Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-07-25
COUNCIL ACTS

After serving 20 years of life
sentence for murder, Henry Lambert
walked through the opened doors of
the State prison at Thomaston
Tuesday afternoon into a new world,
a free man ready to begin life anew.
A full pardon was granted him by
the Governor and Council yesterday,
following the announcement of their
intention Of SO doing at the June
session of the executive body.
The pardon was granted upon the
condition that Lambert shall not
be guilty of violating any of the
criminal statutes of the State, and
that upon a violation by him of the
conditions, the Governor shall forth
with cause him to be arrested and
detained until the case can be ex-
amined by the Governor and Council,
and If it appears that he has violated
the condition of his pardon. he shall
be remanded and confined in the
states prison for the unexpired term
of his sentence.
Lambert was convicted in 1901 of
the murder of j. Wesley Allen, a far
mef OF Shirley. 1T was also alleged
at the time that Lambert also muir
dered Aliens wife and then burned
the buildings to cover up the crime,
but these cases were not prosecuted.
lnfatuation for Aliens daughter was
given as motive. All through his
long imprisonment Lambert has
steadily maintained his innocence
County Attorney Hiram A. Gerrish
of Brownville appeared before the
Governor and Council yesterday in
opposition to the granting of the
pardon. He stated that during the
past week or ten days he had made
trip into the upper end of Piscata-
quis county, and especially to the
town of Shirley where the crime
was committed, that he had inter-
viewed the people and finds that the
sentiment is strongly against the
pardoning of Lambert.
If you could go there yourselves,
go over the scene and interview the
people YOU would find things not
admissible in evidence, but you
would be convinced that the man
committed one of the most awful
crimes ever committed in PiscataquiS
county when he took the lives of
those three people," said MIR. Ger
IRISH.
Some time ago I had some doubts
about the guilt Of Lambert but aft
er investnati0n I am confident that
the jury did not err when it con-
Vieted Lambert" he said.
County Attorney Gerrsh present
ed remonstrance signed by a num-
her of Piscataquis county residents,
against pardon for Lambert.
Hon. Charles s. Hichborn, an
Augusta banker who took an inter-
est in the case and who presented
the of tho nafifinnnrS 10 10
Governor and Council, said be had
nothing further to add. Mr.. Hieh-
born did say. however, that he had
received a letter from ex-senator
Martin J.. Durgin of Milo, appraiser
OF the port of Portland, who was
county attorney of Piscataquis eeun-
ty at the time of Lamberts convic-
ton, saying that he would not fur
Their oppose a pardon.
The Governor and members OF the
Council found on their desks Tues
day morning copies of neatly
printed book, entitled Henry Lam
beft-A Plea for Humanity and an
Argument for Justice before the
Governor and Council" The book
contained the full text of Mr.. Hich->
born's argument before the Govern
or and Council on May % in behalf
~ N''N VI
and other material relating to the
pardon case were compiled by Mr..
Hichborn into most interesting
volume.
Two Other Pardons Granted
At yesterdays session, the Gov
ernor and Council granted pardons
to, Mrs. Edith M. Wright of Millin-
ocket, who was convicted in the SUI
nprlOP nnIlpt nd
at the last May term of adultery and
was sentenced to six months in Jail;
and to .Amade Rioux, who was con-
Vieted in the Cumberland superior
court of the illegal possession of in
toxtcating liquors and was sentenced
to pay fine of $500 and costs and to
serve three months in jail, and in
default of payment to serve six
months additional in jail. Pardon
was denied to Thomas Mclaughlin
of Portland, who is serving a sem
tence of a year in the Cumberland
county jail for assault and battery on
a young girl.
Hearing on the petition Of Edgar
NJ. Ward, formerly of Lewiston, no
is serving a life sentence in the
tinued to the September meeting.
Ward was convicted in the superior
court of .Androscoggin county, of the
murder of Marie Bernier by placing
a poisonous substance in some IL
quor which she drank.
Hearings on Three Cases
In the case Of Thomas McTaugh-
lin. Attorney Jacob H. Berman of
Portland appeared in place of Attor-
ney Harry E. Nixon of Portland, who
is counsel for the petitioner. A
statement from Attorney Nixon was
in which it was pointed
out that the petitioner had been in
Jail for over year as he was unable
TO obtain all when taken into Gus
tody. and that he now has work
available which will not be available