in detail jue' how his assail-
Tailed SO well that the community had
doubts of the young man, despite his
upright character.
But he was fortunately able to prove
that on that night he was al hotel in
Lubec. The old man, however, did not
relinquish his belief, and continued to
provoke his neighDor by open charges.
After the lapse of a year the guilty
parties were found. Suspicion was at
tracted to them by the fact that they
We're spending money of ancient issue
In her hoard Ann Black had some old
gold coin that came mysteriously into
her possession in Baltimore She lived
In that city when she was young. One
night a strange mr. rushed into the
house and left an infant and a bag OF
gold. He was never seen afterWard.
and the child soon died. Ann Black
carefully saved the money. OF course
no one could spend coin Of this sor;
without attracting attention.
G.. Howard Parker and James Nc
Isaac We're arrested. charged with the
crime of robbery, and both confessed
Both stood we'll in the community. had
but recently been married to estimable
.'oung ladies. and when they We're sent
away to State prison for 10 years all
who knew Of the ease felt = plying in
terest in their brides. Parker's wife
and worked there as a domestic. Her
death occurred recently.
After the confession of the real cul-
prits had been made public. McQuaide,
the young farmer who had been ac-
cused by Black. threatened to bring
legal action against the ola man for
defamation of character. Black be-
came convinced that he was to lose the
remainder of his property through this
suit. and one day, after brooding on his
troubles, he hanged himself in corner
Of his old barn. Since then Ann Black
has lived a recluse in the big farm
house
1t is said that McIsaac did not spend
much of his share of the booty, and
stands ready to surrender it to the oil
lady provided she will sign the petition
for his release from prison. The case.
on account of the peculiar features, will
attract much attention when it is pre-
scented to the Governor and council.
McIsaac at the time of the trial con-
fessed to being the originator of tha
plot to rob the old people. He had been
their neighbor for years. and from his
boyhood had known of the treasure in
the cid chest.