Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-01-01
HAPPY new YEAR
FOR DIP. MURPHY.
Receives News of Pardon by
The Governor and Council
He Did Not Premeditate
Killing Father--Tells His
Story of the Poed---Going
Home to Mars Hill.

Thomaston, Me, Dec. Sit in
deed will be a happy New Year for
me-" remarkee eniel Patrick Muir
: the life convict, when told by
Frank j. Ham of the State
prison today that he had been grant
ed pardon by the Governor and
Council.
The first information came in the
form of a telephone message from
Murphy's aunt, Mrs. Levi Wood of
Bangor. to whose efforts his release
was primarily due, and with whom he
will soon return to the little commun-
ity at Mars Hill to again take up the
tangled threads of a life that has been
all but ruined by one of the worst
family tragedies in the history of
Aroostook county.
Pale and followed cheeks of the tu-
berculosis patient, heightened with
hectic flush as he calmly detailed the
incidents leading to his Imprisonment
for the murder of his father Is years
ago, when he was lad of 16.
Murder never was premeditated."
said Murphy, and l never should
have been convicted of anything but
manslaughter. The whole trouble
arose over a dispute as to the deed of
certain real estate in which my moth
er was interested. On the night OF
June 6, 1898, my brother Leo and I
were discussing the matter with moth
er at the supper table. Father had re-
tired in an adjoining room but soon
began to take part in the argument.
The dispute grew SO warm that Leo
and | began to fear for mothers safe
ty, as he had often beaten her up
and threatened to wipe out the whole
family.
Finally Leo said Pat, let's go in
and kick his head off Father got
out of bed and knocked me down with
a smashing blow in the side. Leo
elinched with him while | went back
into the kitchen after block of wood
from the wood box. In my excite
ment l grasped an ak and returning
to the bed room. struck father in the
back with it, He and Leo fell.
Knowing that father had a revol-
Yer and that he would not hesitate to
use it, | cut off both of his feet, intend
ing to MAIN him. The blood run
out into the kitchen and we knew
there was danger of father bleeding
to death. The nearest doctor was six
miles away and When we got him there
two hours later it was too late.
was only a boy and in my excite
ment and fear never realized that l
WAS committing a crime"
Murphy worked IL years in the
harness shop, but the past year and
half has been unable to work at all.
Whole days pass when he is unable
to take nourishment. The prison ply
stefan holds out no hope for him and
Murphy himself knows on what a
slender thread his life is hanging IF
l can get through the winter without
the grip or pneumonia | hope that l
can build myself up he said patheti-
cally. His brother, Leo who was ac-
quilted at the trial of the murder
charge, died of the same disease seven
years ago. Murphy has been a model
prisoner
Although Murphy has had the
pleasure of seeing the pardon papers
which mean his release from prison,
he slept tonight in the cell which has
been his home the last Is years. The
papers were brought by his uncle,
with whom he will make a brief visit
in Bangor. before returning to Mars
Hill. They leave tomorrow morning
by steamer