Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-12-11

believed thai Chase was weak minded.
a letter WuS also read from Senator
William =. Frye. recommending eXecu-
tive clnnency.
\ letter was read from Chase il
which l.e denied that he said that he
WoIld XIII Mrs. Stevens if she would
not live with him as was testified 10
Y IN officer 1T the trial He had no III
Il ntinn Of shooting the woman until Iii"
spell came over him and he did the act
before lie thought and he had no idea q:
shooting her when he left the hotel in
Portland mat noon.
Ur Bigelow r. Sanborn of Augusta,
superintendent Of the Maine Insane
husnital, testified that in his opinion
Edward a. Cliasr WAS mentally mcapa
bic Al the tine Of The murder and was
suffering with melancholia, Il Well
recognized type Of insanity. sDr. San-
born believed that Chase would not 30
Il dangerous man to he at liberty.
r.. F.. Ladu of Gardiner, Il brother Of
the murdered woman, appearing for
the remCnstrants. strongly and earnest
~ protested against the granting nj q
pardon to Chase. He said that he
feared that if the Council should par
don the prisoner, even conditi0nally.
that ne might do some harm. There
is surely danger" said Mr.. Ladd. 10
pardon any one who has insanity. Yon
can see the case of Steele, who did the
shooting in the Massachusetts Stat"
House last week That man was pa
rolled from the DanVerS asylum.
There vas another illustration last
Saturday when former inmate Of
IN insane asylum attempted to kill the
Nayor Of Taunton. Mass. If the man is
released he may again have these
epilaptic fits Dr.. Elwell. who attended
Chase 1T the Maine General hospital at
Portland at the time OF the shooting.
told me that Chase. in his opinion and
The ouirion OF the other physicians ut
the hospital that Chase was sane at
that tine.
eff there was ever a clear case Of
premedirated murder" continued Mr.
I.add. Il think this one was. think
1hHr The courts We're able to determine
whether Chase was in his right mind
ami that the man had n fair trial OF
course have a great deal Of sympathy
Tor ChaSe's aged mother. but W" should
not be influenced by sentiment. You
now have a dangerous man in a safe
place and | think that he better be
Kept there.
Questioned by fudge Chase. Mr.. Ladd
stated tina: if the Council believed that
1T lnn time Of thI commission Of the
murder Chase WAS mentally incapable
and was now cured. he would not OPP
pose tn, granting Of the pardon.
Mrs Knapp. the mother Of the pr!s-
! ni.cr. with tears streaming dcwn her
cheeks. llade q dramatic plea for elem
cncv. why do YOU keep my hoy in
,ri,on. gentlemen" cried Mrs. Knapp,
"wncn IL. has repentCd of his crime
ard surely has paid the penalty
This ended the hearing on the petit
ton and the matter was tabled for eX-
eCutivn session.
In executive session the Council gave
the petitioners leave to withdraw IN IN"
| Dewire pardon case, and the Chase
pardon matter was continued until the
next meeting Of the Council.
In addition to other business tran
sacted the Council instructed f. ".
Carver. auditor Of State printing. to
advertise for new bids in Class c. call
ed The. legislative printing.
Al the close of the afternoon session
AN adjournment was made 10 Tues
day. Dec. 81, at 10 o'clock in the fore