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Subject: [GM-L] Maria L. Crue Murder 1880 Groton - Part 12 of 12
Date: Thu, 14 Mar 2002 13:49:48 EST
Subject: Maria L. Crue Murder, 1880, Groton
Part 12 of 12
Wendell Phillips and Many Others Champion Abbott's Cause
When it was decided that Stearns Kendall Abbott would have to expiate his
guilt upon the
gallows, a number of individuals actuated by motives of philanthropy, began a
vigorous
agitation looking to a commutation of his sentence. Wendell Phillips became
warmly in-
terested in the case, and threw himself into the work of securing a
commutation with all
the energy with which he was noted.
Monster petitions were circulated asking for commutation, one of which was
signed by seven
members of the jury that convicted him, Messrs. Edward McManus of Natick,
Walter S. Barnes
of Somerville, George M. Smith of Cambridgeport, George A. Flagg of Waltham
(foreman),
Samuel T. Littlefield of Somerville, D. P. Mason of Wakefield and George A.
Prentiss of
Belmont. Three of the jury refused to sign the petition, and two of them
were not seen.
As a result of all this agitation, it was decided by the governor and council
to give a
hearing to all those who favored the commutation, which hearing was held at
the State House
on the 14th of April, 1881. At this hearing, Wendell Phillips lifted up his
voice in support
of the petition as did also his counsel, General Chamberlain, ex-Warden
Haynes, Mr. McManus
of Natick, one of the jury, and others interested the case. There seemed to
be an idea in
the minds of some of the petitioners that there was not sufficient evidence
adduced at the
trial to prove beyond all reasonable doubt two things:
First, that he was the real murdered.
Second, if guilty, they contend that there was an entire absence of anything
showing
premeditation.
Elaborate arguments were then made pro and con, Mr. Bent arguing for the
petitioners and
Attorney General Marston for the remonstrants. The matter was then taken
under advisement
by the Governor and Council and on the following day they decided unanimously
not to inter-
fere with the carrying out of the sentence of death, much to the
dissappointment of those
who so warmly espoused the cause of the condemned man.
Nothing daunted, however, by their failure, they redoubled their efforts to
save Abbott from
the terrible fate that was about to befall him. During all these weary days
Abbott stoutly
maintained his innocense, reiterating over and over again when conversed with
upon the sub-
ject that he had nothing whatever to do with the murder of the unfortunate
woman. As the
day set for his execution approached, and there was no move made looking
toward a commutat-
ion, his friends lost hope, although many of them, more especially the
district police,
were working with a great deal of zeal. Still Abbott did not weaken in his
declaration
of innocense. Finally, there intervened but 24 hours between him and
eternity. The gallows
was erected and all preparations for his execution completed, when Governor
Long and his
council decided to commute the death sentence to one of imprisonment for
life, Governor
Long remarking to Detective Reed that, while he had no doubt as to Abbott's
guilt, he was
rather opposed to capital punishment, as a matter of course.
There was considerable satisfaction manifested at the action of the Governor,
although there
was not wanting a large number of persons who maintained then, and still
insist, that he
was guilty and richly deserved to suffer the extreme penalty of the law.
Among these may
be mentioned Detective Reed, who, as will be seen by the foregoing statement,
can give good
reasons for the faith that is in him. When news of the commutation reached
Abbott, he took
the matter very cooly, and since that time has continued to insist upon his
entire guiltless
ness. He has so far won the confidence of his guardians that they are not at
all backward
about expressing the belief in his innocense, although upon what hypothesis
such a pre-
sumption is based, in the light of the above detailed evidence, much of which
has been
published for the first time, it is difficult to determine. And at the
present time, as
Herald readers well know, counsel are busily engaged in another attempt to
secure his
release from prison.
What success they will meet is still an open question, although they profess
entire con-
fidence in the ultimate outcome of the case, as does Abbott himself.
Striving for Pardon
The inconsistency of some of Abbott's statements, as before stated, the
efforts for pardon,
in Abbott's case, have occasioned no little public interest. Some of his
statements are
simply incredible, and his attacks on his counsel, who so faithfully defended
him in the
face of overwhelming evidence of his guilt, smacks of ingratitude. His
relections on Mr.
W. H. Bent, junior counsel, in an interview with a Herald reporter, published
January 28th
are wholly unwarranted. He went on the witness stand of his own volition and
not at the
instigation of Mr. Bent. he was warned by Mr. Stevens, but persisted, and
was one of the
strongest witnesses against himself.
One of the most conclusive points which show Abbott's guilt is his statement
at the trial
that he took the 1 o'clock train to Boston at the Littleton station. It is
at least four
and one half miles from the Bradley house. The Bradley's swore that he was
at their house
at or about 1:30 o'clock. They could not state the time positively as their
clock had
stopped, but they were certain that he came sometime after the train from
Lowell to Ayer
on the Stony Brook, had passed their house, about 12:45 o'clock..even if
Abbott had reached
the Littleton Depot, four and one-half miles away, in time to catch the 1
o'clock train..
this will be plainly seen by reference to the plan of the locality.
In face of the fact that Abbott admitted at his trial that all of the
witnesses who saw him
on the day of the murder told the truth, except Hewins and Miss Carr, this
conclusion is all
the more inevitable, it would seem. Detective Reed states that he is willing
to meet the
gentlemen interested in the pardon of Abbott before the Governor and council
at any time
they may desire. End, Herald coverage of the case.
Follow-up
"December 26, 1983
Dear Wally:
I was able to get down to the State Archives and view the pardon file of
Stearns Kendall
Abbott. Amont the letters were ones relating to Abbott's destination in
Philadelphia.
How far ahead this puts me in fixing Abbot's eventual demise remains to be
seen, but it
certainly pinpoints where he went. In the first place, a condition of
Abbott's pardon was
that he go to Philadelphia. His nephew's letter to Pardon authorities reads
as follows:
"Dear Sir:
In the event of my uncle, Stearns K. Abbott securing his release from prison,
I agree to give
him a home and assist him every way in my power. You need have no fears
whatever but what
he will be taken care of. Hoping you will be successful and thanking you for
your effort
in his behalf. I am yours truly,
John A. Abbott
Mrs. Ella Abbott, wife.
4318 Cloud Street
Frankford, PA."
A letter from one of Abbott's intercessors to Governor Foss dated February
16, 1911 reads
as follows:
"His Grace, Bishop Anderson and Dr. Dean are of the opinion that it would be
advisable
under the conditions of Abbott, if he is pardoned, to go to Pennsylvania, and
we believe
that there is no reason to fear that he will ever become a public charge
there. If it
were necessary, provision for the few remaining hears of his life would be
made here in
Boston, but it will no doubt be deemed wiser to get him away from the
vicinity of the
prison in which he was confined for thirty years, and where he would be daily
reminded
of the past."
A letter from John Abbott's employer certifies the good home that would be
provided for
Abbott as follows:
"We have known Mr. Abbott for five years as he has worked for us that length
of time, except
when we were dull. His character and habits are first-class and as to his
work here as a
loom fixer, there is none better.
James McMaster, Manager of Berkshire Mills, Frankford, PA."
I had a hell of a time finding Frankford, PA, on the map, but the Zip Code
Directory lists
it in South Philadelphia. The present Zip Code is 19124. Cloud Street runs
from No.4200
to 4699. It wouldnt be surprising if No. 4318 still exists. I dont have a
good enough map
of Philadelphia to figure out where the address is, but it may be in the
general direction
of the Spectrum."
In earlier pardon petitions, commencing about 1895, Abbott referred to taking
up residence
with his brother, then he refers to his brother being confined in the
National Soldier's
Home, Hampton, Virginia in 1900. By 1904, Abbott was expressing the wish
that he eventually
be laid to rest with his brother in Wilmington, Delaware, and refers to his
nephew in
Philadelphia as his nearest of kin. There was no reference in this
correspondence to his
brother's name. I guess I can only say that his brother died sometime
between 1900 and
1904.
Since you're not in Philadelphia, it may not be any easier for you to check
this out than
it would be for me; but if you are inspired sometime, I'd appreciate your
looking in the
1911 vintage city directories and thereafter for a trace of John A. Abbott
and wife Ella
living at 4318 Cloud Street, Frankford, PA (South Philadelphia?). It would
also be interest-
ing to check the listing for Berkshire Mills or Berkshire Manufacturing to
check the list-
ing to see what kind of operation it was.
I'd also be interested to learn at what point John A. Abbott dropped out of
the picture
in the directory and whether 4318 Cloud Street, Frankford still exists, and
who lives
there now.
I have some distant relatives who live in King of Prussia, but they're not
the sleuting
type and it may be some time for me to get down there to do my own nosing
around. Meanwhile
anything you could turn up would be much appreciated.
[note: The material above is not signed - however it gives the reader
the knowledge that Stearns Kendall Abbott, after serving thirty years
of a life sentence - was pardoned."
Material transcribed by Janice Farnsworth
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