Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-27

Petitions with hundreds OF names
arc on file asking pardon.
Henry Lambert
Frank H. Inyham of Rockland ap-
peared in behalf Of Henry Lambert.
convicted in 1901 in the supreme
court at Dover for the murder of J.
Wesley Allen at Shirley on May l.,
1901, for which he was sentenced FOR
life to the State prison.
The grounds for his petition FOR a
pardon are that by the undue and i'm
proper conduct and efforts OF GER
tair' officials and their influence
against him in their zeal to convict
him after he had once been arrest
ed. rather than run down other
clues and properly investigate others.
caused prejudice in the minds of the
court. the jury and the public. to the
end that he was unable to obtain 4
fair and impartial trial, that others.
some of whom were under suspicion
at the time and who Wee not On
good terms with J. Wesley Alien and
his family. had opportuniT TO COM
init the crime and their conduct
thereafter indicated their guilt; that
his prison record has been good; that
though his health has been impaired
by his. long confinement. he could
readily earn a living if given his free
dom, as he is a skilled workman and
that he will, if set free. enter into
such agreement or obligation as may
be REQUIRED of him as to going to
Canada or elsewhere and not return
ing to this State or country.
Mr.. Ingraham said the case caused
great feeling against the accused 1t
the time OF the trial and public
opinion greatly prejudiced. Lambert
appealed hut the verdict was affirm
cd.
A chart used at the trial was shown
and the details of the crime there
outlined. The Allen buildings were
found burned and in the ruins were
the charred remains Of Allen. his
wife and 1i-ycar-old daughter. Three
suspicious men had been seen in 'he
vicinity. The contentious of the STATE
and dcnials by defense at the trial
were reviewed at length.
Mr.. Ingraham said Lambert was
convicted wholly on circumstantlal
evidence and that during all the !.
Wears IN prison he has been an m
noceat man. 4 careful examination
Of the evidence, ! think, will show il
not sufficient strength to convict.
Some people strongly favored SUE
eide theory. Several other persons
were suspected: some arrested
Taken as n whole, | think it Il very
slim case for the State.
Judge Martin j.. Hu"sin Of Milo
county attorney OF Piscataqnis at the
time of the trial. said he represented
| the State at the request of the pres
ent county attorney and also felt a
great personal responsibility rs
citizen of the county, having beer
through the trial and having every
| point of the trial burned into his
mind, he felt d double responsibility
! We showed Il motive and that was
the lust of tho murderer.
Judge Durgin went over the case
! step by step us proven by the State
at the trial, correcting Some slight
misstatemcnts by counsel caused by
| less familiarity with the maps as by
! himself He said Lambert had full
and impartial trial and the jury after
listening for !. or l" days 70 the evi-
/ dence frorl IFS illnesses returned 9
! verdict of guilty in hour and II
! minutes.
When called to tho case | foInd tbs
| name Of Lambert on the lips of hall
! the pcoplc--suspicion had got him.
MIR. Durgin followed Lar1berts
! course from West Cove, G~eenTillc
! to Telos Smiths and his whereabouts
as proved at the trial: told of lnvcs-
| tigating his story and finding, TO one
who saw Lambert: but Gid see :WC
witnesses who went up the road when
he claimed to be on it.
Mr.. Durgin secuted the suicide
theory. Also tho idea that sentiment
in FiscataQuis is for n pardon-in
tact, very few arc of that mind. lie
said the revolver spoken Of. Fad by
the TibbettS boy, was not in his pos
session until two days after The muir
der. JIc told of Lambert having gone
from West Cove to TcloS Smiths by
the other road and that two persons
saw him.
! Tic said that whoever murdered J.
Wesley Allen, murdered his wife and
the daughter. Should he he freed
there remain indictments for the 9th
er murders on which he could DC
tried. His trial was absolutely fair
and impartial: lie had the henefit OF
doubts and ali the presumption of in n
nocencc until the jury said he was
guilty He then went TO tile highest
! ~, 80,
argued in Portland, the state raHing
all the expenses OF trial and appeal
He had everything done for him that
any guilty man could hope to have
done for him.
The law court took some seven
months to consider it and Chief JUS
ticc Savage handed down the opinion
finding that he was fairly tried and
proven guilty,
Judge Durgin filed remoustrances
bearing about IFS names, against q
pardon. as follows: Greenvi!lc 81:
Shirley s; MonSon g..
A letter from Dr.. Hunt strongly re-
morstrated against pardon: a!so
one of the same nature from Charles
w. Hayes, w. II. Monroe, Calvin w.
Brown and j. S. Williams.
John F.. Sprague of Dover was call
ed. hut in 1901 lived in Monson. AS
sisted Mr.. Durgin in looking up evil
dence: foreman OF coroner's jury and
familiar with the case. Took Mr.. Dur
gins place, during his few days alb
sence from the case.
Find sentiment in Piscataquis is