Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-20
CARD FROM JUSTICE LIENING.
Concerning the Case of IF. Martin, Before
the Governor for Pardon.

the Governor Tor PARDON.
EDS. RECORD UNIoN: An article APP
peared in your paper of Friday, August
18th, headed " Pardoned by the Governor
of one J. F. Martin upon the statement of
Hon T. J. Hart, of Colusa, and says that
the facts are as follows:
That, about three months ago Martin and a
neighbor had fight, during which the former
cut the latter with knife. Martin was ar
rested, taken before a Justice of the Peace,
found guilty, and sentenced to 800 days in the
county Jail. Prior to that time he was regarded
as peaceable law-abiding citizen. The man
he cut was but slightly injured. Martin has Il
wife and several children, who before the
trouble were supported by his daily earnings,
and since his Incarceration in prison. have lived
upon the charity of the community. The petit
tion presented by Mr.. Hart bore the signatures
of hundreds Oft the best citizens of Colusa to-
gether with those oft officials of the county.
The real facts are as follows: In the
Justices Court of Colusa township, of the
county of Colusa, State of California Peo-
pie VS.. J. F. Martin, complaint was made
against the above defendant of an assault
upon J. Grover an officer, with a deadly
weapon Ca knife, in the theatre at Colusa,
May 10, 1884; defendant brought into Court
by warrant May Goth examination set for
May %, 1884, when defendant, by his coun-
sci, asked to be permitted to plead guilty to
simple charge of assault, which plea was
granted, and defendant pleaded guilty to
charge of assault and waived the legal
time for Judgment; the Court examined
several witnesses as to the aggravation of
the case and the facts related by said wit
nesSes are as follows:
That said defendant on the above day. in
the Colusa theater, during play created a
disturbance. The officer, j. Grover, asked
defendant to be quiet, and said defendant
refusing 10 comply, the officer, J. Grover,
put the defendant together with two others,
out of the theater.
When. some time after, the defendant
promised to be quiet the officer allowed
him to come back. Defendant asked the
officer for his hat, and when he was in the
act of passing defendants hat to him, said
defendant made Il thrust with an open knife
in his hand, which was unobservcd BY the
officer, the knife striking under and back of
his left arm, penetrating his body some three
quarters Of am inch Defendant also made
over six cuts in the clothing of complain
ing witness, some of them through to his
body. 1t was vicious, wiliful and premed-
itated, and was a case OF felony, and de-
PENDANT should have been sent to the State
Prison, but was permitted to plead to a
lesser charge. \ fire of $500 was imposed,
and he was committed to the charge of the
Sheriff until paid.
1t is not true that he is quiet and peace
able citizen, for find three charges of mis-
demcanOr at different times against him,
and in one or more he attempted to use a
knife and was not justified in so doing 1t
was simply an accident that Grover was not
killed. He has Z tamily-wIfe and four
children; is one Of our best citizens, MGR
chant and peace officer. Said trouble did
not arise from q quarrel or fight, but as l
have above stated.
Defendant has a young, healthy wife and
0He child, not SeCerdL children. She receives
at present so per month from the county.
| am surprised at Mr.. Harris statement to
the Governor in the above case to induce
him to release said defendant upon mis-
representation. If Mr. Hart has made the
above, referred to by me in this article, /
must say it is not true, nor any part of it,
and he was not ignorant of the facts am
sorry that any person should so fan forget
his duty towards his Excellcncy, the Gov
ernor Of the State, as to make such gross
misstatements. l certify the above to be
true and correct. JOHN II. LIENING,
Justice of the Pecae in the above case.
COlusa, August Is, 1884.
[NOTE.-GOvernOr Stoneman stated yes
terday that he had not pardoned Martin,
but had merely taken the matter under
consideration.-EDs RECORD UNIoN.7