Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-11-21

for refusing their application, really must
respect YOU for it"
"What about this Gaddis case that
seems to have raised q discussion at tie
81, t. -" asked the New MEXICAN man.
"That was a case having nothn}a to
do with the merits of the man or with
his crime. lie was released entirely
OF account of his physical condition.
It was first brought to my attention by
DR.. Symington, the late physician in
charge, who urged that he ought not to be
keptsin the prison longer, An lnvestlga-
ton showed that he had chronic disease
of Il very offensive nature, which made
him unable to work, prevented him often
from walking or sitting down, ard made
life in cell Il torture to him, and his
case a great tax and trouble to the otl-
GERS. In large eastern prison, there
are facilities for the care OF the sick in
hospital department. Here there is
nothing OF the kind, and the prisoner
must remain in the ordinary cell, what
ever his condition. Official inquiries
" ere made of the superintendent and the
present physician, DR.. Longwill, and here
are the letters and their answers. | also
wrote to the leading citizen of the vicin-
ity OF the crime, Hon. NJ. COOney, and
here is his answer. You see he says that
the feeling there generally is in favor OF
his pardon, and after referring to his
sickness, adds that he would himself
be pleased to have pardon granted. In
short it was case where, in our pcnl-
Tertiary, further Imprisonment was
simply torture, and might we'll be con-
sidelcd unconstitutional as cruel and
unusual punishment and where the
prison authorities were greatly embar-
raised by his physical condition and the
difficulties it caused. One objection to
his release was that he might become a
public burden in hospital, and de-
clined to act until that was guarded
against, and even then his pardon is a
conditional one, requiring him to leave
the territory Immediately and not return.
Here is a copy Of it,"
evil this newspaper criticism have an
effect on future pardons?" asked our rep
resentative.
Il have always tried to be as careful as
possible" said the governor, land do not
know how to be more so. | am sure that
there has been no pardon so lar which 1t
would have been wrong TO refuse. III
would be just as criminal to refuse to grant
pardon, where tie case makes Improper,
as it would be to yield to the pressure OF
friends or attorneys and grant one where
the facts do not warrant it. This power
is placed by law in the hands OF the gov
ernor, and he is responsible to God and
his conscience for its exercise. 1t would
be very easy for him to sit down and say
that lie would consider no more cases
but it would be an official crime and a
moral sin.
go course we are all liable to make
mistakes, but propose to use every
means possible to ascertain the truth,
and then | hope shall have the courage
to do what is right, regardless OF undue
pressure to pardon or clamor to refuse.
Come in when you have time" added
the governor as the reporter prepared to
take his leave, land look over this book
and the documents. They are always
open to inspection by all proper persons,
and | only wish that every one would
come right here to get the facts, so as to
avoid misunderstanding or wrong impress
siOns."