Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-15
FALLON AND DIRKS
SEEKING FREEDOM
FROM STATE PRISON
Portland Men Serving Sen
fences for Manslaughter,
File Petitions for Pardon
Hearing to be Assigned by
Governor and Council at
Meeting February Is at
State House

Daniel Fallon and Peter ]. Dirks.
both of Portland, who are serving
sentences at the States prison at
Thomaston for the crime of man
slaughter, filed petitions for pardon
Saturday at the office of the secre-
'tary of State. Hearings on these
petitions will be assigned by the
governor and council at the next
meeting Thursday, Feb. 70, at the
State House.
Both Fallon and Dirks were con-
victed of manslaughter at the June
1921 term of the Cumberland county
superior court at Portland. Fallon
received a sentence of not less than
five and a half nor more than seven
wears in prison, while Dirks was
sentenced to not less than five nor
more than seven years in prison.
They were committed to prison
June 20, 1921.
Fallon and Dirks were convicted
Of manslaughter in connection with
the killing of a negro seaman named
Walker on board of one the boats
in Portland harbor' in the summer
of 1921. Fallon and Dirks and sew
eral other members of the seamen's
union went aboard the boat as
strikebrea kers to persuade the sea-
men on the ship to leave their posi-
lions and join the union. In the
fight on the deck, Walker was hit
upon the head, fell into the water
and was drowned. Fallon and Dirks
and seven others pied guilty and
were given sentences ranging from
two or three years to seven and IL
years in States prison. Seven other
men were not apprehended.
Fallon has been one of the lead
ers in the convict governing sys-
tenn at the prison, serving for
time as governor of the institution
under that system. A petition for
his pardon was heard by Governor
Brewster and Council, December IL.
1925, and was denied.
FallOn Claims Is Innocent
II am not guilty of the crime
that I was sentenced to prison for"
says Fallon in his petition for ex-
ecutiye clemency. II did not at
tending any meetings of any kind
where discussions were held about
killing or injuring anyone.
My sentence reads so that 1 am
deprived of parole, as my maximum
sentence with good time off expires
before my minimum sentence
THE State has made a 'cripple of
me through neglect on their part
by not placing safety guards on the
machine to prevent inmates from
being injured. My health has been
very badly impaired while serving
this sentence as l have underwent
IL minor and major operations.
'At the recent investigation I was
accused of offenses that I knew alb
solutely nothing about, and further
more nothing was proven against
me, and as at that time the public
was against me for the publicity
given me on false statements pub
lished, and that I did not have an
opportunity of defending myself.
This is the first time in trouble
of any kind and if executive Glenn
ency, my intentions are to leave this
country and reside in Holland as l
have no relatives or friends.
DirkS Wishes to Become American
Citizen
Dirks seeks executive clemency
for the following reasons set forth:
THAT at the time of this trouble I
was ignorant of the English Ian
guage and the laws of this country.
Furthermore, I did not understand
what took place at the meeting held
in Union headquarters the night
that this trouble occurred.
THE reason of this application is
that / wish to become an American
citizen. as l hold first citizenship pa
pers issued to me in Portland, and
in few months will have served
the sentence imposed upon me, and
the Department of Justice at Wash
ington. D. c.. has advised me that /
would be allowed to remain in this
country If granted a pardon at the
end of my sentence.
Il have always respected the
laws of this country, and an hon.
est law-abiding workingman up to
the time of this labor trouble. Fur
thermore, my conduct while in pris-
on has been Of the best, which can
be verified.
Should be granted a pardon, I
nave opportunities of lettering nv
self as I have studied and learned
the English language and will be-
come a useful and law abiding citi-
zen and will have paid the debt I
owe to this State in few months
caused by ignorance on my part. and
for this reason l am asking you hon
orable gentlemen to temper Justice
with mercy"