Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-11-26
PARDON ASKED.
Edward A. Chase Wants Re-
lease from State Prison.
Killed Mrs. Ida N. Stevens Of Gar
diner, Thirteen Years Ago.
VS. Mother Pleads Sons Cause Before
Governor and Council.

The Governor ard Council held a ses-
slor, Monday afternoon. and after
transacting regular routine business,
granted a hearing 20 the petitioners for
the pardon of Edward \. Chase. now
life prisoner at Thomaston.
Mrs. Charlotte chase Knapp Of Tur-
ner. his mother, appeared III person
and made m extended plea for eNecu-
live clemcncy. The c2se was ably pre-
sented by Hon. a. NJ. Spear of Gar
diner. Hon. Joseph +. Ladd and his
son. r. L. Ladd. father anL brother Of
the dead woman. appeared III opp"si-
ton to gaming the pardon.
The case was opened by Mi Spear
who began by saying that the rcgula"
notice had been given, The county at
,ornev Of Cumberland. when the crime
was committed had been notified pl
this hearing. but was not present. and
the usual forms Of law in such cases
had been complied with. He then went
on ana told the story Of the crime.
Edward \. Chase came 10 Gardiner
| in 1887 10 work in IA shop 10 DO Wood
work, and bolrded at the home Of tn.
| father OF Ida NJ. Stevens. After tins"
| an ..ffection sprans up between them.
| and they became infatuated With each
! other. U,. was q married man with a
| family and she had been 4 married
woman. While h" remained in Car
| diner they were much in each other'S :
company. Then he went to New YORK
| anG for nearly q year they Kept up 4
| correspondence. Finally. in April lNS>
| he left New York and come 10 Maine
| He met Mrs. Stevens by appointment
| at Brunswick. they Went to Bath and
/ stayed over sunday together at Il hotel:
| then they went t. Portland ana wer-
together fo, a time.
"On Thursday April 10, 1855 which
was Fast day. they started To 20 To- ,hr
| depot in Portland, she desiring to Ta-
| turn to her home in Gardiner, and
when near the station he took Il reNnl
| YER from his pocket and shot her dead.
| He then shot himself. tie bullet pass
| ing through his head and coming out
| of the forehead. II was feared fnr laS :
that ne would not live.
He was Indicted 1T the May term nt
the superior court for rumb. rldn1
| county. Nhe the case came up fCr
trial. the Indictment was read to hiII,
ana he said he would plead guilty to
|
the indictment Of vilful murdtr.
| Through his counsel, however. he plea I
guilty To th. Indictment, and n, Mas
sentenced To- imprisonment for lifn.
He was not tried by jury. lie was
| convicted Of murder. not by a trial.
| but by MS plea. H was never cor
! victed by a jury. Eur through hiS Jt-
! toiney'S mistake h. was adiudgtl
guilty Of murder in III" first degree.
| Mi. Spear presented TWO petitions in
! form Of the pardon, signed hy Con
gressman Littleteld. Senator Fry"
| Hon. George T. Wcscotr, Hon. T. o.
| Ticfery. Hon. VIM. r. cobb. Hon Sid
| ucy NJ Bird. @X-Wardou. Allen ~ thr
| State prison. Solon Chase ana ~"
John T. Gushing OF Turner. ana .or or
| more leading citizens of the state Hv
also read letters from overSpers and Of
| ficers of the prison speaking IN tn"
| highest terms Of his conduct referring
to him as a model prisoners" ana AZ
+ one OF the best prisoners in the instr
tuition
| He claims that at the time Of thu
shooting Chase was Irresponsible by
reason of insanity.
| Mrs. Charlotte Chase Knapp. tn.
| mother of the prisoner. then addressed
| the Council, rchearsing the story uf
the case in pathetic ana eloquent Ian
guage. Mrs. Knapp plead for her son \
| release on the ground that at the tim.
! the fatal shot was fired which took th.
| life of Ida stevens he was not in his
! right mind; that for year prior
! thereto he had been seriously affected
| IN his head
! My SON said Mrs. Knapp. was \
| loving son. He married before he was
ut age. His wife was amiable and low
| Ing but she was not domestic. His
home was not happy. He could not
obtain the proper food and he became
afflicted with chronic dyspepsia which
brought on insanity. Before leaving
hls home for Gardiner he had not been
right. Then he met this woman Anv
man is safe with a good woman: bur
God pity the man who falls into the
| hands Of a bad woman He did not
| f"rsake. his wife--he loved her and he
| loves her still. And she does him He
was unfortunate and could not hold
positions. He was poor
! When he came to New York to ike
| with us. after having been in Gardiner.
he showed signs Of insanity. He began
| 10 receive letters III a lady's handwrit-
| ing. ! asked him whom they came
| from. He told me from a married NO
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