Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-04-25
STATE HOUSE
Mrs, DesChene Will Have
Her Liberty on May |.
Nominations by the Governor
Primary Nomination Papers.
Chief and Deputy Fire Wardens are
Named for Aroostook.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting of Governor anc
Council Will Be Held at 10 A. M
Wednesday, May 81.

Action upon the pardon petition of
Mrs. Algae Deschene of Auburn was
the principal business before the Gov
ernor and Council at their regular
meeting Friday morning at the Execu-
tive Chambers. The case of the pc
titioner who is now serving sentence
for single sale, was presented by At
torney J. G. Chabot of Lewiston and
after some elaboration in executive
session the Governor and Council de-
cided to commute the sentence so that
Mrs. Deschene will be at liberty May
l, 1914.
Chairman Fred Kinsman opened the
meeting about IL A. NJ. and it was de-
cided to hold the pardon hearing at
once. Attorney Chabot presented his
case, giving that facts substantially as
they were set forth in the pardon Pc
tition filed short time ago at the Of
flee of the secretary of State
In the petition Mrs. Deschene rep
resented that on October II, 1909, she
was brought before the Auburn mu-
nicipal court on complaint and war
rant dated Sept. II, 1909, signed by
H. w. Rowe, wherein she was charged
with the crime of single sale of in
toxicating liquors" for having sold
one-half pint of whiskey. A prior con-
viction for the same offense was also
alleged against her. On October II,
1909, she was adjudged guilty and
sentenced to pay fine of 5000 and i'm
prisonment in the county Jail at Au-
burn for term of six months and in
default of payment of fine six months
additional, from which sentence she
appealed to the supreme judicial court.
At the term of this court she failed
to appear and the sentence of the low
er court was affirmed as a matter of
course, and a mittimus was issued
thereon on Feb. l, 1910.
AT the September term of the SUI
preme judicial court at Auburn the
petitioner and her husband, George
Deschene. were indicted for maintain
ing common nuisance. AT this term
of court the case was settled by the
payment of a fine of 500 with the
agreement that the mittimus for sin
gle sale would be recalled. The mitti-
mus was not recalled, however, but
left on the sheriffs desk, and the
present encumbent of that office found
1t and brought action
The petitioner represented that since
this offense was charged against her
she had been a law-abiding woman.
She represented that she was without
money to pay the fine of 5000 called for
in the mittimus, was 81 years of age,
in poor health, and that imprisonment
would seriously affect her health.
ATTORNEY Cha hot read lattarc and
testimonials from George C. Wing, ex-
judge of probate, Judge Mansur of the
Auburn municipal court, William B.
SHELTON, Judge Newhall, Rev Hallock
of the Pine Street Congregational
church, FIR. Eugene Gauthier and Mon
sieur NJ. c. McDonough of St Pat
rick's church. These letters endorsed
the pardon of Mrs. Deschene and all
claimed that the petitioner had been
law-abiding woman since the Of
Tense was charged against her.
Judge Lewis Brown of the Lewis
ton municipal court appeared and
spoke briefly, endorsing the action of
pardon. Attorney Chabot also produc-
ed letters from Dr. Herbert Sleeper
and DR.. A. NJ. Garcelon of Lewiston,
poor health ana that confinement in
jail would surely shorten her life.
The Governor and Council then went
into Executive session and decided to
allow the woman her freedom on May
l, 1914. Aside from the action upon
this pardon petition the business
transacted at the executive session was
entirely routine.