The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-11-21
THE BOARD or pARDoNs.
is THE JAZZ SAFER


In our issue Of July 1S, the
HERALD warned the pcuple OF the
impending danger Of Governor Me.
Euerv, Oh recommendation OF a
majority of the Parlon.ng Board,
granting TO Pat Ford and john
Murphy communication OF their
death sentence.
Tnis warning was basel on the
current, AMI generally believed,
rnmpr Of lhr Governors intention,
If allowed by u majority OF the
Pardoning Board, to grant tho com
imitation; and such were the APP
parent grounds iorthis immpression,
warning was given to "thc people Of
Louisiana, to prepare themselves
for The most culpable violation of
o'icitl duty yet distinsuis hing
their present Executivr.'
AS 10 danger of assent of he res
pective members Of the Pardonings
Board, it was stated that, ono one
had he least fear that any influence
could incline Judge Baker, the trial
judge, to give his approval to such
communication" And, as to The o. her
members, Lieut. Governor Kno
block and Attorney General Gun.
niugnam, it WAS said:
Freed from that terrible infuenre which
the present dominating political power wieids
over State and Municipal officials, il would
not be believed TINT Lieut. Governor Knoblock
or Attorney General Cunningham would, in
this case, advise the Governor otherwise than
to order the enforcement OF the verdict OF the
the jury, and sentence ot the court Person
ally, these oitie, rs are too good citizens, and
| too good lawyers, not to know and Il Ell, TINT,
| in this case, to abAte one jot Of the statu tory
| penalty would be, not only in unjust and I'M
| IneritUri0us exercise of executive power, but
wouId add another TO the numerous acts of
nIiscalled clemeneY tht0ugh' which large u
portion of tile criminal class, especially thOse
| belonging TO official lite 0nl possessing official
! Influence, have, aud with substantial reasons
become sanguine OF escaping the penalties Of
their crime"
Yet, such was realized TO be the
condition of affairs, that il was felt
a dnty to express the tear:
"Yet the malign influences which have st
tendel the defense of the Eve aayers since
the preparation of the crime, have, at times,
borne euch indication of political influence.
always tIHeebie to official life, that an over.
bearing influence over THESE two Of the three
members Of the hardening board, has, and
naturally, become Il cause Of public anxiety.
And this anxiety exists though ths assem- OF
both these officers will be neoessaly o. author
ise the Governor TO grant the repreve."
Honestly, at The time, entertain
Ing, with many others, this fear, the
warning to the people Of tho State
concluded:
Therefore, if they would prevent tn,
present threatening danger to the safety
: of society-a danger which if cOnsum
mated will unquestiennlly be the precursor o
the ultimate full pardoA Vi the present appli
cants for communication, and their three asso
ciates in crime, under sentence for manslaugh
ter--the people of the State should make theil
effort at OBcs, How aud in what manner
they must, likewise, at Ouee for themselves
1HclH 49, III IHlS SNNNt illtHt ilclN
always 10, u power inherent in the people
which, if exercised, is sufficient to torespe ant
prevent an impending wrong; even ii threat
oned under assumed legal authority"
That this expressed fear Of malign
political influence OF, behalf OF TAG
condemned men Was fully war
Tanted, has become known TO all
through the continuous, strenuous
efforts of their political friends
officials aud thtir adherents, by
every art know1 to them, either q
persuasion or threats, to 0htail
from the Pardonug Board q com
mutation of sentence.
, Tho full extent of the free thus
directed against the integrity, il
dist large Of official duty Of tn,
members of the Pardoning Board
may never be known. When, how
: ever, the Board unanimously in
formed the Governor, that: "4h
character of the crime, the ciFcum
a, stances of its commission, the Incl
: dpnts of the Trial and lht absence q
; mitigating circumstances, seem i
demand a prompt execution Of III
law" it became known to all men
that in these da.k DAYS Of otlicia
J corruption, Louisiana had in tire
{ important official places just, feal
less and mrorruPtihlt men.
So far as the Board of Pardon i
+ concerned, the danger, which ara
\ impending, has passed, And ha'
:, the Governor fully respected h
ad, ice Il the Board, probably, b
the prompt execution Of The SCI
S tence, ali anxiety as to the 9onplet
h enforcement OF the law in this cas-
would be at an end.
Ihe- respite, almost immediatel