Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-06-13
Governor and Council Held
Monthly Meeting, Yesterday.
Refused Pardon to StiIIman R. Frost,
an Aroostook RumseIIer.
Committee on Revision of Statutes
Completes All Preliminary Work.


outside of the regular routine. The
quarterly accounts for the support of
State Institutions and the salaries of
State officers were audited and ap-
proved and ordered paid.
After the regular business was COM
pleted the hearing on the petition of
Stillman r. Frost of Ashland, now
serving a sentence in the Aroostook
county Jail at Houlton, for liquor SELL
ing John F. Robinson, Esq, Bangor,
appeared for Frost.
In his opening Mr.. Robinson said
that Frost was convicted before Asso-
ciate Justice Powers, early in May, for
maintaining a liquor nuisance in the
town of Ashland, and received a SEN
tence of six months at HoultOn Jail.
"IIe is a native of Hampden," said mr..
Robinson, land has been in Ashland
for three or four years, where he has
conducted a club. AS caterer Of this
club he has sold liquors to the men,
bers thereof, but never to any other
person. He believed and still believes
that he had perfect right to sell liquor
in the manner he did. His club had Il
constitution and bylaws and the bust
ness was conducted in a careful man
ner. At the time of his trial he had
no counsel. for he believed that he
could not be convicted. When he was
convicted he still thought they could
not send him to jail.
Il have a petition signed by some 80
| of the leading citizens of Ashland,
headed by Z. G.. Dunn, one of the most
prominent business men of the place,
asking that a pardon be granted to
| Frost Now l do not ask for a full
pardon, but ask for a conditional par
| don. I ask that after he shall have
served three months of his sentence
| he be liberated on the condition that he
shall never again sell intoxicating
| liquors in this State. The penalty was
| excessive, for he was given six months
| for maintaining a nuisance when the
| usual sentence is but 60 days.
'.If YOU can drive a man out of the
liquor business you will do more to
suppress the traffic than the courts,
sherffs or county attorneys will ever
do. BY granting this man condition.
al pardon you will prevent him from
ever engaging in the business again.
Only one other man at the recent term
of court was given so large sentence"
l county Attorney IltIDtIl L. L oNtI .
of Fort Fairfield, appeared in OPPOSE
ton to the pardon. He said that his
only reason for appearing in the case
was to present to the Governor and
ICouncil the facts. and when these We're
presented he did not consider any argu-
ment necessary.
| Frost came to AroOstOok county,"
said Mr.. Powers, 'some six or seven
years ago. He brought several nickel
in-the-slot machines and played them
about in different localities. He was
later driven out of that business. Then
he worked in two or three hotels and
ran a bowling alley ip Pressure Isle.
II Finally he went to Ashland and fitted
( up a building there. Down stairs was
= a store where he sold confectionery,
: cigars. tobacco and the like. Up stairs
I he had this club room. Each member
= paid Frost So for the privilege of join
ing the club and buying liquor from
4 Frost. No man ever heard of a bust
mess meeting: no man ever knew of any
officers except Frost. 1t was brought
out in evidence, at the trial, that Frost
y. | sold liquors to persons who Were nos
members of the club. He was warned
to so out of the business, but he
:, | honestly thought he had a right to con-
duct the business of selling liquor in
4 the way he had established, and he re-
,. fused to quit. He ran the business for
three years and never paid any fines. |
4 really think Frost has been the most
persistent and open violator of the pro-
, hibitory liquor law in Aroostook coun-
\ ty. and / feel that he should not be
pardoned."
! Subsequently, in executive session the
\ petitioners We're given leave to with
' draw.
The next meeting will be held Tues
\ day, June 80, at 10 A. NJ.