Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-04-14
STATE HOUSE.
Meeting Of Executive
Council, Thursday.
Petition for Herbert Griffin
Pardon Laid on Table.
Next Meeting Of Council Will be Held,
Tuesday, May IS.


ana council since the close of the leg
islative session. was held at the council
chamber, at 4 o'clock, Thursday after
| noon, and as is always the case this
| meeting on legislative years, there was
| tended to. The afternoon session con-
| tinued until 6 o'clock, when an ad-
| journment was taken untilS.
At the afternoon session a hearing
was given on petition for the pardon
OF Herbert r. Griffin of Lincoln Center
who is serving a six months sentence
In Bangor jail. for accidentally shooting
and killing David S. Libby of Newport
IN the town of Chester, Dec. 6, 1904
Forrest J. Martin of Bangor appeared
| in behalf of the petitioners.
In presenting the case to the council
MI. Martin said that young Griffin had
entered a plea of guilty at the trial,
ana was punished for negligently and
carelessly shooting and killing man.
whom ne had mistaken for a deer; and
ne also advanced the opinion that if
Grifhn mad not entered the plea, it was
doubtful if a jury would have con-
Elcted MN of the charge. as Griffin had
tod nm that after seeing the bushes
| move, and catching a glimpse OF some
| thing in the bushes that was the color
| OF II deer, he had waited until he could
get better view before shooting.
He then went on to tell the story
| of the shooting, as Griffin had told it to
| him. of how he was out after deer, and
when near an old wood road, had
heard the bushes rustic and had seen
a deer jump from them, and disappear
before he had a chance to shoot. And
also. how he had seen a second deer
jump from the bushes, and them after
that, he had caught glimpse of some
thing in the bushes, of the same color
Of deer. When he first saw the
| patch of color it was as big as mans
hand, and he had waited until he could
see more of the object before shooting.
| Mr.. Martin also presented a petition
asking for the pardon of the young
man, and read a letter from the widow
| of the man who was killed, asking the
| court for leniency.
| The matter was taken up, later, in
executive session and laid upon the
| table until the next meeting Of the
| council.
| Hon. Fred J. Allen of Sanford appear
ed before the council in behalf Of Hon.
Geo. 6. Weeks of Fairfield. asking fol'
the payment of the sum of 5000 for SER
vices on the committee on salaries ap-
pointed by the Legislature of 1903. A
| bill for $500 was introduced at the last
| session, without the knowledge of Mr..
Weeks, ard subsequently withdrawn,
being substituted by bill for $500 in
favor of Mr.. Weeks, for acting in an
advisory capacity to the committee on
salaries at the last session. This
lamount, with the 5000 asked for, was
considered by Mr.. Allen as a fair COM
pensation for the amount of work done
by Mr.. Weeks, as he had devoted ten
months to it. In connection with the
IibOve matter it should be explained
THAT the committee were authorized to
hire a clerk, hut by their vote they de-
Icided that the work should be done by
one of the members Of the committee,
land Mr.. Weeks was chosen for it.
The nomination Of Irving f. Lang, as
deputy insurance commissioner. made
by Insurance Commissioner Carr, to ill
1.-The vacancy caused by the resignation
Of c. w. Fletcher. was confirmed.
Former Councillor 5. j. Walton APP
peared before the council. asking that
warrants be drawn for the payment OF
two resolves passed by the Legislature"
each for s126.34. one being in favor of
Moose River plantation. and the other
| in favor of Jackman plantation, in re-
. endorsement for expenses incurred ir
1.-THE erection of a smallpox hospital on
! those plantations in the fall of 1902. and
when the matter was taken up in exc
crtiye session. the bill was ordered
lpaid.
The evening session was busy one
and as a large amount of routine bust
ness was brought up. the session LASTED
Hate into the night The next meeting o
the council will be held. Tuesday, MAY
Inc. at 10 A. NJ.