Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-05-08

burn presented the argument on the
petition of Braha Hiro of Lewiston,
who is serving life sentence at the
State prison at Thomaston for the
murder Of a fellow Albanian named
Soloman, by stabbing with robbery as
the motive. Hiro was convicted in the
supreme court in Sagadahoc county in
1918. The affair happened at Tops
ham.
Attorney Wing argued that Soloman
was not killed by Hiro, but by another
Albanian; that Hiro's companion
forced him to put dagger in Solo
mans body after he was dead; that
Hiro pleaded guilty to the crime
through ignorance of the law, and that
If he had stood trial he never would
have been convicted on a crime more
serious than manslaughter. Attorney
Wing argued that although Hiro was
present when the crime was commit
ted, yet he had no participation in it.
Wilbur C. Oliver of Bath, who was
sheriff of Sagadahoc county at the
time Of the crime, related the circum-
stances Of Hiro's arrest.
The pardon was opposed by Arthur
]. Dunton of Bath, county attorney at
Sagadahoc county, who said that 1t
was a deliberate murder and that two
men, one of whom was Hiro. plotted
to steal the money Of a fellow Alba
MAN and then to cover UP the theft
by killing him. Both Hiro and his
companion. Resul, Kassim, are serving
der of Soloman.
Petition of John Harvey Griffin
The first pardon case to be con-
siderei was that of John Harvey
Griffin of Houlton, who is serving a
sentence of not less than Is nor more
than SO months in the states prison,
for the larceny of an automobile.
The petitioners were represented by
Judge Clifford Z. McGlauflin of
Portland.
Judge McGlaufiin stated that Crit
fin did not know how to drive an
automobile but rode in the car with
the man who did steal it, that Grif-
fin was advised to plead guilty by
his lawyer, the lawyer stating that
he would probably be placed on pro-
baton, and that he had never been
arrested but once before this offence,
and that for intoxication.
Mrs. Rosie Griffin. mother of the
petitioner. stated that her son had
never before been accused of larceny,
that he did not know how to drive a
car and that his only failing was to
drink liquor.
Under the circumstances. Griffin
has been sufficiently punished, and
for the sake of the boy for the sake
of his mother and for the good of the
state / ask that he be granted par
don," said Judge McGlauf1in.
Charles E. Wayne of Skowhegan
appeared for the pardon of his son.
Merritt Waye, who is serving term
in the Somerset county Jail for the
illegal possession of liquor. Mr..
Wave declared that he did not be-
lieve that his boy was guilty and ex-
planned how Young Waye and other
young men went to Madison to a
dance by automobile.
my boy told me that he had no
rum in the car, he never lied to me,
and believe him." said Mr.. Waye.
Gov. Brewster read a letter from
Harold E. Weeks, of Fairfield. coun-
ty attorney of Somerset county, stat
Ing that Waye threw away soda
water bottles containing alcohol
when pursued by the officers at Mad
ison.
Portland Man Asks Pardon
The petition for the pardon Of John
Flaherty of Portland, who is serving
a sentence Of six months in the York
county Jail at Alfred, was presented
by Albert z. Anderson of Portland as
attorney. Attorney Anderson ex-
planned that Flaherty, who was ar
rested at Kittery. is 80 years of age.
a veteran of the World War and that
he has suffered sufficiently for the
crime, although Flaherty states that
he was not under the influence Of IL
quor at the time Of his arrest.
Edward Berman of Portland plead
ed for a Communication of the sentence