Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-04-13


Of Tuesday. April rs, for the regular
April session. &s.
NORTON PARDON HEARING
The matter Of the petition for par
don Of Edward Norton, who has been
serving a term Of 20 years in the State
prison at Thomaston for shooting and
killing one Patrick Lacy on Aug. s,
1912, in the Maine Central station at
Augusta was presented by James A.
Comedian of Portland. He read large
number Of letters from prominent cit
liens of Concord, N. H., the old home
Of the prisoner, from Portland, his lat
err home, from representatives and SEN
ators in the Maine Legislature, State
prison officials, all testifying to the
writer's belief that a reasonable doubt
existed at the time Of the trial Of the
real guilt Of Norton and their belief
that he had been sufficiently punished
and that pardon would be justified.
Mr.. Comedian brought out from this
mass Of letters an idea Of what the
young man had been, coming Of good
family, what he became through bad
company. liquor and drugs. that he
now is cured Of his drug and liquor
habits and In the grasp Of tuberculo-
sis, and what he might be il released
and allowed to go to his family, where
he will have proper care and an OPP
portunity to work IL he regained his
health.
He said that Norton. small chap,
had been dominated by Lacy, a big
chap. and pestered and harrassed until
he was in . state of frenzy, aided by
the liquor and dope, until after re-
peatcd quarrels and continued picking
on him." he had. partly in self-defense
drawn his gun and shot Lacy. The
deed was done and he was arrested,
tried and convicted, being sentenced
to 20 years at Thomaston. It was now
believed that he had been punished
enough even If he was guilty and
among the people who expressed such
an opinion in their letters and also
asked for a pardon were:
The parish priest of Willimantic,
Ct. where Lacy lived, Father Daniels;
the parish priest Of Concord. N. H.,
where Norton lived, Father Sullivan;
George H. Moses, one Of the editors Of
the Concord Monitor; Edward M. Pear
son, cashier Of the First National Bank.
Concord; United States Senator Henry
F. Hollis; Congressman Edward H.
Warson, I'd New Hampshire district;
James o. Lyford, chairman Of the New
Hampshire bank commissioners; Da-
vid E. Murphy, dry goods, Concord,
who had employed Norton and who
gave the latter a good reputation at
that time; VIM. M. Hogan of Cam
bridge, Mass, who knew Norton and
offers to give him employment if he is
released; Chaplain E. B. Allen of the
State prison, who says Norton's con-
duct has been that Of model prison-
err and that he favors a pardon: Judge
8. L. Bates, Portland municipal court:
Recorder II. e. Nixon; County Attor-
ney Bermann; Probate Judge C. H,
Donohue; Police Capt. Cady; Deputy
Sheriff F.. s. Driscoll: State Senator
f. F. Flaherty; Druggist E. 6. Pet
tingill: all of Portland; Ex-Sherin q.
M. Richardson Of Kennebec county.
In ONCE at the time Of the deed; and
petitions Of some II or Is State senators
and representatives from Lewiston and
Portland. Also a letter from ATTORNEY
General VIM. R. Pattangall, which fol-
lows:
James A. Comedian, ESQ,
Portland. Maine, .
Dear Brother Connellan-Your client,
Norton. was indicted for murder in
this county during my first term as
attorney general. looked the case
over with Judge Maher, who was his
counsel. and was satisfied that Norton
ought not to be convicted Of murder.
So Tar as was concerned, agreed to
permit him to plead guilty Of man
slaughter and he would have done 90
except that the county attorney felt
reluctant about accepting that plea.
Whereupon the case was tried. took
no part in the trial but was very Ia
miliar with the facts In the case.
Norton put in q plea OF self-defense
and the jury arrived ut the same con-
clusion which arrived at when I
talked the matter over with his coun-
sci. and brought in q verdict of man.
slaughter. At that time Norton q
health was in bad shape, partly with
out doubt due to dissipation. He had
been. a. I underwood 1t. addicted to the
use Of drugs and was unquesttonably
more or lees unbalanced when the
killing occurred.
I do not recall the length Of time for
which he was sentenced but since he
went to prison I have learned some-
thing Of his family. his circumstance
and his present state Of health. Un-
deubtedly while ut Thomaston he has
bsen cured Of the drug habit and from
what know Of his family connections,
have no doubt but that so far "a his
health permits. he would lead an en-
tirsiy different life. II sst free. than he
has hesn lsading for some years previ-
Gus 3 this trqpble. Aside from this. the
caaneee q - physical health beins
!. !, $500 - get snA ! % not belfsvs