Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-12-14
Pardon of Prisoners.

uOT Duuhs tuc piuCtiNC was iHNiNNuSSN
by the warden OF the State Prison at
Charlestown of pardoning on Thanksgiv-
ing Day a limited number of conyicts.
At first, only one pardon a year was
granted, but the system proved so bene-
fetal In its results that the number has
been somewhat increased, and on last
Thanksgiving Day no less than five of
the prisoners were made happy by
proclamation of freedom from Governor
Andrew.
Warden Haynes who originated this
practice, made his annual address TO the
prisoners, in which he took occasion 10
remark that all who had gone forth
from the institution at the instance of
pardens had behaved we'll, and reflected
honor upon themselves and the State.
He alluded in turn to the matters to be
considered in the distribution of par
dons-such as the sentence imposed, the
crime committed, the time already
served, the behavior Of the man in
prison and his situation in youth, and
the influences which surrounded him in
early life. There We're many petitions
for pardon on the ground of the previ-
Gus responsibility and high standing of
the party, and perhaps of the high stand
ing OF his relatives and friends, but he
was not always disposed to take such
facts Into influential consideration. He
thought that generally those who were
alone in the world, who had no one to
look after them in early life, and from
this reason more than any other were
led to commit crime, were more fit OBJ
jeets for pardon.
He then announced the names of Geo.
W. Burditt and Stephen D. Carey as the
persons whom after careful considera-
ton, and with the Governors approba-
ton, he had selected as the favored ones.
The announcement was received with
hearty applause on the part OF the 400
prisoners, and with emotions too deep
for utterance on the part Of the fortu-
nate recipients. We happen to have a
distinct recollection of Careyas case.
He was convicted of manslaughter up
wards Of fourteen years ago, and SEN
fenced to the State Prison for g term OF
twenty years. He had broken into the
depot at Lexington, Mass, at an early
hour in the morning; and the depot
master, whose name was Hayward, be-
ing soon aroused, Carey fed, and was
pursued by the former Though the
snow. When Carey found he was likely
to be overtaken, he turned and threaten
ed to shoot Hayward if he pursued any
further; and as he persisted Carey fired
infticting wound of which Hayward
died In few days. Carey was arraign'
ed for murder, and "Esq. Bootler
whose name had long. been a tower o.
strength to all imperiled Irishmen, act
ed as his counsel. The grounds OF de
Tense were mainly that Hayward not be
ing an officer had no authority to arres
Carey, and that the latter was acting IL
self.defense. He was convicted Of man
slaughter, and as already remarked, sen
fenced to the State Prison for INVENT.
wears. ,ef which at the time OF being
pardoned he had served about fourteen
The warden remarked that during hi
career in prison his conduct had beef
uniformly good that he was thrown
upon the world in early life, having
never seen his father, and being desert
ed by his mother when he was quit
young.
Governor Andrew then made one o
his characteristic speeches, brim full o
love, tenderness and sympathy. He al
luded to the fact that his term Of offic'
expired in less than month, and salt
that he could not bear to leave it AM
leave within the prison those men VIII
inJuly, 1868, resisted and violated tn
Eaws by participating in what was POP
ularly known as the draft riots; and b
I tought that on this day, while we wer
n, bring mp thanks and celebrating tn
tr; vmph of victory, it was right that h
sho vld do an act Of justice to GOD an
hun. unity by proclaiming an amnesty
holm West, John McGrath and job
lang. This announcement, so uneg
pected by the three prisoners, owe
rhelmed them with JOY, but in tn
midst of it all they could not fail to fet
grateful for the good wishes which tn
rsore unfortunate ones expressed fC
them by their hearty applause. The
had been sente need for ten years, an
had served nearly twenty-five month
of the time. In view of the prior chal
acser OF these men, the Governor said b
thought he could trust them in the fl
tyrs, and il there was honor In man, b
soch rely on them to be good, homes
and faithful members of society. J
hey proved IN worthy of the confdenc
nposed in them, they would not onl
Aisap,oiut those who had favored then
~ they would destroy the hope her
&c sner OF many confident man, and pc
hps discourage future administration
&c IF fla N,