Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-11-26
Governor and Council
fContinued from paue Onel

| kCon1tnueo from rage One1
county. who is serving a sentence OF
not less than one or more than two
years in the States prison at Thorn
aston for conspiracy to violate the
prohibitory liquor law.
| The murder cases taken up were
| those in which Albert L. Barker of
| Portland and Vito Prunesti of East
J Millinocket are now serving life
sentences in the States prison at
| Thomaston.
/ The petition for the pardon of Will
| lard S. Levin. Houlton attorney
| convicted in the supreme judicial
court for Aroostook county for con-
| spiracy to violate the provisions of
! the prohibitory liquor law. scheduled
for hearing yesterday. was not con-
siderei but will be presented at a
| later date.
| Hearing on Shaw's Petition
I The petition for the pardon of Hers
chel Shaw of Houlton. formerly county
| attorney for AToostook county. who is
serving a sentence of a year in the
! States prison at Thoma ston for con-
| spiracy to violate the provisions of the
prohibitory law. was presented by At
| torney Leonard A. Pierce of Houlton.
Shaw was convicted at the April term
/ of the supreme judicial court for
| Aroostook county in 1923 and was COM
mitted to prison May 10, 1928.
Attorney Pierce said that he really
| did not appear as counsel in this case
but as an old friend of the petitioner.
He and the petitioner were brought up
! together and practiced law together
until he moved to Portland from Houl-
ton five years ago.
! We don't deny but that the petit
! toner had fair trial. but we think
: the ends of justice would be served if
the man We're pardoned.' said Attor-
ney Pierce.
II was down to Thomaston yester-
| day to see the petitioner and l am
sure that he has received sufficient
punishment" continued Attorney
/ Pierce.
NO one wants it to he the impress
sion that a man whose father occu-
pies a responsible State position re-
ceives better treatment than others,
and the father in this case does not
want any favors on his account.
| Attorney Pierce read letter from
| Ansel l.. Tumbert, Houlton attorney,
| iavoring a pardon.
! Il firmly believe that the ends of
/ justice in this case would best be
served by letting the boy out of pris-
on" said Mr.. Pierce. Give him a
chance
| Llewellyn Powers of Houlton, speak
| ing in favor of a pardon, said that he
had known the petitioner all his life
! Il really believe that If Herschel
shaw is liberated that he will make
good" said Mr.. Powers.
| County Attorney Powers Testifies
/ Herbert 7. Powers of Fort Fairfield.
; county attorney of Aroostook, said
| that the nature of the case should be
taken into account in reaching a de-
! cision.
County Attorney Powers said that il
was u fact that during Shaw's primary
campaign that promises were made 10
people in the liquor business who Were
told that if Shaw was elected every
thing would he all right.
During the year. 1928 at least the
sum of $4,000 was collected from men
III the liquor business" continued
) County Attorney Powers.
! Il viii also say that other crimes
besides liquor selling Were handled in
Il peculiar manner.
'The judge imposed the miIdest SEN
tence possible under the circumstances.
I 1t isn't an agreeable task for me.
Herschcl ShaWs Gather and i have
been friendly for many wears. [ have
sympathy for the mans family. but
believe it my duty to explain the cir
cumstances of the case To the council. =
Attorney Pierce stated that he I'M
derstood that Edwin w. Grant, former
~ sheriff of Aroostook county, who
was convicted in the federal court for
conspiracy to violate the provisions of
the EolStead act and sentenced to serve
/, Two years at Atlanta, would be par
doned December II.
Two Other .Aroostook Rum CAGES
TWO oth1r rum cases linked wit II
TIE Aroo5took county rum scandal
ct 1873. were argued at We sterday's
session of the Governor and Council,
Attorney Harry NJ. Briggs of Houlton
appearing as counsel in both cases.
The petitioners were Frank l. An
derson Of Oquos<oc. formerly of
Foulton, ANA Ernest Smith of Fort
falrhelg. The former was sentenced
for Illegal selling of liquor. while the
latter's crime was keeping LIQUOR UNI
lawfully.
In the Anderson case. Attorne .
Briggs stated that the man had been
engaged in the liquor business in
Houlton and thought that he was
protected, or at least he had paid for
protection. There came time
said Mr.. Briggs, When Anderson
did not pa" enough or there was a
quarrel over the graft money and a
warrant was sworn out against An
dcrson by Guy Crosby
Lawyer Briggs said that Anderson
was a witness in the Federal court
. In CT on1 tnct if1Nnnt- NU1,i n
in part resulted in the conviction OF
some men higher up. He pointed
out that Anderson is in the lumber
! business and has contract to de-
! liver 1o.GD cords of pulp wood,
which work he will attend to al once
il given his freedom. The attorney
said that the petitioner gave evidence
to District Attorney Dyer which re-
! suited in the conviction of Edwin
! w. Grant, former sheriff of Aroos-
took county. and Willard S. Lew /.
| a HoultOn attorney, in the Federal
district court. He said that Anderson
has been out of the liquor business
for two years. during which time
although a capias had been issued.
the man had not been arrested.
Herbert T. Powers. county attor-
ney of Aroostook county stated that
the reason why Anderson was not
arrested sooner was because the Of
fiCers did not know he was a resident
of Aroostook county. Anderson was
at Bangor a good deal during that
period. Mr.. Powers said that he was
willing TO consider the information
: that Anderson gave as an eXtenuat-
ing circumstance in his favor al
though it was true that the man had
ldone an extensive liquor business for
quite a period of time and received
only a $500 fine and 90 days in jail.
The Smith Case
Attorney Briggs said that the evil