The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-07-11


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term, which would
~ have ended in Au-
4S (z&&3% gust. Mackins SEN
/l58$k-1NEIAlm tence was five years,
WNl MNR but the communication
SM@ on account of good
behavior would have
JOE MAcKIN freed him during the
latter part Of the summer.
Mackin was convicted OF perjury in
answering falsely questions put to him by
tho grand jury which investigated the cleo
tiOn frauds in 1854, and was sentenced to
/ i've years in the penitontiary. Hin son
tencc, with the good time allowance,
would have expired next August, SO that
his pardon now releases him only two
months earlier than the date fixed by the
jury.
The Governor, in signing the pardon Of
Mackin, refers at considerable length to
the offense for which he was imprisoned,
and says his perjury was not destined to
affect the life, liberty or property of any
body, and had it not been committed in
trying to escape from the conse-
quences of another offense of which he was
accused, and which the people justly
regard with alarm, 1t Is not fair
to presume that it would have attracted
amy more attention Than any ordinary case
Of perjury, and his punishment would have
been, In all probability, less than that fixed
by the jury. In his petition for pardon
Mackin Processes sorrow for his crime. and
makes earnest pledges of an upright life for
the future The Governor continues:
! ut is doubtful II any petition for pardon was
ever presented to the executive authority OF
this State more strongly indorsed than the
present one. Immediate pardon Is recon.
AnA Inv yvNdU "a Cho 0aiA Aal nft he
trial, and who now writes strong letter urg.
ing that the sentence was excessive. Par
don ID also recommended by States Attor.
ney, now Judge Grinnell, who prosecuted
the case. Likewise by the grand jurors
who indicted and nearly all OF tho petit
jurors who convicted Mackin; by the chairman
and many OF the most influential members OF
the citizens committee that aided the prose.
cution, and, In short, by nearly every body
who had any thing to do with the arrest, in
dictment and conviction OF the defendant. In
addition to the foregoing many hun
dred worthy citizens. lawyers. doctors, infiu
entail ministers Of the Gospel editors
and proprietors OF newspapers, Congressman,
members OF the Legislature and practical busi.
ness men. representing all the industries OF
the State. have asked that executive clcmency
be shown. Nearly all who have had any
thing to say on the subject, instead
OF signing the ordinary petition, havo
WIittCu ACttCko WnCICIn tuCy nave uTkcu
with SO much earncstness and APP
parent candor why the law, the penalties OF
which Mackin has long borne, should now give
way TO mercy. II Is insisted that greater good
will be accomplished by this course than would
be by holding on to Mackin to the last hour OF
his sentence. The warden Of tho prison
ccrtfes that Mackin's conduct as d
prisoner has been good: that he has never
been punished or reported for any infraction
Of the prison rules. have given this case
much thought and consideration and have
finally concluded to remit q small portion OF
the prisoners sentence by granting him a
pardon at this time, and / do SO in
tho hope that he may yet become a
useful member OF society and prove himself
worthy the love and affection OF the devoted
wife who has in the hour of his misfortune
stood by him SO faithfully and who has so long
and patiently waited for his coming. Whether
Mackin ought to be pardoned or not it is very
evident that great many good and thoughtful
people think So"
HISTORY or THE CRIME
Mackin went to the penitentiary on five-
year sentence for completely In the ballot box
frauds of 1854 A few days after the election
in November Of that year II was apparent that
tho strength Of the two leading political par
ties would be about equal in the Legisla-
turc, so nearly SO that . single vote In
either the Senate or House might con-
troll the election OF United States Senator.
In tho Sixth Senatorial district, which in
cluded the Eighteenth ward OF this city.
Henry w. Leman, Republican, was apparently
elected Senator over Rudolph Brand Demo.
crat, by q few hundred votes as shown by the
unofficial returns on election night.
was made, it was found that the
tally.sheets and certificate from the Sec
ond precinct OF the Eighteenth ward had been
altered and forged and made TO show de-
creased vote for Leman and an increased vote
for Brand sufficient to elect the latter by q
majority OF about ten votes. On the sworn
returns OF the United States supervisors Us
well - from other collateral evidence
! 1t was 50 evidently fraud that
the Federal grand jury OF Chicago, then in ses.
sion. took jurisdiction OF and investigated the
matter. Meantime the county canvassing
board, being powerless to go Behind the re-
turns, abstracted the vote as 1t appeared and
returned the same to the State canvassine
board. This body heard such evi
dence - was available and proper
and, following their action. the Gov
ernor decided to issue Q certificate oil
election TO Leman as being the actually elect
/ ed Senator. The Federal grand jury found
several indictments. but after that body had
adjourned new and important additional proofs
OF the fraud were discovered, and Mackin,
William J. Gallagher and Arthur Gleason
| were tried and convicted OF conspiracy
on charge brought by information instead q
indictment The two former were sentences
70 two years In prison. The case was thcf
taken by writ OF error before Justice Harlan
Of the United States Supreme Court aud Cir
cult Judge Gresham sitting together. Upon dis
agreement between them il was certified TO thu
United States Supreme Court mainly upon tht
question OF the legality OF the prosecution o.
the information.
The State court took up the matter and in
AfNfoh MaNkfn and Ca1lapher vi0IafiOn n
the State law. Mackin testified before the
State grand jury and for the testimony given
there he was indicted for perjury. His tria
began ON June %. 1885, before Judge Moran
He was found guilty and sentenced Il
the ponitentiary for i've years, this TAX
Joliet November ~. 1885. His wife mad.
strenuous effort to secure his pardon after hi
osIesby refused 10 interfere. Lately other at
tempts have been made, which resulted In thu
pardon issued Tuesday. BY reason OF .goOt
month by the expiration OF his sentence. b,
reason OF his pardon his citizenship 10 re
stored.
Thief Enters the Ligonier Bank at Noon
and Cots Away with $1,000.
LIaoNIER, Ind, July "a bold bank rob-
berry was perpetrated here Tuesday. While
the cashier Of Sol Myers bank was at din
ner some bold thief entered the bank
through q side window and rified the cash
drawer. Fortunately the vault was locked
and the thief had to be content with some.
thing less than 81 900, which he hurriedly
gathered up. The window through which
entrance was effected is but few feet
from the street and in plain view Of every
passer by. The thief got away undetected
Four business blocks were burned Tues
day In HALEY, l., T., entailing loss Of $780,
co.
McInerny Heard From.
NEW YORK, July a-William Connolly. tn,
superintendent Of the labor bureau a