Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-16
Peptir0ns!:::
most approved
The jury found him guilty Of murder il
the second degree

The jury found him guilty Of murder in
the second degree.
My honest convictions are that,
taking all the facts and circumstances
into consideration, as l remember them
at the time of the trial. the man has
suffered a punishment much greater
than he would had he been convicted
OF manslauShter only, as the maximum
sentence for that offence is 10 years.
He has already been imprisoned IL
years, and l conscientiOusly make this
statement that l believe the ends of
justice will have been fully subserved
in case a pardon shall be granted to
the man.
Il make these statements vOlun-
tarily and without solicitation on the
part of consul or friends soliciting the
pardon of Calvin p. Graves, although
l have stated to the honorable counsel
representing the petitioners that 1
would gladly make these statements in
writing or appear before the honor
able Governor and Council at the time
of the hearing
Several years ago Hon. A. NJ. Spear,
| now justice of the supreme court. pre-
scented d petition to Governor Cleaves
/ anu Ills SOullCli etShIlS LII tiC PoitCi
of Graves. At that time, Justice Spear
| says in recent letter to Gov. Hill and
| his Council, that he examined the case
| in very careful manner.
while Graves was not justified in
| shooting and should have been severely
punished for so doing" writes Justice
| Spear, lit is yet true that the 10 years
which he has spent in State prison is
IA very severe punishment"
| Letters were also read from Rev. II.
| 3. Tilden, Waldoboro. Rev. w. a. New
comb. Thomaston Wilson r. Butler.
| New Bedford, Mass. Henry w. Ball.
Hancock. Rev G. A. Plummer. Maine
State prison. and Deputy Sheriff f. l..
| Higgins. fremont, testifying to their
| acquaintance with Graves and to his
standing as a citizen before the trouble
| with the wardens occurred.
| Judge Redman then called Frank l..
Graves. a brother to the petitioner who
| testified as to the authenticity of a big
petition, signed by more than 1000 citizo ms
| of Hancock county. and which he had
helped to secure. This petition was UNI
rolled and it stretched from the south
eastern corner of the Council chamber
through the Governors room. around tn.
Iante-chamber and into the Council cham
Der again 1t was a formidable document
and attracted considerable attention.
Judge Redman then rested the case OF
the petitioner and County Attorney NJ. n
McKusick of Washington county, opened
in opposition to granting the prayer OF
Graves.
Mr.. McKusick began by saying that
this was the most atrocious crimes ever
committed within the borders of the State
of Maine. He then read portions of tes-
timony of Mrs. Bacon given at the trial
| of Graves This testimony was present.
| ed at that time to disprove some state
| ment made by the McGravey boy, who
| was a witness of the shooting.
| This man" said Mr.. McKusick, was
| tried by a jury of l. men and was found
| guilty of murder in the second degree.
He was defended by able lawyers and
| everything was done for him that could
| be done in the face of the evidence pre-
] sented There was no claim at that time
/! that the trial was not fairly conducted
and there was no charge that he was not
| fairly convicted
| This man was sneak and coward
and should not be allowed his freedom.
| Inc WIDOW ana tUe ORPHAN "iioiii nc maui
by shooting two men down in cold blood
| protest against the pardon of this man.
and the Iaw-abiding citizens of Washing
! ton county and of the State of Maine
protest against his pardon"
| In answer to a question by Councillor
Chase ex-County attorney Fred /. Camp
! bell of Washington county. who was pres
| ent, stated that the sentiment of the best
| citizens of the county of Washington was
| against the pardon. He said he thought
| they felt that the sentence of Graves
| should be carried out in full. 81