National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-11-07
PLEADING FOR PARDON.
A Talk with the Man who Handles
the Petitions OF Prisoners. the sisters,
Wives. and NIotbers

A Talk with the Man Who Handles
the Petitions OF Prisoners, the sisters,
Wives, and Mothers.
There is probably no office in the govern
ment so interesting, and at the same time
so trying and perplexing, as that Of pardon
clerk of the Department of Justice. The
pardon clerk comes In contact with all the
appeals from the unfortunates for pardon,
and is daily called to pass cold judgment
1pon the most pitoous and heartrending
stories, asking for clemency. The position
has for many years been held by q kind
hearted gentleman, Of considerable age,
and no filter person could be placed to deal
with the class coming before him.
1.-THE most effective appeals received
here" said the pardon clerk yesterday,
come from the poor unfortunate women
who are wives OF criminals. Only the bank
wreckers and criminals OF the high classes
employ attorneys to bring their cases be-
fore the department. The poor fellows
send their mothers and wives and sisters
here, and their stories are OF The most touch
ing character. A few days ago a distressed
wife came all the way from San Antonio,
Tex, TO ask personally for pardon for her
husband. lie was sent to the penitentiary
FOR five years for some oiTense not very Sc
rious, and his wife made an appeal so
touching that IL would affect heart Of
stone almost. She made her case very
strong, and IL touched the Attorney
General, who Is very generous, and has q
high sense Of JUSTICE so that he was con
sidering the matter seriously. Before
action was ordered n report Of the officers
at the penitentiary where this man was i'm
prisoned was requested, and an invostiga-
ton was held in the community whence he
came. II was ascertained that the man was
defiant and ugly In prison, and was con-
stantly threatening the administration and
the Department OF Justice when he got out
Of there. 1r was learned, further, that he
had requested his wife TO sell her virtue, or
commit any crime to raise money TO procure
his pardon. When this state OF affairs was
learned, the consideration of the case was
dismissed in hurry. II is only lamentabe
that his sentence is not for more than five
years.
"a good many men are convicted under
the internal revenue and postal laws on
mere. technicalities, are they notP" was
asked.
EYES," replied the official, ~ know o. a
man serving term In the pententiary for
stealing 8 cents worth Of whisky. Another
mans case comes to my mind who Is suffer
ing penalty Of several years in prison for
selling a half-pint of whisky. The testi-
mony In the appeal sent here showed that
an enemy one night called at the unfortu-
nate mans house and claimed to have
serious sickness In his family and asked for
half-pint OF whisky. The liquor was fur
nished him with the statement that It could
not be sold, but would be given to him
gratutously. The enemy OF the owner OF
the liquor insisted that he should take 80
cents for 1t, but upon receiving fiat refusal
threw the money down and left the house.
1t was proved at the trial that the man who
supplied the whisky kept the 80 cents, and
he was given term In the penitentiary.
| The pardon could not be granted under the
circumstances, although the greatest OF
leniency under the rules in the prison would
| be exercised
"What class Of people are generally con.
victed under the United States laws?|
81 am sorry to say that they are young
men, mostly. 1t is astonishing how many
people allege ignorance as the cause OF
their violation OF the laws. More than half
of the people who are convicted and sent to
the penitentlary, and who appeal for par
dons, state that they did not know that
they were violating the laws. This is prob
ably true.n
"Can criminals in the United States peni.
tenitaries address the Department of Jus
tico and the President directly upon the
subject of pardons?"
"Yes," replied the pardon clerk, sand
from them directly the greatest number OF
petitions are received. They have plenty OF
time to compose pitiful appeals and some
Of their letters are very touching. A large
class of criminals curse and beg the depart
ment I'm turn.r