Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-04
COUNCIL FIXES
MARCH u AS DATE
PARDON HEARINGS

PARDON HEARINGS
The governor and council Tuesday
set for Thursday, March II, the date
for the consideration Of pardon cas-
es which have been pending for the
mast three weeks. These cases In
clude those Of Willard S. Levin. a
former Houlton attorney, who was
convicted with Herchel Shaw, form
erly county attorney Of Aroostook
county, OF conspiracy to violate the
prohibitory liquor law, each OF whom
were sentenced to serve a year IN
the States prison at Thomaston.
Levin Is now serving term In the
federal penitentiary at Atlanta, nav
ing been convicted with Edmund w.
Grant, formerly sheriff Of Aroostook
county, Of conspiracy to violate the
so called Volstead law in the United
States district court at Bangor.
AS an aftermath Of the conviction
of Grant and Levin in the federal
court petitions for the pardon of Guy
f. Crosby Of Oakfield, former dep
uty sheriff, who Is serving a term In
the States prison for receiving
money from Willard S. Levin for the
purpose of influencing his action as
a deputy sheriff, and Charles e. Cal
vim, Richard S. Vereker, Charles
Smith and Charles Powell of Houl-
ton and William Tacticos of Pressure
Isle, who are serving time in the
Aroostook Jail for liquor selling. will
be heard week from Thursday.
Pardons were denied all these
meeting during the closing hours OF
the administration Of Gov. Percival
T. Baxter.
The Levin Petition
In his petition, Levin states that
at the time Of his conviction he was
under sentence to the federal prison
at Atlanta for the same offense, hav-
ing been convicted on the same evil
dence.
"If should be forced to serve the
State Of Maine sentence, 1 would be
serving two terms for the same Of
Tense, which seems to me unfair, I'M
just and improper" says Levin in
his petition for a pardon.
II wish to state in passing that
until this unfortunate affair my rec
ord as a citizen and as a member Of
the bar had been clean and unspot-
ted" continues the petition.
All the other petitioners state that
they were witnesses in the United
States court at Bangor against Grant
and levin. that they were indicted
in the state courts solely on the evil
dence which they gave in the federal
court, that they We're given to I'M
derstand that they would be granted
immunity in the state as well as the
federal courts and that their evil
dence was Of sufficient help and val
ue in the Grant and Levin trial to
entitle them to a pardon.
Smith, Powell and Vereker Petitions
The petitions for the pardon of
Smith, Powell and Vereker, contain
the following statement:
1T Is contrary to public policy to
prosecute and punish a man in a
state court upon evidence given by
him in q prosecution against other
parties in a United States court.
thus creating antagonism between
the courts and tending to engender
situation whereby the courts and
enforcement officials are hindered
and embarrassed in their efforts to
enforce the prohibitory laws of both
jurisdictions.
The policy Of both, honoring the
valid and reasonable agreements of
each, would bring about a spirit of
cooperation that would initiate in
favor OF enforcement. A pardon in
this case would tend to encourage
others having knowledge of viola
lions In which they themselves might
be implicated. to testify without fear
OF prosecution in another court.
Other Pardon Cases
Three other petitions for a pardon
Will be heard by the governor and
council on Thursday, March -.
those OF Clarence Phinney of Ma
chias. serving a term in the Reform
atory for Men. for breaking, entering
and larceny In the night time. Ade-
iard Bresette Of Caribou, serving a
term In the Aroostook Jail for liquor
selling and Robert Z. Messer of
Portland, serving term in the
states prison at Thomas ton, for rob-
berry.
Phinney's sentence was five wears
ana ne was convicted in the supreme
judicial court for Washington coun-
~ In 1923. He states in his petition
Tor a pardon that because of his
youth ne did not realize the Serious
ness or his crime but now he feels
mat ne Is so matured that he knows
right from wrong.
orlsette states that for a long time
prior TO his conviction he had been
suflerlng from progressive kidney
alsease which on account of his con.
nnement has been aggravated. and
IS now in such an advanced stage
tnat 1t requires constant medical a.
,enoance to prevent extreme suffer-
ING, and that there are no facilities
at the Jail for his care.
Messer was convicted in the az.
perior court for Cumberland countv
IN l920 for robbery and was senterc.
eu 10 serve not less than 10 nor moro
IMAM 10 years in the States nrison
realize the mistakes have
Iiaoe IN the past and I have suff,o
ciehtiy tried to atone for them" save
Messer in his petition.
believe 1 have been sufficiently.
punished and have profited thereby,
continues the petition. ''
In the future, / will resna,. ho.,
ne Jaws or God and of man. wish
70 return to those who have remain
gu loyal TO me in order that I nav
repay them with a life of usefulness
III the sacrifice and heartaches
when they have endured, with ne
ultlmate result that may be n credit
10 them and myself" wit