Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-02-06
STATE HOUSE.
Council Refuses to Pardon
Samuel D. Haines.
The Work Of the Cattle Commission
ers for 1903.
Inter csting Figures from the Report Of
the Library Commission.

The regular February meeting Of the
Governor and Council was held in the
Senate chamber. Friday, the session
being called 10 order at 1915 a. NJ.
All seven of the members We're pres
cnt. and the body at once settled down
10 the disposition Of the large amount
Of routine work on hand. Several i'm
iortant State reports We're received
which are referred to elsewhere in this
mornings journal. and numerous or
ders We're passed. Among tie war
rants ordered to be drawn was one of
SELLS from the appropriation for
State roads. and one of $4,000 from
Tao st. Louis Exposition appropriation.
the Council authorized the printing of
2-5J copies of the railroad commits
sioners report for 1903.
From II o'clock until l p NJ. the
session was devoted TO the hearing of
the petition for the pardon Of Samuel
-. Haynes. and when the case had
been presented and Il strong appeal
made for the prisoner by Senator
Staples of Knox county, who appeared
in his behalf. the session went into
executive session and voted that the
pc: ii!oncr have leave to withdraw.
this case. and many spectators, as well
as the members OF the Council followed
. the hearing with close attention. Mr.
Staples was county attorney of Knox
county. at the time Haynes WAS con-
Victed and the rather unusual Specta-
Gle Was presented of the man. Who had
| secured the conviction of the criminal
lapycalin%. - years later for eXecu-
| -
lie ground that he had been convicted
! 81 murder. when only mansiauShter
il.t1 been committed. Haynes. then !,
/, young man of - years. WAS i'll Thorn
i aston lookup in 1879 under arrest for
|, being concerned in IL local robbery.
T. S"iZing moment when Policeman
1 Robbins. who WAS there with him. was
Of guard. he struck him heavy blow
with a piece OF iron and made his es-
cape. Robbins died three days later
from the effects Of the wound. Haynes
|; WAS Captured about Il week later. and
|, was tried ana convicted of murder.
L and sentenced 10 State prison for life.
/ though Mr.. Staples says that rs county
attorney, at that time. he offered to ac-
cept 4 plea of guilty of manslnu"hter
before the trial began, but the prison.
er'S lawyer would not agree TO this
course. SO the main argument pre-
scented by Mr.. Staples. before the Coun-
ell. yesterday. was that Haynes was
guilty only OF manslaughter. since he
had not meant to kill Policeman Rob
bins, but only to stun him. while he
escaped AS the maximum sentence
Of manslaughter is 70 years, ami
Haynes has already been in State
prison % years. Mr.AStarles urged that
he had been sufficiently punished for
1 his crime. Moreover. Mr. Staples
/ urged that the prisoner was a COM
/ pletely reformed and Il changed man,
tand that for the past Is yeafs he had
been 4 model prisoner. In the early
part Of his Imprisonment he attempted
| 70 escape and was shot by one of the
! guards. but since then he has expert
! enced religion. has worked faithfully
in the shops. and has behaved HIM
self in every way. This fact was tes-
tifed to in letters from nearly all the
prison officials
AIR. Staples declared that all Knox
county believes that he was guilty only
If Elansi;tughter, and should now be
pardoned. Al the time OF his convic-
lion. there had been three murders in
Knox county within a year and this
had much to do with the verdict of
guilty found against him. A petition
was presented, signed by the business
mca of Patten, in which town Haynes
Was born. Letters urging the pardon
Wee read ION the Hon. J. +! Moore Of
iTh0mastGn: from Joel s. NattoE of
Appleton, c;:e Of TIE three living mem
~. - hi 1I, hi,
guilty: o"e from q Boston lawyer,
named Coburn. who was Il boyhood
playmate of The prisoner: and others.
Mr.. Staples certainly made out good
lease Cor his client, and in closing made
la fcrcecul and eloquent plea for execu-
dive cicTency. but tre Council could
met agree with him that the pardon of
Haynes is advisable at this time. and
refused to grant the prayer Of the pc
tition.