Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-10
COUNCIL DENIES
PARDON TO Three
ONE IS COMMITTED

The governor and executive coun-
Gil Thursday denied the petitions for
pardon of Eugene Ryder of Bar Har-
Dor, serving II months sentence in
Hancock county Jail for illegal
transportation; Albert Cote of
Pressure Isle, serving nine months in
the Aroostook county Jail on ike
charge, and Fred A. Grant of Gar
land serving an eight months SEN
tence in the Penobscot county jail
for single sale.
a Communication Of sentence with
the power of parole at the discretion
of the trustees of the state reforma-
tory for men was granted in the case
of Joseph Spires of Calais, serving
five years and one month in that IN
stitution for breaking, entering ana
larceny.
Tabled for gurther discussion were
the petitions of Robert T.. Messer OF
Portland, serving a sentence OF lo 10
Is wears at the state prison d.
Thomaston for robbery, and that OIL
I,oring f, Roberts Of Millbridge,
serving FIVE years and six months OF
rape. at the state reformatory ZOE
men. ,. M
continuance OF the nearing OH
the petition of Eavier Talbot OIL
Skowhegan, serving A SIX mon'n
sentence in the Somerset county J,ii
for operating a motor venice Wine
under the influence OF liquor. was
granted upon the request OF tne pc
titioner's counsel. Attorney MeiN!ii
f. Sawtelle of Augusta, appearln6 -,
behalf of Robert e. Messer. stateu
that the petitioner was a Woriu Nei
veteran, subsequently reenils'ins
ter the war. 1t was curing ms
enlistment that the crime OF Ioopuas
for which he was cohVic.eu, iii,
committed. Messer, in company WIN
a comnanion soldier named Wlillanis
entered a pawnbroker's store anu
tarrorized him into giving up Szoo'
mart Of which was found on them az
harvard. They were drunk at the
time and Respondent over the runor
that selective service men Oh ene
war would be given their dlscharse
but that volunteers would De heiu
until formal peace was ueclaieu "a.
MANY soldiers deserted because oi
this, Attorney Sawtelle stated.
He nIeaded nolo with the neileI
MAT his sentence would be from TWO
70 tour wears. Instead. he was
sentenced to 10 to IS years. he mas
nnry carved five years. A tabuia-
ZION Of robbery cases during the past
two years was introduced showing
that comparative sentences were
much less than that OF Messer. Az
tornev Sawtelle stated that the wal
den at states prison said that during
the MANY years he had been III
charge of the prison only one o'her
sentence for robbery has been VI
such length-that OF Nllilaiils' 'n0
companion Of Messer. =,
A letter from the compialneh. az
Messer's case, Morris Golonapei y,
Portland, stated that ne peileNe"
Messer has received suftlclent pun
ishment. The war Department. NIL
itary record of Messer gives the i"'
ters character as very good:
In summing up. the petltioiie,
counsel. believed the sentence was
ovcass;re and asked that commu-
totion Of the sentence be made so
that Messer would be ehSlple ioi
narole at an earlier date.
Tn arguing in behalf of Eugene Ky
der Of Bar Harbor, serving IL moh'hs
sentence for transportation or LIQUOR
Attorney Daniel Z. Hurley of Els
worth stated that the petitioner mao
been indicted under the laws OF w"
for transporting two quarts OF liquor
in a vessel from Gloucester. 1t was
contended that Ryder and the other
members of the crew had bought the
liquor, and at the time Of unloading
the vessels cargo Ryder had given
some of the handlers drink. one
man. a Polander, had later stolen the
rest of the liquor, drinking 1t ana
later dying from the result. Ryder
had borne the entire brunt of the al
fair when, according to evidence. the
liquor belonged to the crew as much
as to himself. Mr.. Hurley said that,
knowing it could not be proven that
RYDER had transported the liquor and
could not have been convicted II he
had pleaded mot guilty" he was In
duced to plead guilty" by the pros
ecuting attorney.
In the hearing of Albert Cote Of
Presque Isle, serving nine months in
Aroostook county Jail for illegal trans
portator, it was brought out that
Cote had gone to neighboring town
and had secured one quart of alcohol.
While returning in his automobile to
his home he was driving faster than
necessary and was stopped by depu-
ty sheriff who espied the liquor in
Cote's pocket. Ralph X. Wood of
Presque Isle, appearing for Cote at the
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