The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-02-24
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.J


Augusta. February 23.-The famous
case of the students and the moose was
before the Governor council again this
afternoon At the last meeting, County
Attorney Hayes and Lawyer Sprague of
Piscataquis county, asked that requisit-
ion papers be issued for Stanley A. Fors-
man of Wilkesbarre Pa, and Walter G.
Merritt of Danbury, Conn.,, who killed
the moose. This afternoon Chairman
Carleton of the fish and game commits
sion, who was not spresent at the last
meeting, was given an opportunity to
state his side of the.matter.
In executive session the requisition pa.
pers were denied and the incident of the
students and the moose is probably ended.
Game Commissioner Carleton in his
address said that public sentiment had
nothing to do in determining the case.
it right. The case amounts to simply this,
that an effort in its results to condemn
me for the connection 1 had with this
case, and the disposition of it that I as
sen ted to. My connection with this mat
ter came about in this way: sent
wardens to Investigate what was being
done by the students and professors occu-
pying this camp on Cochegomic lake. 1
received two kilograms from wardens,
urgently requesting me to attend the
hearing after the boys were arrested at
Dover. therefore went, and found two
small boys there in the custody Of the
wardens. After giving the Lest thought
to the matter that was capable Of,
could not find it in my heart to ask that
these littie boys be sent to Jail, and did
not ask 1t. I thought the arrangement that
Bro Parsons and l entered into, with the
full knowledge and consent of the court.
and the advice of the officers was emil
nently proper; that arrangement. under
stand, has been stated to you by Bro. Par
fons. And therein, I understand that the
countyssattorney and Bro. .Sprague assert
violated decency and outraged public
sentiment, and it therefore becomes the
duty of the county attorney to undo what
was then done, and get hold Of these boys
and incarcerate them in Jail.
1 can see now, of course. how much
better it would have been; how much
trouble I would have saved myself, and
saved much of your valuable time, had
been wise enough, and had I had fore
thought enough to have called in Bro.
Hayes<and Bro. Sprague for:their advice in
the matter.
But the arrangement was made, and
the State Of Maine is in honor bound
thereby and cannot in honor recede from
it.
TIE commissioners and the judiciary,
that is, the duly constituted court. do
liberately entered into an understanding
with the respondents as to what dispo-
sftion should be made of their cases, and
the State of Maine can no more go back
on it, can no more repudiate it, than she
can tarnish her honor, till this hour
spotless as the ermine of our judiciary
has always been.
This is tho view take of it; whether
my action was wise or unwise does not
weigh hair. It is done. 1t cannot be
undone, and for that reason no requ1sition
can be granted for If granted would ever,
by any self respecting Executive having
decency and honor before his eyes, be
honored and I regret that the county at
torney has been 60 lilly advised, that with
out even condescending to communicate
with the commissioners from the time
these cases were disposed of, he has sought
to bring this discredlt upon the state.
If, therefore, am right in my premises,
if 1 am correct in my conclusions, the
State Of Maine cannot honorably inter-
fere, and will not through its chief Ex-
ecutive and his legal constitutional ad-
visers the Honorable Executive Council.
I trust, however. that may be pardoned
for asking for opportunity to say few
words more. My deliberate conviction is
that this is not an honest effort to get
these boys back here (and am forced to
this conclusion by facts) but an indirect
attempt tn kill me officially.
Why, then, not drop these senseless
proceedings, as they appear from my
standpoint to be, and go directly at the
main object in a straightforward manly
fashion.
Talk about acquisitions and dereliction
of duty on my part only. Sir, requisi-
tion was never attempted or apparently
thought of until year and q half ago in
game case I established the precedent.
1t is purely a matter of comfy between
the executives of the states How would
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