Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1886-11-15
HEMENWAY PARDONED
The Ogden Editor Repents and Appeals
to the Mercy Of Judge Zane.
His Honor MagnanimOusly Recon-
mends the Release-GOyerner West
Grants the Pardon.
Hemenway Says That His Family Is In
a Deplorable ConditiOn-lie VIII
Doubtless Reform.

IL DtUlOTHUlt OOnulliOh NV w
Doubtless Reform.
All readers of the DEMOCRAT will re-
member the circumstances connected
with the trial and sentence OF Editor
Hemenway for the libel OF His Honor
Judge Zane. He was convicted OF the
ofTense and sentence was suspended in
his case until just before the departure OF
the non-lamented Powers, when that
officer for some reason or other swooped
down upon the editor and sentenced him
to one years imprisonment in the County
Jail, where he has spent the past three
months. Of his career during his in
generation he himself tells in the follow
ing letter:
OGDEN, November 9Th, 1886.
Hon. c. S. Tame, Sal Lake city, Otah:
DEAR SIR-Some time ago | troubled
YOU with note in which | promised a
letter from Acknowledgement Garland.
NV relatives in the East expected to get
his opinion respecting libel upon my
self perpetrated in Your Honor's district.
The matter has been delayed SO long,
however, that | presume it has been
forgotten. | hope you will pardon
me for once again inviting your re-
spectful attention to my case. While
[ know you did not investigate
the prosecution against me, yet the fact
remains that am undergoing imprison--
ment for having libelled your Honor, and
unless YOU intercede and recommend my
pardon, few, ii any, of those who would
have influence with the Executive can be
induced to sign petition in my behalf
When was first imprisoned, many Cen
tiles of this vicinity expressed their sym
pathy, and l naturally judged from that
that they would willingly sign petition
for my pardon, but | find that those to
whom apply do not care to intercede in
my behalf until Your Honor has expressed
satisfaction, lest their act in so doing be
construed into an endorsement OF the
libel upon you or be deemed offensive to
your Honor.
| have been in confinement over three
months now. had been in Utah only a
few months when all these libel cases
were brought against me, and | did not
know personally single soul OF those
whom | was accused of libeling. | sim
ply printed what others told me, in good
| faith and without actual personal malice.
| have already paid fine of 81 900 in the
case, and as Il further consequence OF my
imprisonment, am merely deprived OF
supporting my family, who, in conse-
uuence, are reduced to want. hope to
make enough to support my wife and
child by the publication OF book, and at
the same time repair the wrongs | may
have inadvertently done yourself and
others. But my agents have failed to
secure enough subscriptions to justify the
expense of publication. Now, if | cannot
get released by gubernatorial pardon, my
family must suffer the chief conse-
quences, and on their account | again
appeal for Your Honor's aid.
| respectfully submit that my punish
ment has already been sufficient | was
almost an utter stranger here when the
lbels were written, in the employ o.
others, who though equally guilty before
the law, have not been prosecuted. Con
sidering my poverty, the fines that have
been inflicted upon me were severe pen
altes, which | could only meet in the
last case, when fine OF $500
was imposed, by borrowing money, which
still remains unpaid.
1t is with great diflidence that | adj
dress You this letter | know that it is
presumptuous for a mere prisoner to adj
dress gentleman in power with the eX
pectation OF receiving attention, but | an
a stranger almost in Utah, and | cannot
believe that you will regard it wholly i'm
proper for me to apply for mercy to the
party whom / have wronged, though moi
with personal malice, the more especially
since that party is in this case Judge
who can afford to be magnanimous. i
you will recommend my pardon now,
feel assured that your friends in this city
will do so with pleasure, and | will owe
to you and to them the saving OF my
family from memorable want. However
| would not have you do violence tc
your conscience. If Your Honor
is convinced that the public conservation
of the ends Of justice demand my further
imprisonment under the circumstances
or that further punishment will benefit
or reform me enough to justify the starva
ton Of my family, all i would say is
Do your duty, and in that event or in any
event shall cherish toward Your Honor
only the most cordial good will.
Very Respectfully,
@. III. HEMENwAY.
Weber County Jail, Ogden, Utah.
The above letter was sent by Judge
Zane to Governor West, accompanied by
the following recommendation
To His ErcelLency, c. W. West, Cor
ernor:-Mr. G. w. Hemenway, the
writer OF the within letter, was convicted
several months ago in the First District
Court at Ogden OF the crime OF libel anC
sentenced TO pay fine and to term o
imprisonment which he is now serving
| was not present at the trial and am not
familiar enough with the facts to make {
statement of the evidence. have beer
informed that the libel was upon myself
In view OF the circumstances, | respect
fully recommend the pardon OF Hemen
way. Very respectfully,
c. S. ZANE, Judge.
Governor West to-day issued u full
pardon to Hemenway, and the prisoner
will doubtless be released from Jail before
night.
From Hannnnwov,s lattnr II 10 nlao,