Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-06-12
Pardon cssEs.
CONTINUED from page 81
Ratchet in his hand, and he said to
Newell as soon as he saw him:
.I have killed the Spaniard."

and ran away. His brother asked him
to wait for him but he would not, but
was soon overtaken by him. He said
that the room was already on fire
when he looked in the door, and he ac-
counted for the fire by saying that he
thought it was started by his brother
and the Spaniard tipping over the
stove in their struggles in the room,
which was very small.
He said that his brother toll him the
story of the tragedy as follows:
He said that after Newell went away
the Spaniard came to his bunk and
pulled him out and attacked him. His
brother got the better Of the Spaniard
and tried to get out of the door which
he found locked. The Spaniard followed
him with knife and threatened to kill
him. Joe then reached for something
to defend himself with and he happen
ed to catch UP the small hatchet from
the tool chest near by with which he
struck the Spaniard on the head.
He and his brother went at once to
Brison's camp where they reported the
facts to the crew there and while Joe
remained in the custody of the crew
there, Newell went to the station and
sent a telegram to Deputy Sheriff Lam
caster of Old Town. about the tragedy.
He said that neither he nor his brother
had thought Of the Frenchman. who
was probably lying drunk in one of the
hunks and was burned with the cabin
Newell gave his age as 40 and said
that he had not drank any liquor since
he had been released from prison. nor
<o Io Tn
a question as to why he had pleaded
"nolo cOntendere' when brought before
the court. he said that his lawyer toid
him to plead guilty and throw himself
on the mercy of the court. He had re-
fused to do this, but when asked If he
was guilty his lawyer had answered
for him, and as he had little idea OF
legal forms he hardly knew what was
going on till he was sentenced
The meeting was then adjourned till
8 o'clock. when it was again called 10
order and the pardon case of Joseph
Gabriel was taken up.
Mr.. Powell read several letters from
people who were acquainted with the
Gabriels and with the Spaniard. and
the tenor of these were all that the
Spaniard was noted for being fight
ing man, and it was usually thought
that he he had been the aggressor.
Mr.. Hunt, agent of the Penobscot
tribe of Indians. said that he had
known the Gabriels TO many years and
hal always found them honest and
from what he knew Of Newell he
thought that the story he had told was
the exact truth as far as he knew it.
In closing the case Mr. Powell said
that he had known these men and
their father before them. and he had
always regarded them as being honest,
and from his knowledge of the men
and the case and from everything he
had been able to learn he had no doubt
whatever, that Newell Gabriel had told
his story exactly as it occurred, and
that instead of having been man
slaughter it was a simple case of jus
tifiable homicide. as the man was de-
Tending his life. which he believed to
be in great danger.
Charles A. True of Portland, appear
ed for the pardon of Lewis Bryan. who
was committed to prison by Judge
Bonney, Sept. "a. 1899, for two years on
each of two indictments for alleged at
tempted larceny from the person of n
man unknown to the jury. AS the in
dictments We're both for the same
crime and on the same day, and no
records can be found to show that
more than one attempt was made by
the man in question, Mr.. True said he
believed that the two sentences We're
both for the same crime. which would
make the second one illegal. and he
contended that the man had served
two months on a sentence which was
neither morally nor legally just, and
asked for pardon for him.
County Attorney Whitehouse then
said that he had come in behalf of Mr..
Libby. his predecessor, who thought
that the man was a professional pick
posket and should not be pardoned,
but said that he was unable to produce
any evidence to show that the sem
fences were not both for the same Of
fence. and therefore while he could
not recommend pardon, he would not
oppose it.
The Governor and Council reported
after the executive session that they
had voted to pardon Joseph Gabriel
and Lewis Bryan, while the case of
ADnGT lHOTIe anu lHdl VI hIS. JAIN
Hutllon were laid on the table till the
next meeting. The meeting was then
adjourned to p. NJ. Thursday, July
%.
Fish and Game Commissioner Henry
o Stanley makes public the following
letter which will be of interest to his
many friends:
Il am receiving so many letters of
enquiry, asking If l desire reap
pointment for the commissioner of in
land fisheries and game, that find it
difficult to answer them all and would
respectfully ask space in your valuable
paper to say that I have been a COM
missioner for nearly 30 years, having
been associated with Atkins and Still
well from the earliest establishment of
the commission, feel delicacy
about asking my friends to support me
for disappointment, after serving so
long. Still, on the whole, the work is
congenial. 1t has been practically my
life work. and If my record is :. such
that my friends would desire my con-
tinuance in it. l should feel exceeding
ly honored and grateful. My present
term Of office expires in Feb, 1902. and
unless something occurs. I shall be a
candidate for disappointment. l have
had no other intention.