Evening journal., 1915-09-21
NO PARDON FOR
POWELL. Slayer
Board Formally Refuses to
Recommend Liberty for
Woman Murderer
THREE LAWYERS
ARGUE HER CASE

Special TO THE EVENING JOURNAL. |
DOVER, Del. Sept 21-The State
Board of Pardons met in special ses-
sion here this morning TO consider the I
application for a full pardon for Mrs.
Mary A. Powell who Is serving a life
sentence in the New Castle County
Workhouse for the murder Of Estella
Albin, a young white girl at the Pow
ell home. The board however, unan-
imously refused TO recommend the
pardon.
Henry Ridgely, one Of the attor-
neys for Mrs. Powell at the time of
her trial first. addressed the board
claiming that both he and the board
had solemn duty to perform He
said he was not appearing as a paid
attorney in the case. at this time, but
because he had been the attorney at
the time of the trial and therefore
was better acquainted. perhaps. than
iany other person TO present the case
10 the board recital of the case.
/ the murder trial and causes alleged
| for self-decense were all fully set
forth by Mr. Riigley, as also were
/ his efforts TO secure a new trial Tor
his client He endeavored to impress
the board that Mrs Powell had not
now. nor ever had. a bad heart and
/ consequently did not commit the deed
she had confessed with a low and de-
based nature. He spoke of her ad-
vanced age. 6S years, and believed
that at the longest she had but few
I years TO live.
A letter from Or. w. II. Kraemer
the workhouse physician, stated that
Mrs Powell was suffering from heart
trouble and that her condition was
not as good as In past years. Mr..
Ridgely closed with an earnest ap-
peal for mercy for Tie prisoner.
Chancellor Curtis read from the
charge of the court at the trial OF
Mrs. Powell as TO the alleged improp-
er relations between the Albin girl
and Mrs powells hu band which is
supposed to have been the direct
cause of the killing of the girl.
Secretary of State Hall asked the
condition of Mrs. Powell as t) cuts
and bruises after the attack, but no
information could be given the board
as TO this point.
r. r. Kenney also urged the pardon
of Mrs. Powell as a matter Of justice
He referred TO the letters or petition
of every iuryman in the case, except
one. asking for the pardon. He alsC
read a letter from Leonard Crawford
workhouse warden recommending
the pardon. and referred to a petition
+ of nearly two thousand signaturei
from all parts OF the county. askinl
{ for the pardon. He felt that furthe
/ punishment of Mrs. Powell could no
accomplish further good.
Mr.. Kenney's references that sue
a deed had men been implicated an
that blood night eve been shed. va
resented by Chancellor Curtis wh
n emphatically stated that he deteste
n the thought of anybody taking th
y law into his own hands
Mr.. Kenney closed his argument b
stating that he believed the boar
should grant the pardon. He said III
= action would meet with the universe
j. approval.
r, A NJ Daley. another one Of the al
e torneys in the case. argued the cas-
q before the board in the same manne
as the other attorneys, that of mere
7, and justice and that the woman ha
Z suffered sufficient punishment for tn
T. crime. He referred to two case
heard in recent years by the Stat
= Board Of Pardons. which were Amos
( Identical with the Powell case. h
( said in which pardons had bee
recommended
Deputy Attorney General John F
= Hutton, representing the State. .rea
y a letter from former Attorney Genera
y II. II. Ward. who prosecuted Mrs
u Powell. in which he set forth the 20
: sition Of the State az the time o
= the Powell trial and expressed the be
lief that IL was a fair and impartia
G trial and that no injustice had beei
o. done by the verdict and sentence. II
closed his argument with the state
.e ment that the State had nothing b
e offer. leaving the matter entirely wit
* the board. Later the board refuse
y TO recommend the pardon.