Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-07-09
WANT NEW LAWS.
Prosecuting Attorneys Associa-
ton Meets at Bangor.
Will Recommend Six Criminal Law
Changes to Legislature.
Officers Elected and Party Spends
Night at isIeboro.

Bangor, Mo, July Six changes in
the criminal laws of Maine were
recommended at the second annual
meeting of the Association of Prosccut-
ing Attorneys Of Maine, which was
held in the judges room ut the Y. NJ
G. a. building, Tuesday morning. The
the judiciary committee of the next
Legislature at Augusta, next winter
and every possible effort will be made
to have the changes entered upon the
statute books Officers for the ensuing
year were also elected at the meeting
7 he PARTY will spend Tuesday night at
Islesboro. returning on Wednesday.
The changes in the criminal law
which the association will urge the
LEGISLATURE to adopt next winter, are
important ones. They are as follows:
1st-To abolish the crime Of murder
in the second degree as under the pres
ent statute there is no difference in
the punishment for it and murder il
the first degree.
2d-To increase the penalty for man
slaughter from 10 to % years rs 1t is
in MANY Of the other states.
3rd-To establish a uniform fee of 50
for bail commissioners.
4th-To compel bail commissioners,
trial justices ana judges of municipal
court to require persons acting rs sure
ties in criminal cases to sign a written
statement of their property qualifica-
tons under oath.
10 tJ,1f N-itnaGCRG
covered after a preliminary hearing in
q criminal case must recognize for their
appearance before the grand jury.
Gth-To allow "a hours after judg-
mcnt has been rendered in a criminal
case during which time an appeal may
be taken and bonds furnished.
The association was organized over ~
Portland. last year, and this is the first
meeting which has been held since tina
time. Thos" present on Tuesday were.
County Atty. Robert Il. Whitchouse.
Cumberland: County Atty. Bertram l..
Smith. Penobscot; County Atty. Thomas
Leigh. Kenncbec; County Atty. Rams
ford w Shaw. Aroostook; County Atty
Martin L. Durgin. Piscataquis; County
Atty. George w. Cover, Somerset, and
County Atty. William Il. Shelton, An
droscoggin.
The meeting was called to order by Vice
President Whitehouse promptly at
o'clock After the records of the last
meeting had been read and accepted ar
informal discussion of criminal law ana
practice cnsucd. The officials for The
coming year were then elected as follows.
President. Atty. Gen. George NJ. Sci
ders. ex-officio: vice president. Robert 7.
Whitehouse; secretary. William II. SlSSl-
ton; treasurer NJ. l. Durgin; Bertram l..
Smith, George w. Cover, Thomas Leigh.
The only changes in the board from
that of last year were the election OF NJ.
l.. Durgin as treasurer to take the place
of Thomas Leigh. who WAS placed on
the executive committee to fill the vacan-
cy caused by the expiration of the term
Of office of County Atty. w. s.. Matthews
Of York.
When the mornings session had been
concluded the members of the association
adjourned TO the Bangor House where
they took lunch at l o'clock. The entire
party left from the Bar Harbor wharf nj
go o'clock on the steamer Golden Rod
for Islesboro. They will remain there
Tuesday night. returning to the city on
Wednesday forenoon.
During the evening Robert T. White
house of Portland, will read paper on
THE Enforcement of the Prohihitory
Law" He has already delivered this pa
per in Portland before private club
where it excited no little amount Of in
terest. The situation in Cumberland
county at present will give an added in
terest to the paper.