The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-04-09


satisfied me that the statements Of Mr..
Quarter contained in his letter 10 the
Governor are at least substantially cor.
rect; that he has not concealed for his
own use any Of the money or effects ot
the institution, and that grievous as his
sins have been, he has been in great
degree the victim Of other worse and
sharper men,"
Appended TO the letter Of Mr.. Lamb
is the following statement Of N. Wilkin.
son, viz:
~ have carefully examined the state.
tsmade by Mr.. A.. q. Quarter to His
ExeelIency ]. J. Jacob, Governor Of West
Virginia, and think with Mr.. Lamb
that they are substantially correct.
have known Mr.. Quarter for years, and
while sorrowing for the position in which
his kindness to others has in great meas.
ure placed him, feel confident that he
was as much sinned against as SHINING,
and | have no doubt should he receive
the pardon prayed for, his future life will
be devoted to making restitutions TO
those who have been injured.'
The Directors OF the penitentiary eitl-a
communication dated October 9TH, 1875,
addressed to the Governor say shat the
conduct Of A. G. Quarter, prisoner con.
fined in the State Prison under the laws
OF the State, has been uniformity good
and that ready and willing compliance
with the rules and regulations Of the pris-
on discipline has been marked feature Of
his conduct since he has been under our
supervision, and that after allowing him
the credit for good time under the laws
there remains about two years and eight
months to complete his sentence; and
learning that an effort is being made by
certain citizens Of the State to induce tue
Executive clemency to interpose in his
behalf, and being requested to submit a
statement OF his conduct while prisoner
to your consideration, do most cheer
fully submit that his conduct has been
all that could be desired by the Board Of
Directors; that il has been promotive Of
good discipline, and that strict com.
pliRnCe with the discipline OF the prison
cheerfully rendered has been marked
characteristic OF the man since his i'm.
prisonment. But further we would say
that his service to the Stats in the many
acts OF labor performed for the institu-
tion. have been OF marked and valuable
character. All OF which we submit az
promotive Of good discipline in recogniz.
ing good conduct OF prisoners when they
merit and deserve it."
The Superintendent and all the officers
Of the Penitentiary, in a communication
dated West Virginia Penitentlary, March
81, 1877, say: ave beg leave 10 certify
TO the uniform good conduct Of A. G.
Quarrier,who has been herein imprisoned
since the 10th OF October, 1871. In con-
sideration Of his valuable services to the
State, the just reward due prisoner for
unexceptionNble conduct and fidelity in
the discharge Of every duty imposed upon
him, together with his long imprlson-
ment and very severe punishment
we beg leave to ask OF and recommend
that your Excellency issue TO the said
A. c. Quarter u free and full pardon at
once"
Hon. Charles Hedrick, late Secretary
ot State, in letter to the Governor, dated
March 20, 1877, says:
CHARLESTON, KAEAwHA Co., W. Va,
March 30, 1877.
10 His E1eeliency, II. II. AiatthsrJ, Gorsrnor
Of W. Va:
DEAR R:-Col. B. H. Smith just read
me letter he wrote to you asking you to
pardon Alexander Quarter. concur
with him IN this application.
In this connection allow me to recall to
your mind, that the ofense for which
Quarter is now suffering was not re.
garded or punished as a crime by the
common law Of England, but only a
breach OF trust carrying its own punish
ment by the disgrace it necessarily en-
tailed-so was the law here until altered
by statute-nor is it now regarded as an
otiense of the malignant type which a
public sense OF justice TO the community
is reluctant to forgive. 1t is rather a
great error, which public policy (the out
growth Of the comparatively modern
methods Of conducting the commercial
and financial business Of the country re.
quires shall be treated with q more
severe and pronounced punishment than
formerly.
Mr.. Quarter has been confined in the
penitentiary more than five years, and by
his usefulness and good conduct there,
has earned, and has credit for, as I am
informed, about eleven months diminu.
tion Of the term (S years. to which he was
sentenced. His punishment has already
been more than It has been usual 10 mete
out for similar oifenses. And l under.
stand the executive clemency Of other
States and Of the United States, has not
been slow to act when involved in
such cases.
Until Quarters fall as your Excellen.
cy we'll knows, he stood high, socially
and as a'business man in the communi.
ty in which he lived. He is closely con.
nected by blood with many OF the most
respectable people in the State. His fall
was therefore, Of itself, severe and
overwhelming punishment. Nor is his
the only heart that was panied on ac-
count Of this sad affair. Surely some.
thing is due to the tender sensibilities Of
a widowed mother, 10 brothers and sis
ters, and other near relatives, all OF the
highest reSpectability.
That he erred and committed a great
wrong against the public and largely
damaged individuals, all admit. But we
have an old maxim, made sacred by the
unanimity with which il has been re.
ceived, that "to err is human, to forgive
divine" And here, ! beg leave to say, in
conclusion, that during recent residence
OF near two years in Wheeling, where
the otiense was committed saw, prevail.
ing in this case the spirit OF forgiveness.
And ! hope your Excelleucy, as the rem.
resentative Of the general public, will Be
moved by the same spirit and will now
grant pardon to this unfortunate and
erring man.
l nm, very truly, &c.,
c, HEDRIcK.
Letters have been received from the
following gentlemen: Thomas Hughes,
K. Crangle, Andrew Wilson, George r,
Taylor, DR., NJ. +. Hullihen, W. F. Peter.
SON, Thomas Hornbrook and L. S. Della.
plain, Of the city Of Wheeling; Hon. ]. J.
Davis, Of Harrison county; b. H. Smith
and n. FitEhugh, Of Kanawha county,
urging the pardon Of A. G. Quarter, up
on the grounds Of his exemplary conduc,
since his confinement in the penitentiary.