Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-08-10
Mrs. Ellen Do||ey Of Wind
ham Will Go Free.
Pardon Matter Of Murderer E. 4.
Chase Laid on Table.
lat0rest Knowles Has Stale Prison Sentence
Commuted 10 Two Years.


Governor and Council convened. at 10
O'Clock. Wednesday morning, in the
council chamber at the State House.
members of the Council, and the
amount of routine business demand
ing attention was unusually large. A
long list of accounts from tie various
departments received approval. and
the nominations of the Governor came
up for confirmation.
In connection with the confirmation
of nominations, 4 petition was received
signed by leading citizens of Randolph
and Gardiner asking that the trial JUS
tice court in the former town be abol-
ished. and the business be transferred
to the municipal court Of Gardiner. III
consideration OF the fact that the pro-
posed cha nSe received the endorsement
of both towns, and that 1t would mean
saving of no incOnSiderabIe sum 10
the county. the petition was granted
and the Randolph court is a thing Of
the past.
The leading business of public in
;ereSt, however. WAS the cOnSidrrat ion
of three petitions from prisoners in the
Stdte p1lSDn ~ lHoiliSlOll, Tor par
dOnS
The first Of these cases was that Of
Mrs. Ellen DOllcy Of Windhan, who
was serving. a life sentence for muir
der, and unon due consideration OF tine
evidence. Il fall and free pardon was
granted. MIS-. Dolley was arrested in
December Of 1895 and convicted in May
OF 1896 OF the murder of her daughters
|IIlisitimata child, the mother of the
child being acquitted of the charge of
accessory. w. r. AnthOine of the firm
of AnthOine & Talbot of Portland, who
was counsel for both women at the
tine of trial, appeared, yesterday, in
behalf Of the petitioner, who was re-
fused Il pardon, five years ago by Gov
ernor Powers and Council. The line Of
argument employed was that the crime
was committed in the neat of passion,
and hence should lie adiudged man
slaughter for which the 10 years al
ready served is the maximum Sentence.
No opposition to the petition was pre-
scented, and as the representations OF
the counsel for the petitioner appeared
TO be just. the pardon was granted as
stated above.
The second case 10 be siven a hear
ing was that of Edward A. Chase, sem
fenced to life Imprisonment for the
murder of Mrs. II. &anStevens, which
was committed in Portland, in April.
1883. Hearings have been given before
on the petition of this prisoner, one
in 1897, before Governor Powers, and
one in 1901. before Governor Hill,
Judge A. NJ. Spear of Gardiner appear
ing for the petitioner, but in each in
stance pardon was refused. At yes
terday's meeting. Judge f. f. Chase of
Blue Hill. appeared in behalf of the
petition, his chief witness being DR..
Bigelow T. Sanbnrn of the Insane hos
pital. who gave it as his opinion that
the prisoner vas insane ut TIE -ime of
the crime WAS committed evidence al
so being introduced to show that the
accused is subject to attacks in the
nature of cpileptic fits. The pardon
was opposed by Ex-Mayor ]. T.. Ladd
of Gardiner, who represented that the
prisoner had an unsavory record and
deserved to serve the complete life sem
tence. After some elaboration on the
case, the Council voted that it be laid
over until the next meeting
The third pardon case was that of
Ltforest Knowles Of Kingfeld, upon
whose petition hearing was giver
at the last meeting of the Council.
knowles was convicted of breaking
and entering. and sentenced 10 serve
three years ct Thomaston. After pass
ing upon the evidence presented in
the case last month, the Council voted
that the three years sentence be COM
muted to two.
AS the business could not be COM
pleted at one session, adjournment was
taken until O'Clock. this morning. af-
ter appointing the date for the next
meeting on September at 4 O'Clock
=. NJ