The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-06-22
EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY.
Some of Governor Grays Pardons Which
Have Been Withheld from the Public.

"Does the Governor pardon any convicts7n in
qsired Journal reporter during his regular
daily visit to the executive office, in quest of in
formation for the public. 1t was an unpremedi
tated question, and desire to say something, af-
ter the usual assurance had bsen given that there
was nothing new" was the cause of its being
asked.
'Oh, there have been a few commutat ons,
but they are far between" replied Private Secre-
tary Gray.
The fact that there had been any commute
tions was something that had not been commu-
nicated to the reporter at any time, and it oc-
CURED to the ne wss seeking mind all at once that
it had really been many days since an instance
OF executive clemency had been reported. 1t
has been customary with the reporters to in
qulre at the public Offices for matters of news,
and to accept the answers of the usually very
obliging State officers as unquestionable, be-
cause, so far as known, the common news mat
tiers have never been Intentionally withheld
from the public. The reporters have had conf
dence in the officers to such ar extent that they
have implicitly relied upon them, and have
never felt that there was any cause for suspi-
ciously watching for news that might
be suppressed. from the public. The grant
ing of pardon, although ordinarily of
no great importance, is regard as a matter of
news, and during the term of Governor Porter
full information was always given the press
about such matters in the executive Office. 1t
would seem, however, that Governor Gray is
disposed to say nothing about the pardons that
he grants, and if the reporters learn anything
regarding them, they must get the information
in the Secretary of States office
After the colloquy which is quoted above,
Journal reporter dropped into the Secretary's
ofhce and asked permission to see the book in
which record of the pardons and combinations
OF sentences are kept. 1t was found that there
had been number of these eases which had not
oeen mentioned In the newspapers. Although
rather stale for news, the following is the first
publication of the pardons and communications
which have been entered on the record since the
LIST of April.
April Jesse Caldwell. convicted in March,
1884, in the Boone Circuit Court of assault and
battery with intent to KILL and sentenced to two
years imprisonment Pardoned.
April 16-Walter Clark convicted of petit lar
ceny In the Decatur Circuit Court, March 4, 1885,
Sentence committed from imprisonment in the
penitentiary to Jail.
April 22-Joseph Edgell, convicted of rape in
Kosciusko county, October Z, 1884, and sentenced
to five years imprisonment Pardoned.
April 28-George W. Goodwin, jr, assault and
county, March 25, 1884, and sentenced to two
years Imprisonment Pardoned.
May 14-Clinton Smith,, assault and battery
with intent to kill, convicted in Vigo county
March 16, 1885, Sentence of two years in jail
committed to confinement in the House of Ref
uge.
May 2S-Bertha Brehm, convicted November
8, 1884, in the Marion Criminal Court, of grand
larceny, and sentenced to eighteen months i'm
prisonment in the Female Reformatory. Par
doned
June 2-Joseph G Hover, convicted of rape, in
the Adams Circuit Court March 8, 1883, and
sentenced to five years in the prison north
Pardoned.
June 12-Thomas D. Washington, convicted
in Vigo county, May &c. 1885; petit larceny
Sentence of three years in the county Jail COM
muted to confinement in the House of Refuge.
June 12-Joseph B. Godsey, convicted June g.
1885, Vigo county; petit larceny and sentenced
to three years and five months in the county
Jail. Sentence committed to Imprisonment in
the House of Refuge.
There is no objection, SO far as known, to any
OF these pardons. Doubtless they are all just
and proper, but there is reason why they
should be withheld from the public. The fact
that the information is not given out as freely
and promptly as it was always furnished by
Governor Grays predecessors, is calculated to
cause some suspicion. 1t is hardly likely that
Governor Gray is not aware that such informa-
ton ought TO be given the public.
1t is the custom Of the officers of the federal
court to furnish to the press information about
all applications for pardons of which they have
knowledge, and it has often happened that
brief news item has prevented an undeserved
pardon from being granted