Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-06
Makes Dramatic
Plea for His Life -,
Before Pardon Board

Wethersield Prison, Conn, April S
-(AP)-Reached at the last door Of
escape, Gerald Chapman awaited
death at Wethersfield prison tonight
for the murder of Policeman James
Sicily in New Britain, Conn.
Months of unceasing effort for
clemency or for the privilege Of q
new trial with hope Of escaping the
moose, ender today when the state
board of pardons fatty refused to in
terfere. despite dramatic plea from
the prisoner and his counsel.
Chapman's fight for life has en-
bodied every recourse known to jur-
isprudence. from the police court to
the. United States supreme bench.
With the spectre of death reach
ing out for him Chapman seemingly
sounded his own death knell this aft
ernoon when to the board of pardons
he was asking for clemency. he ex-
claimed; Il have acquired a sense OF
futility of the whole proceedings"
The board unanimously, as the law
requires, declined to commute the
mans rentence to life Imprisonment.
1t listened for 80 minutes to Chap
mans appeal which was dramatic
His low but penetrating voice, brok-
en- at times by cough. sounded
throughout the room which otherwise
was still.
AS the supplicant for mercy stood
and made his plea he showed no
signs Of nervousness or worry.
For the first time in nearly two
years he was able to exchange opir-
ions with his enemy. States Attorney
Hugh NJ. Alcorn.
WIFI, 70 Y,ior 4f
casm. sometimes subtle and which
passed almost unnoticed. he impaled
the states attorney so effectively
that his assistant, r. L. Gideon, once
jumped to his feet.
IF Your Excellency pleas he said,
elf Mr.. Alcorn will not object must
do SO. This is no place to exchange
personalities"
objection sustained" snapped
Governor Jot n H. Trumbull, who pre-
sided.
Chapman continued in his even
voice.
81 did not come prepared this morn
ing to say anything that Mr.. Groehl
has not already told. 1t was only at
Judge Groehls request that come
before you, because" he drawled
slowly. looking straight at the chief
executive, II have acquired a sense
of futility of the whole proceedings"
IF you have ever been confronted
with lie so monstrous that you have
not the sensibility to protest, you
know that it has the effect often of
Supplying.
IL know nothing of the legal aspect:
/ can only express the human side.
l thought that l would go over what
has transpired since the day of my
arrest at Muncie; also might recite
some of the marvellous side-stepping
of the supreme court-but / don't
have to use any of those hypocritical
phrases in speaking of the court"
Some of Mr.. Alcorn's statements
cannot be overlooked" Chapman
said. 81 have been asked why l did
not protest my innocence before.
Well, I don't think my voice was
loud enough under solitary confine-
ment to be heard any great dis
lance.
when l was brought to Atlanta I
was Immediately put into solitary
confinement. was allowed no news
papers. no mail. absolutely no COM
munication whatsoever. was put
on bread and water for five days.
but my health became SO ehdanger-
ed that was taken to the hospitai.
IT was brought back later into
solitary confinement and gever q
word was spoken to me OF Connect
cut. One officer did speak jestingly,
asking me whether would rather go
10 Connecticut than stay at Atlanta.