Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-08-15
FRANK II. WALWORTH PARDONED.
Governor RObinsOn's Reasons for Issuing
the Pardon.

'Ni'N ~ -. 1910, anu WHO NILS StIA-
ing a life sentence III the New York
Penitentiary, has been pardoned. Gov.
Robinson, in issuing the pardon, writes a
long letter giving his reasons for taking
this action. This concludes as follows:
The present mental condition of the
prisoner, while it furnishes no ground
Tor his pardon, yet renders the question
of his further detention simply one of
public morals. Imprisonment has done
its full work, and the measure of his
c%apability to suffer from it is ended.
The only question left is whether the
interests of society yet demand the de-
%tention of an epileptic in the asylum for
insane ~convicts, where hehas so long been
placed, Aggravated by confinement,
the malady which has been upon him
since early childhood has so far pro-
crossed, | am informed by the highest
medical authority, as well as by the re-
port of the commission appointed by
my predecessor, that his further deten-
ton will result in complete idiocy, and
while they assure me that this result is
moi improbable III any event, they pro-
nounce it barely possible that he may
improve by immediate change Of scene
and air. To detain him in confinement
with the certainty OF this result in the
future is to inflict a scvercr penalty than
could have followed q verdict of murder
in the first degree. 1t would degrade
the administration of justice to the level
of a mere engine of vengeance, and i'll
BELTS the dignity of the law or the civil
ization and humanity which belong to
the age. Reviewing the whole case in
the facts brought to my knowledge, out
side as well as in the evidence, | cannot
believe it COMFORTS with even-handed
justice to longer detain a prisoner feeble
of mind and b,dy, about whose mental,
moral, and even legal responsibility for
the crime of which he stands convicted,
there yet remains so very serious doubts.
For the facts outside the evidence at
the trial, bearing upon the early history
of the prisoner, | am indebted to the
Hon. Augustus Bockes, Justice of the
Supreme Court, and other prominent
citizens of Saratoga Springs, as well Us
to the Rev. J. Trumbull Backus, of
Schenectady, all Of whom personally
vouch for the facts they have contribu-
ted. Professional opinions as to young
Walworth's past and present mental
condition are contained III the elaborate
communications and reports of the
commission before mentioned, as well
as those of DR.. John Ordronaux, State
Commissioner of Lunacy; DR.. Charles
f. Mcdonald, of the Asylum for Insane
Convicts at Auburn, and others Of high
scientific attainments. The letter of the
Hon. Augustus Bockes, Il citizen and
jurist Of prominent worth and repute,
is annexed as tending to elucidatc the
legal questions III the case and to set
forth certain of its facts. 1t is only
proper to say that it was written by
Judge Bockes, with the understanding
that the mental condition of the prison
er was to be treated by professional
gentlemen, and that he therefore refrain
ed from any consideration of that aspect
of the case. l.. ROBINSON"
Accompanying the statement Of the
Governor is IA lengthy letter from Judge
Bockes to Governor Tilden. dated Sara
toga Springs, Feb. 8, 1875, in which he
speaks of his intimate knowledge of
young Walworth from his infancy; that
"he was uniformly gentle, kind, and
aflectionate, with high ideas of duty,
and it was undoubtedly the exercise of
these qualities that placed him in the
unfortunate condition which rendered
possible this occurrence which all now
sadly deplore. He had witnessed what
few lads Oh young men had ever before
been permitted to witness-a systematic,
persistent, malignant, persecution Of his
mother, whom he adorcd." Speaking
Of the fatal interview, the Judge urges
that the boy committed the deed in self
defense, and says che acted under the
belief that this course of conduct OF the
part Of his father might be terminated
through his influence and personal in
terposition. He may have miSjudged
in this; but should a young son, impell-
ed by strong affection, having the ardor
and confidence Of youth without the
judgment and experience of even adult
manhood, be held 10 the same rule Of
wise action and evere responsibility as
one of mature years.
The Judge concludes his letter as fol-
lows: "The case of young Walworth is
Il hard one. He sought to defend and
protect his mother from the grossest as
saults. He may have misjudged in the
course of action which he adopted to
bring about the desired result; but he
acted in good faith, as | sincerely be-
lieye.
If the ends of justice demanded his
conviction as an example to prevent
hasty action, that end has been served.
| trust his case may be faVorablv re-
garded, and that a full pardon will be
speedily granted him. | urge this with
all my heart, and with entire confidence
that what | beg for is but in accordance