The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1884-12-25
GOV. BegOle Adds TO His List Of
PardOns.

LANSING, Dec. 17.-Gov. Begole has made
the following pardons and Communication of
sentences:
Cardamen Dec and Joseph Roase, SEN
fenced August %, 1884, to eight months
imprisonment in the Genesee county Jail,
for abducting girl for prostitution.
Calvin Slough, sentenced at Hillsdale No
vember %, 1881, to five years at the Ionia
house of correction for arson.
Thomas Taylor, sentenced from Genesee
county June /, 1873, TO ten years at Jackson
for robbery.
William Ross. sentenced from Mecosta
county February y, 1888, to twelve years at
jackson for assault with intent to kill; COM
muted to two years.
James Malloy, sent from Kalamazoo coun-
ty December %, 1888, to jackson prison for
five years, robbery: committed so the sem
tence will expire December %, 1884.
Frank w. Penny, implicated with Burn
ham on a charge Of stealing goods of Roehm
q Wright, Detroit, and sentenced May /,
1884, to three and half years at Ionia; so
as to expire January 1, 1886.
Dan Van Waggoner, sentenced from Kali
amazoo, May 8. 1877, to forty-fve years at
Ionia. for assault with intent to kill and
murder: COMMITTED 80 that sentence will ex-
pire January /, 1856. Van Waggoner was
noted as one of the most desperate of young
rascals. He followed a Mr.. Hewett from
Muskegon TO Kalamazoo, intending to rob
him and go to the Black Hills. He decoyed
him to a piece of woods and then beat him
over the head with the pruning shears, shot
him four times, and robbed him after he
supposed he was Dead He was convicted
and sentenced to forty-fve years in prison,
and his friends have made desperate efforts
to secure his release by corruption and influ-
ence. He played the pious dodge and made
desperate effort TO escape, but was soon
captured.-Detroit Free Press.
The people of this state will feel relieved
when Gov. Begole shall become plain Josiah
Begole. 1t is but little satisfaction for courts
and officers to use their best endeavors to
bring criminals to merited punishment, only
to have the executive of the state turn them
loose to resume their nefarious practices.
Our principal servant" has won an unenvi-
able notoriety, during the two years of his
administration, as the great pardoner. This
last act of his in that direction, however,
surpasses all his former efforts. The COM
mutation of the well-deserved sentence OF
Dan Van waggoner was simply an outrage,
and an insult to the people of Michigan
II was an act that should cause poor, weak
Uncle Josiah Begole to hang his head in
shame. Van Waggoner is one of the most
noted and notorious criminals with which
our state has ever been cursed, and execu
tive clemency in his behalf is burning dis
grace to the man who exercised it.
The pardoning of Dec and Roase is nc
better. The very nature of the crime OF
which they were convicted admits of no OK.
tenuating circumstances. If guilty at all
the severest punishment that could be in.
fiicted on them would be altogether toe
light.
The most interesting feature of the farce
that has been carried on by the governor OF
our state during the past two years will be
crit Begoie. AS the day dawns ON which he
shall step down and out, TO return never.
more, all coed citizens will feel like exclaim.
ing. "Praise God from whom all blessings
fow.r