The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-07-25
JUSTICE DERIDED.
Fred A. Cramer PardOned Out of the
Penitentiary After Less than Two
Months Confinement.

This is a world of surprises, and the
latest exemplification of this fact is the
pardon of Fred Cramer, ex>superinten-
dent of the Rock Island water works,
which astonishing information was
known in this city at o'clock last even
ing through dispatch received by Capt
J. NJ. Beardsley. The news, of course,
was joyfully received by his family and
friends, but others expressed their regret
that Justice had been so shamefully outs
ragged. This is the only reason the ARGUS
has to complain, for personally it is not
opposed to Mr.. Cramer.
Strange to say Cramer's release has
been effected through the aid of persons
who were instrumental in convicting him.
We don't mean that these gentlemen took
an active part in securing his pardon,
but simply placed their names on petit
tIou Which was lol "uiuCu W luC uiau WIZ
occupies the executive chair of Illinois, by
chance, 1t was his personal friends that
circulated this paper, and so Jealous were
they in his behalf that hardly had the
prison doors separated him from the
outside world, than they were getting
names for his pardon. 1t is under
stood that the petition was nu-
merously signed, among the names
being those of the mayor and majority
of the aldermen, who had engaged coun-
sci to prosecute him, and expended about
200 of the city's finances to impose
upon him the light sentence OF one year
at Joliet. If we are rightly informed ten
out of twelve jurymen that convicted him
| also put their names TO the petition, thus,
as far as in their power lay undoing that
which they performed while acting under
their oaths as jurors. Last but not least,
by any means, the Judge who read the
sentence TO the prisoner, was induced to
add his name to the already long list, and
as a consequence acting Governor Ham.
| ilton ordered the mighty gates to be
swung ajar and Fred Cramer emerged
from the dismal surroundings, where he
has has lived for less than two months
and Joliet will know him no more, we
trust, forever
If we were to soliloquize We might say
that this pardon OF Cramer's is travesly
on justice, and misapplication of the
laws as written in the statute books. The
cry of Turn the rascals out" could moi
be more correctly administered, and is a.
| significant as the republican admonitioI
of Let no guilty man escape" If ",
were impairment, we might add that thu
democratic party turned Cramer out o
office, and the republican party turned
him out of prison. Were it known tina
Hamilton knew his business so we'll be
would probably have been Garter Harr
sons opponent instead of "Roarin!
Dick" Hamilton Is fast becoming con
| spiCuous, bnt in way that will cause hin
to be forgotten as soon as he steps out o
the chair he now occupies
Mr.. Cramer was taken to Joliet on the
second day of last month, and served one
month and twenty days of confne
ment. He was lucky for being SENTENCED
for only one year, and still luckier il
came acquainted with his keepers
Cramer is also fortunate to reside in Il cit,
where the people are warm hearted, ant
will do almost anything for fellow bein!
in trouble. He is to be still further con
graduated for living in a state where tn
| governors shoes are filled by man Wit
takes delights in issuing pardons. For al
these things We say that Cramer is to b.
congratulated. W. H. Gest and H. c
Cleveland have been at the capital for The
past few days, interceding in Cramer'
behalf, and he should be especially CRATE
| full to them.
Meanwhile the ARGUS laments not tina
Mr.. Cramer is once more among us-fo
We understand he arrived today-but il
simply knows that things are thusly, anC
wonders why they are not otherwise.