New Britain herald., 1930-11-21

| Cil tLt4 .te.I , +N'-'
 eYcv, but for justice" The governor look the case under adysement an" tbis week returned inc answer which will make Phillips a free man and return him 10 the "oFl7 he left three decades ago.
 Indicted in 1900
 Josaph Now. q soldier Was found daad, the victim of =unShot "onndS' January ta. 'aau. and Philips WIS indicted for the hIfmE at Elizabeth county, NirSjnia H. was sentenced 10 be hanged. but stay Of execution was granted 10 allow of inquiry ln'o his sanity. Errors in trial o' in" case were claimed but were d'~as- lowed by th, appella'. conr-, and OH q second aprsH to fta 7i0r'lH" court or the state. th. finding Of me ,oVer court was sustained. Later Fl +ha rroceod.ngs a jury was n- raneIed 70 detrrm.nr inc ~a9Ir} oi inc accused man. StN.ral a3fao"i- ties or mental amCr'~ sl-'..a following report a''"r 'N3m'Na'.on Of Philips
 Prisoner Claims
 The pater, sra',l that no ..tl reon falsely Imprisoned ""+ '""f. without just raus". rha' he [at done nothing to r. s.n' ra@r2 -7". 7hat Grant Watts Nl.rt tH" 'a#a un subsouant crmua. 0roes.d- ing. this sr1,amenr was verified :; mat inc people ahou' Inc -ai. "'r' fslng havonats. s~o-I-. a'cy 70 i"- 7.rs him. ... Ho was e>ctah."- showed vtolan. temper. H. said steel man stood over his ceI. h'i that he had p!ey.s O. D4s.o9otT1 marked ID in various ways fo prot 1fct him agatn-r attack. He refused 4o take food claiming that ], was roiso-ed. H. further 7;a-7a thai h. was born with h.s nam written in his left leg and that God D4l IL 7la~o for good reason. ha doo@n ! know. but God had marked him mat way: thar ho had a doctor 'a Wasa- j7e,on lau pur a shield on his '''1 arn, +o Sac0 him from beln~ kept ln +su longer than -n days. n-r that man who was a witness in tlo 'as" red removed -he shield a@d awaken ed him.
 sent to Insane Asylum
 After consideration Of tho ail'h- 7.,s. ranor- -ha jury found rh" prls- oner insane. H. was committed 70 an insane asylum under a court or der that h.. was ro remain there un- Ill such time as his mentality was restored. whereupon he was to he delivered 10 the sheriff for Aaa@hG'
 review Of Phillips history at tha insane asylum disgloscs that his confinement vas on many orcaS;oAS more a. record than an actuaIi'\. He escaped seven times. twice re- -yr-irg voluntarily and a- ofhfr -JuAs being returned hE he ro-'l'. 4, one time he was at large SIX years.
 Within inc las- f.w ''ars psychia+~ists recommended taa' 'h' prisoner be allowed more liberty be- reving that his confns~en- was r. snonsiblo for his condition. Armed win their report. Attorney Far'Sot brought her petition 70 the governor concludinE with tEc$n statements
 ~a-s Life is Wrecked
 Your petitioner. who Is no" 5- wears old. has spent approximately 90 years Of his lite in confinement +or 4 crime which he did not com init. This gross miscarriaGo Of jus lice has caused Eour petitioner Hh- told anguish and suffering SO severe a+ times as 70 result in mental de- engagement. His life has been cohl- pIctelv wrecked ny a misdlrec''on o' those agencies Of government WhlcH have been established for th" pres ervation and protection of human life
 Tt Is nov 100 late 10 correct inc injustice which your petitioner has suffered through the long years or confinement but ho respectfully nrays that lour excollcncy will grant him a pardon at this time SO ma, he may be paroled from the tentraI state hospital. restored 10 socl1'\ and once more permitted 70 enjoy life. liberty and tho pursuit Of hap piners. those constitutional Tuaran- ices Of free government which have been unjus'lv denied him these many years.'
 The governors parole ansolv's Phillips from t1o c.m~ Of which Ao has stood convicted for %o years afcr the real E.ll.r Grant Watts had been discovered. and now, aged far bryond his years, he will return 10 the world and cndearor 10 ro- 1,ot5r;+o+a 5, ,-r-etTf