Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-03-27
kENBLE'S CASE.
Before the Board of PardOns.

oclOEc THO DOAEu VI AEuOhSs
HARRISBURG, Pa, March 27.- The
board of pardons met this morning at IL
O'Clock for the purpose of hearing the
counsel for VIM. H. kemble, Emile j.
Petrotf, Charles b. Salter, Jesse r. Craw-
ford and VIM. F. Rumberger in their ar-
plication for pardon. The applicants were
represented by Hon. F. Carroll Brewster,
W. B. Mann, Of Philadelphia, VIM. II.
Armstrong. of LycominS county, John H..
Weiss, A. j. Herr and L. w. Hall, OF
Harrisburg, while the Philadelphia dele
CATION. who came here in the interest of a
pardon were promptly on hand. Among the
latter were ex-Sheritfs Leeds and kerns
Senator Elliott, G. II. T. Coils, II. ::Bumm,
John Mccullough, Mr.. Graft ana E. W.
Davis. The commonwealth was repre-
sented by District Attorney HOllinger.
Charles S. Wolfe ]. w. Simonton, j. G.
McAlarney and George w. Irwin, of Har-
risburg. The members of the board we've
all present and took their seats
promptly at the appointed hour
Mr.. Brewster opened for the ap-
plicants. He read letters recon-
mending Kemble to the mercy of tie
board from Z. V. Moore, editor of the
West Chester Republican Charles War
burton, proprietor of the Erening Iele-
graph, Philadelphia Col. John W. For
ney of Progress; Gen. G. H. T. Coils,
Congressman Bingham, Senator William
Elliott, Congressman Harmer. Hon5
Charles Gilpin. ex- Sheriff VIM. II. kerns,
Col. Henry w. Gray. and William Nj.
Singerly of the Record.
Letters were also filed from Messrs.
Charles Thompson Jones. Sheriff Taylor.
Recorder Lane, George w. Furman, Will
liam X. Leeds. NJ. Hall Stanton, p. a. B.
Widener, William Baldwin, Marshal
Kerns, Register w. NJ. Taylor, A. c..
Roberts, Hon. Charles O'Neill, Surveyor
Smedley, William S. Elkins and others
from Philadelphia. Allegheny county
contributed letters from VIM. McCand-
less, Sheriff Hunter, ii. II. Mccormick,
County Treasurer Kilgore, Reese Owens,
II. w. Oliver and other prominent citi-
ZenS.
Letters recommending Emile J. PetrOff
to mercy were read by Mr.. Brewster from
William llctleer, president of the Phila-
delphia board of trade, and j. B. Meyers,
president OF the Philadelphia produce ex-
change. A!r. Brewster said that while the
defendants were technically guilty of vi
olation of the law still they should be par
dOned, substantially for the following
reason - The Oifense was committed
through great excitement, incident to
strong effort made to pass the riot bill.
| They did not realize the full extent of 4
| violation of this law, as the act had never
been judicially defined. Such methods
will not hereafter obtain in the passage of
| legislative acts. They are forbidden by
the conviction had in these cases
and the ends of justice are there
| c.,n. Sv1u IN
| owes VIM II. Kemblea a debt of gratitude
devised system of finance for the state
and of which she m. .,y we'll be proud. In
his official position he has never failed to
do for the people we'll and honestly.
| William Ii. Armstrong thought that the
defendants should be dealt with leniently
and judicial clemency should be exercised
| in their behalf, for the state was
not clamOring for the blood O
these men. They are entitled to the
benefit of a character which stands unim.
paired, and while the weight of the Offenst
should not be lost sight of the people art
willing to see a sound clemency exercised
in these mems behalf.
District Attorney Hollinger, for the
commonwealth, said that the common
wealth delights not in the downfall of one
| of her citizens. She is proud OF
them and their record. But he who
violates the law must abide by the conse
uuences. When a man is found guilty by
a jury of his peers he must receive and ac
cept the sentence of the law. That thi:
sentence may not be Obstructed is
what the commonwealth asks for at thi:
time. She asks the board not to arrest
the strong arm of the law. Mr.. Hollingel
then read the protest, of the common
wealth, which is substantially as follows
There is no doubt as to the guilt of these
men, and it would be but mOckery OF jus
tice, after plea of guilty had been put in
to attempt to procure pardon before thu
Judgment of the court has been pronounced
Instead of these men having the good o.
the state at heart on the riot bill, the.
were, according to their own admissions
attorneys for a railway corporation which
desired the passage of this BILL
and these men were resOrtinS tt
questionable means to procure it. Ever
technical objection was taken advantage O
to delay trial and it was understood tha
when they pleaded guilty no obstruction
would be placed in the way of tn
law. To pardon these men would be treat
ing the constitution and the law as so muc
waste paper and would be con
doning an attempt to dispoil tn
treasury of large amount o
money. If 4 pardon is granted it mus
be from personal motives and deferenc
for them personally, which at once place
them beyond the constitution and the Law
and practically invests them with hcens
l