Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-10-06
STATE HOUSE
Meeting Council Tuesday, Oct 2 7so NJ


denial of committing the murder He
has told the same story from the
first. denying any part of the muir
der beyond being present He was
frightened and fed. The other man
had the money.
He had no counsel, and, not under
standing English. pleaded guilty. The
court appointed Mn Getchell as coun-
sci for the other man, tried for the
same offence. but Hiro had none. He
was told of the others conviction and
that there was nothing to do but
plead guilty, which he did.
Hiro claims that one Laclioli killed
Souleyman and then made him kiss
the knife and thrust it into the dead
body.
His manner and action in prison,
his studying and work, with his re-
peated denial of killing Souleyman
has attracted my attention and
sympathy. 1 believe he has been
punished enough. I believe 10 years
would hav1 been sentence enough.
A letter Of commentator of Hiros
behavior in prison was read, coming
from Warden Eaton. The warden said
he saw no reason why Hiro would
not become a good citizen, if re-
leased.
Asked if opposition existed, Judge
.. Wing said there was, all coming from
zone man.
The three protests filed with the
secretary of State. two signed by in
dividuals and the third by ~ Al
banians, were commented upon by
Judge Wing, who said most of the
signatures We're written by one hand.
He also read a letter from Arthur
Danish. a prominent Biddeford AL
! bantam, who said Hiro was a law
abiding man and never a criminal in
Albania as alleged.
! Hiro also refers to the city marshal
of Biddeford as to his conduct there.
; Judge Wing said the alleged con-
fession was bogus. l wrote to the
court officials and nothing of the kind
is on file. A Bath newspaper man,
after publication of the alleged con-
fession, wrote me he knew nothing
about it and referred me to the
sheriff.
! Judge Wing said communication of
sentence to 10 years would help the
man, if the Council couldn't pardon
him, which he hoped it would do.
| No opposition to a pardon appeared.
| Michael Mulkern.
! Raymond s. Cakes of Portland ap-
! peared for Michael Mulkern of Port
land, serving life sentence for MUIR
, der, committed to prison in Septem-
Der, 1914. Mulkern had several years
ago petitioned for pardon, which
was not granted.
| Mr.. Cakes said he considered it the
most important case he ever had and
had lived with it,. for several years.
! The boy is now % or 26 years old and
can go out and become a worthy man.
His brother Patrick, older, when
/ Michael was IS or 10, tried to run
everything. probably loving his broth
er but ordering him about like a dog.
, Patrick was a wild man, always in
i, trouble with the police, once shooting
| his father. Patrick drove the family
out one day and tried to .bulldoze
Michael, who had often appealed to
the police.
This day Michael was running down
the street, with Pat chasing and
throwing rocks at him. The officers
told him to get warrant. Michael
said if they don't protect me I'll have
to protect myself. I shall get a gun.
! Michael got his gun. They later
met at the stable and Patrick began
beating Michael over the head with a
broom handle. Michael then shot
] Patrick and fired three times in the
air and went into Mysteries. saying
various wild things.
, 1t was brought out at the hearing
! that Patrick was q vicious bad man.
That Mike asked his dying brother if
| he could forgive him and Pat said he
did. The abuse of Mike by Pat was
fully shown. The trial was a fair
one and the jury felt that he should
have murder punishment instead of
lighter degree. Mr.. Cakes said
Mike loved his brother and there was
no malice, but the boy simply had
stood the limit of abuse.
Father Houlihan, MichaeHs priest
says he was a good boy. Patrick told
him he forgave his brother. A letter
from Former Chaplain Allen of the
State prison recommended a pardon
chaplain Norton, now dead did the
same. Chaplain Weber does the
same. Overseer Adams wrote a good
word Frank j. Ham said Mulkern
was a model prisoner. Warden Eaton
writes the same. Prison Commits
sioner Rosenberg thinks Mulkern has
been punished enough.
A letter from Mrs. Patrick Null
kern. wrote in high terms of the boy
who killed her husband.
Mrs. Mary Pelosi of Portland sis
ter of Mulkern, testified of Michaers
good character and intention and of
Patrick's running the house" by
physical force. Beat herself and
often beat Michael, once so that he
had to have a doctor Saw Patrick
in hospital and he said that if he
lived he would get Mike" Michael
several times left the city to be away
from Patrick.
Mrs. Abbie Harris. another sister,
remembered Patrick's coming to
Portland from Ireland. He was al
ways quarrelsome. He began abus-
ing us and taking full charge of the
house. He drove father away I had
to leave home, he abused me so and
wouldn't allow me any rights or
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