Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-12-14
STATE HOUSE.
Ephraim Gilman Pardoned
ex-governor and Council
mo Jurisdiction" is Decision
Rendered in Shiloh Matter.
Justice Emery Will Qualify as Chief
Justice This Morning.

accided that the Council had no jur-
i, diction in the matter of investigating
conditions said to exist at the home of
The Holy Ghost and Us Society at Shi-
I0h.
1t is the general opinion of the legal
authorities in the State that should
the Rev. Frank w. Sanford. the leader
of the sect, return from Palestine that
ne should undergo an examination as
u mis- sanity.
Governor Cobb issued the following
statement on the matter:
After careful consideration of the
Shiloh matter and consulting the legal
department Of the State through the
attorney general and County Attorney
Crockett IF AndroscOggin county who,
at my request, Investigated the condi-
ions at Shiloh. the Governor and Coun-
al have decided that there is no Occa-
sion for executive action in the mat
ter"
One month ago Governor Cobb gave
4 public hearing to those who had evil
..ncc to present hearing on the con1i-
lions at the Holy Ghost and Us Bible
| Society. OF which elijah" Frank w.
Sanford, now in jerusalem, is the
| founder and leader.
At the meeting a large number Of
| Witnesses We're examined, including
| Mrs Alice Phelps of Kansas City. who
| had been in Maine for several weeks
Trying to get her daughter from Shi-
| loh influences. Mrs. Phelps already
| has one daughter in the Insane hospital
| in this city, where she was taken from
Shiloh nearly year ago. She now
| fears that her other daughter will be-
| come I: victim of violent insanity I'M
less she IS taken away from Shiloh.
At this meeting the Rev. n H.. Harri-
man of Chicago. who at one time was
| one of Sandford'S iieutenant's on the
| "hill-ton" at Durham was 4 witness
AND told some harsh things Of the man
ner in which affairs had been conduct
| ed at Shiloh. George Barton of Au-
burn, Lurius Reale of Durham AMI
| Charles F. Durlap of Portland. who's.
| grandson was formerly an inmate AT
Shiloh and who was released by de-
| cree of Associate Justice Spear of the
| supreme judicial court, gave sensation
| al testimony about the conditions at
| Shiloh. past and present.
Ralph w. Crockett. Esq, of Lewis
| ton, county attorney of AndroScOggin
| county, who al the request of Governor
| cobb made n thorough investigation OF
conditions at Shiloh. visiting the place
several times. also submitted td--the
| Governor Al the last meeting lengthy
repo,t Of his findings. This report was
| read by Governor cobb at the public
bearing ana attracted much attention.
| Augustine simmons. Esq, of North
Arson appeared before the council in
behalf of Mrs. Catherine Houghton of
Erie, Penn, who lays claim to Il sum
of money now in the State treasury
which belonged to her son.
| In 1899 a man, VINO gave his name
as John Mcdonald. committed suicide
in the police station at Auburn by
hanging. on his person was found the
sum of 500 and il was turned over to
the State treasurer as the mans rela
ltivcS could not be located. Under the
law if this money is not claimed with
in a period of 20 years it becomes the
property of the State.
Mrs. Houghton claimed that the
man who committed suicide was her
son and that he was born at Tramp
ton Canada. and evidence was pre-
sentcd to show the relationship. A. S
Plummer of Auburn, the coroner who
was called in the ease. was a witness
and he was convinced that the rela-
tionship existed. The matter was
tabled for executive session.
| In executive session the Council
granted Il fun pardon to Ephraim Git
man. who has been an inmate of the
Maine state prison at Thomaston since
1863. having been sentenced for life
for the murder of Mrs Harriet r
Swan of Fryeburg.
| In his petition for executive elem
ency Gilman stated that as he had
served As years in prison that he had
paid the penalty for the crime.
\ hearing on Gilmans petition for &
pardon was held at the November
injecting of the council and he was rep
resented by Hon. Seth NJ Carter OF
Auburn and Hon. Joseph F.. Moore OF
ThOmaSton.
The Governor and Council also par.
doned Fred Hanson OF Hollis, who is
serving a sentence of six months ir
the York county Jail at Alfred for the
larceny of Il bicycle. A letter was read
from the justice who presided at the
time. who stated that he found out
after he had imposed sentence that
there were mitigating circumstances ir
the case.
At o'clock this morning the Hon
Lucillius A. Emery of Ellsworth. as.
Sociate justice Of the supreme court
will become chief justice, the oath be.
ing administered by Governor Cobb.
At $50 o'clock Col. Francis Keefe
superintendent of buildings, will NEE
the justices. who are attending the
session of the law court at Hotel NORTH
and escort them to the State House
10 be present at the ceremony.
ON account of illness the Hon
Charles F.. Woodland of Bangor, who
was nominated week ago as an as.
sociate justice of the supreme court
was unable to be present and his con.
hrmation will come up at later meet.
ing of the Council
Prof. s. c. Thompson, the State in
spector of dairy products. was at III,
. department of agriculture Thursday, OF
matters of business connected with hi.
l u rrr.