Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-07-30
STATE HOUSE.
Executive Council Re-
fuses Castor Pardon.
Hearing on Chase Pardon
Set for August "a.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Meeting ssrnor and CounciI
Thursday, July 20, At $50 A. m.

sentence in the Maine State prison at
Thomaston for murder, was received
at the Executive department at the
State House Thursday and a hearing
| assigned for the next regular meeting
of the Governor and Council which will
be held Aug. "a, at $50 A. M. The law
firm of McGillicuddy & Morey of Lew
| iston is counsel for the petitioner.
The petition, which is signed by
Chase, is brief and to the point as fol-
lows:
~ Edward A. Chase. now incarcer-
ated in the State prison at Thomaston.
| most respectfully petition your honor
| able body for a pardon or commuta-
| ton of sentence"
Chase was sentenced by the late
Judge Percival Bonney of the superior
court for Cumberland county in 1888 to
| life in the State prison at Thomaston
| for the murder of Mrs. Ida Stevens. a
daughter of Ex-Mayor Joseph L. Ladd
of Gardiner. Shooting was the means
employed and the affair happened at
noon near the Union station in Port
land. Ex-City Marshal Henry T. Morse
of Augusta was an eye witness to the
tragedy. The cause for the deed is said
to have been y because Mrs. Stevens
~ ould not look with favor on Chase's
protestations of love.
The case was last heard at the jan
uary meeting of the Governor and
Council in 1908 at which time Judge
Edward f. Chase of Bluehill appeared
as counsel for the petitioner, as did
Chase's aged mother, Mrs. Knapp OF
Livermore. The pardon was strenuous
ly opposed by Ex-Mayor Laid of Gar
diner, the father of the murdered wo-
man.
The Governor and Council at the
| meeting Thursday forenoon gave a
nearing upon the petition for the par
don of Or" Paul Castor and his wife.
Nina NJ. Castor, who were convicted at
the May term of the superior court for
Cumberland county in 1907 and SEN
fenced to terms in the State prison at
Thomaston, Paul Castor to five years
ard Mrs Castor to four years.
Castor was convicted as IAN Access
sorry before the fact" and his wife as
"aa accessory after the fact in a case
| wherein the principal Earl Dunbar.
| was convicted of the larceny of rings.
| pins and other iewelry, all of the value
of S2,N42.50 from Allura S. Cashier, the
wife of Colonel H. M. Cashier, prOprl-
etor of the West End hotel at Port
land Earl Dunbar, the principal in
the theft and who turned States evil
dence against the two Casters was
sentenced 70 serve one year In the
State prison at Thomaston.
Levi Greenleaf, of Portland appeared
as counsel for the petitioners.
1.-THE petitions for the release of
DR." and Mrs. Castor" said Mr..
Greenleaf. ARE signed by but a few
people. 1t wasn't deemed necessary to
circulate these petitions and only the
few persons whom the Casters knew
were asked to sign so that the petition
is not lengthy one.
Paul Castor is commonly called
doctor continued Mr.. Greenleaf.
He had been in Portland probably eight
or 10 years and formerly lived in the
eastern part of the State. at Calais
ard PASSPORT, and he also resided in
Pennsylvania and California. He is
now between Is and so years of age
| and IS lame. Paul Castor is an old
and decripit man. has failed rapidly
since his confinement in the State pris-
on and we do not think that he can
possibly live out his sentence.
while in the Androscoggin county
| Jail at Auburn waiting for bail on an
other charge" continued Mr.. Green-
| leaf, Castor met Earl Dunbar.
young man, who was In the jail for
stealing Dunbar was affected with
disease and Castor cured him. When
Castor and Dunbar were both at lib
erty Castor invited Dunbar to his
| house at Portland and Castor procured
a situation for the young man at the
Jefferson Hotel at Portland. Later
Dunbar secured employment at the
West End Hotel.
DIR" Castor or his wife never re-
ceived any compensation from the sale
of the diamonds. They were taken by
two other persons, a man and his wife,
and these were the ones, l believe, who
instigated the affair. Mrs. Castor is
somewhat younger than her husband
but is frail and rapidly fading in
health because of her confinement. 3
II do not WISH" said Attorney Green
leaf, Ito excuse Castor or his wife for
being mixed up in the affair. They
were certainly the victim of circum-
stances but / do not believe that they
! had any thing to do with the theft OF
the Cashier jewels. You will notice
that no remonstrances against the par
don Of Castor and his wife have ever
been fled and the county attorney Is
| not here to oppose the granting of the
pardons.
Il think that the jury erred in con-
| victing Castor and his wife and do
not believe that the evidence was tan
gible or reliable enough for a convic-
ton. These people were convicted on
the evidence of Earle Dunbar. a self
confessed common thief. Dunbar has
been convicted of larceny at the Ban
gor House. hotel at Lewiston. and
the Jefferson and West End hotels at
Portland
"The ends of justice" concluded Mr..
Greenleaf. "have been met by the con-
finement Of Paul Castor and his wife,
Nina NJ Castor, in the State prison
even If they had anything to do with
| the stealing of the diamonds or the
disposal of Them
The matter of the Castor pardon was
tabled for executive session and after
some discussion the petitioners were
I<~fxr