Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-08-17
The Palmer Case.

The petition for the pardon of Frank
Palmer. who is serving life sentence
in the state prison al Thomaston Ter
the murder Of Betsy Hobbs at Parsons
field in 1896 was tie next Of the par
don cases to come UP. The petitioner
vas J. Merrill Lord of Limerick AMI
Judge r. + CIeaves of Biddeford, the
argument being presented b. the lat
ter. Judge Clcaves argued that the pc
titiorer was under the influence of Old
er Young men when the crime was
committed and that he would never
have dene it under his own instigatlon.
He said that if the boy had been de-
Tended by counsel ne would have been
convicted of nothing more than man
slaughter. ior which the maximum
ncnalty at the time the crime was
committed was but Is years.
He sand that Palmer had been in
prjson l. Years and was now young
man of 81. He had been model
nrisoner and had educated himself so
that he was possessed of expert
knowledge in working iron and steel
and was a foreman in the blacksmith
department at the State prison. III
released ne would be disappearing.
His father was - years of age and
in feeble health and his mother was
l59 and not in good health, so that
both needed his assistance.
Judge Cleaves read letters in favor
of the pardon from L. Z. Burbank,
one Of the selectmen Of Parsonstield,
Dominicus Kicker, a former teacher
of Palr1er. Former State Senator
Charles f. Sanborn and Bracket f.
Lord. all residents of Parsonsfield and
well acquainted with the case.
Former County Attorney Willis T.
Emmons. who was prosecuting officer
/ at the time the crime was committed,
testified that many facts in regard to
the case did rot come 10 light until
after the lad had been committed.
He said that the shells with which
the shooting of the old lady was
done were purCh hased by Charles Saw
age. who was with Palmer when the
crime was committed Savage con-
fessed that the woman was shot by
Palmer and the latter, apparently be-
ING somewhat afraid of Savage, told
a story which laid the greater part
of The blame upon himself AS a re-
sult savage was sentenced for only
seven years, " HlF l 'li'iNA iNN~A' - "
lifa sentence. Mr.. Emmons, in clos
ing his testimony, said that matters,
which had cone to his knowledge aft
or the Palmer boy was committed,
caused him to decide that if the case
ever came up again II was ms huty
as q prosecuting officer to appear in
favor OF the pardon He knew Of no
one in yorl, county who would pro-
test against the aoung man being par
doned.
Councillor Peabody-Has any at
tempt ever been made to secure "A par
don for Palmer before?
Judge Cleaves-Ten or II years ago
when ne had been in prison but few
years and 1t was denied then, justly, |
think. for the lad had not then re-
ceived sufficient punishment. After
Savage completed serving time and
got out of prison he began 10 brag
OF how slick he got out OF long
term for the crime ana then people
began To be interested more in get
ting pardon for Palmer.
DR., James NJ. Leavitt Of Eflngham. !
n. H, testified that he was the at
tending physician at Palmers birth
and had known him ever since. lie
was good boy up TO the time the
offence was committed and his par
EMS were first class citizens All the
people around Parsonsheld called the
Savage boys, bad boys Part of the |
witness practice was in Parsons
field and he knew of no one in that
town that objected to the pardon of