Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-10-21
A Pardon Is Asked for
Samuel D. Haynes.
J. P. Bass and H. |. Shepherd
Oppose The Petition.
Hon. Herbert N. Heath Makes EIo-
quent Plea for Haynes.

The sixth attempt to secure the par
don of Samuel D. Haynes of Rockland
now serving a life sentence in the
Maine State prison at Thomaston, fol
1.-THE killing of Patrohnan Robbins oi
the Roekland police force in 1879, was
made, Friday, before the Governor and
Council. Hon Herbert NJ. Heath oil
Il Augusta and Hon. Joseph Il. Moore oi
iThomaston appeared for the petitioner
lwhile County Attorney Philip Howard
of Rockland appeared in opposition.
Mrs. Grace Haynes Rogers Of De-
troit, Mich. sister of the petitioner was
present in her brothers behalf, as was
also her husband. Col Fordyee H.
Rogers of Detroit Mich. Among those
present in the interest OF the cpposi-
ton were Hon. Herbert l.. Shepherd
of Rockport, Hon. J. 3. Bass Of Ban
gor.
Attorney Heath, in opening for the
petition, stated that lie did not ask for
a full pardon for the petitioner but for
4 conditional pardon Counsel reeited
in detail the history of the life Of the
prisoner and his crimes.
Haynes when 16 years of age, in conn
:,
Registered letters from a mail box in
Patton and the lad was sentenced to
four years in State prison. When he
came out of prison he commenced
lpainting in the town Of Hope He
wished Ia so IL the Black Hills to
work and asked his uncle in Patten TO
loan him 5000 The uncle refused and
Haynes stole two watches and $50 IN
money from his uncle. lie was sen
fenced to II months in Bangor jail and
on coming out started road house III
Rockland
lie WAS arrested while there for
breaking and entering While IN the
Lookup and under the guardianship OF
an old policeman. Robbins, by name, he
committed the killing for which the
Estate sentenced him, which occurred
Hume Is. 1879 His sentence WAS for
life He told the officer that he would
lescape if he could.
He had that defiant sort Of life
which was the result Of his four years
lin prison To which he was committed
las a boy of 16. declared the counsel
Mr. Heath alluded to Haynes two at
ltempts to break from State prison ir
1.-THE last of which he was wounded IL
the lung.
He then said that he would never
TRY to escape again. His record foi
the past 10 years has been an abso-
llutely clean one and with the exception
of two or three minor offenses he has
had a clean record in prison for over
30 years" said Mr. Heath.
about 20 years ago he began. to read
1.-THE New Testement and commenced the
tupbuilding of character He gave uf
1.-THE use of tobacco and profanity. He
lhecame converted to Christianity and
Twas baptized into the Catholic churci
by Rev. FIR. Phelan, who was then sta.
ltioned 1t Rockland. II was 10 years
after he was baptized before a pardon
was thought Of"
Conditional Pardon.
| Mr.. Heath alluded to the opposition
lof MIR. Shepherd and Mr.. Bass, who
claimed that they were in fear of theil
Lives if Mr.. Haynes was freed from
prison. Counsel had drafted a set OF
conditions, which he believed woulc
satisfy the fears of these two gentle
Imen
He proposed that HAYNES should filt
with the secretary of State his ascent
lin writing to the following conditions
THAT he should violate no criminal law
lof any jurisdiction wherever he may
be; that whenever the Governor ant
iCounciI are satisfied, with or without
: hearing, that Haynes has hereafter
committed any crime in any jurisdic
ton wherever he may be. they may
with this certificate as an authority
take Haynes, wherever he may bt
found and return him to the STATE
! prison for the remainder of his natu
raj life: that, if after his remandint
the Governor and Council find that h'
has not violated any criminal law
they may revoke the certificate ant
} the pardon may be again in force.
Counsel argued that this Woult
place Haynes upon the condition of I
prisoner on parole and that the taking
of the prisoner from another state b!
a certificate from the Governor an(
Council of Maine would be perfect,
sound legally.
No More Than Manslaughter.
Mr.. Heath read from the stenogra
pfiic record of Haynes trial to SHOW
that the killing was no more thar
mansiaughter. The weapon used, {
piece of broken stove wrench. to com
init the deed, when a Ratchet and
: sword and other weapons were in the
| room. showed that there was no inten'
! ton to commit murder. The piece o.
i the iron was so short that it could NO
be used independently and Il was
, Haynes knuckle that struck ROBBINS
9 head He quoted David n. Mortlah'
OF Roekland, one of the state witness
les at the trial as saving that he die
not believe Haynes intended To XII
: Robbins. Former County Attorney
:, l.. NJ. Staples of Washington was quot
p led as saying that he did not believ
q Haynes intended to kill Robbins; DIV
n Ter Otis of Rockland. a witness a tn
trial, was quoted as saying that h
ibid not think Haynes intended to XII
Robbins and that the case was yer
linadequately defended. Former Attor
lney General William T. Haines of Wa