Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1889-11-21
ON THE SUBJECT OF PARDONS
A Talk with Gov, Prince which Reveals
Some Right Interesting
Reading,
A Peep at the Pardon Book-Eight Out OF
Thirty. nne-The System which
Governs these Matters,


As there has been some criticism in
newspapers in the south OF the territory
as to the number OF pardons recently
granted, representative OF the NEW
MEXICAN sought an interview on the sub
iect with tie governor this morning
Il am very glad you have come, sad
the governor, "that is the right way to
ascertain facts. | should like to show
YOU the whole system used in these cases.
You have no idea how many there are,
and how much time they take, if man
tries to do his duty by each one thorough
ly. OF course it is easy to shlrk II one Is
so inclined, but it seems to me that there
is no more solemn responsibility imposed
on a governor than this, which involves
the liberty, and sometimes the life, of pris-
oners, many of whom are poor and TREND
less.
'"You remember th&t there had been
some criticism of Gov. Ross pardOns, and
| know that in one case he discovered
almost immediately after the pardon that
he had been deceived, and so introduced
a regular system to try to avoid mistakes
if possible.
''You see this book here?" and the
governor took up q substantial book with
numbered pages, the first part OF which
was we'll filled. "Well, this is the pardon
book. As soon as an application comes
in it is entered here; each case has an
entire page, and every letter written or
received, or other proceeding, is entered
here; so that you can see the state of the
matter at a Glance. Each case is num-
bered at the top OF the page, and there is
a corresponding envelope into which all
the papers relating to it are put as they
collect. Before anything else is done |
send out four letters of inquiry, one to
the Judge who tried the case; one to the
prosecuting attorney; one to the prison.
er's lawyer and one to the superintendent
of the penitentiary. The four answers
give general idea of the case and often
settle it at once, as the judge and the dis
trct attorney may show that there is no
room for clemency. At any rate these
letters prevent fragrant errors. Then
investigation is followed up according to
circumstances"
HAS that plan been adopted hereto
fore ?" asked the news gatherer.
is usual in the east. Now here is letter
from Judge Long in which he speaks OF
it, and the governor handed out letter
from the package marked "Osmer," which
turned out to be the judges answer to in
quiries in that case, and after replying to
them the chief justice adds: "In only two
or three instances heretofore in this ter
ritory have been consulted on the ques-
ton of pardons. Your rule of advising
with the judge who passed sentence is in
harmony with that of most executives,
and an excellent one"
GLOW many applications have you had
since coming into ottice?" asked the re-
porter. "The book will show in q mo-
ment," said the governor. ''See, the last
number is thirty-nine. There have been
thirty-nine."
"And now how many pardons from the
penltentiary
Eight. Of course these figures do not
include the formal pardCns and restoration
to citizenship which the last legislature
directed to be given to every prisoner after
the expiration OF his sentence, if his
conduct has been good. There have been
eight regular pardons."
"Were anyof these of special interest p
was ask d.
Eyes; some have been very interest
ing, and have involved long investigation.
The most so was the case, which was
reported largely at the time, of Jordan and
Harris. | worked over that for a long
time, visiting the penitentiary and exam
lining the men separately, going to Albu-
oxln of Iln Nt-it
nesses personally, and having long cor
respondence all over the country to trace
up The antecedents of &c men and see ii
their stories were true. Finally it be-
came perfectly evident that they were en-
tirely innocent, and had no more to do
with the crime than you or |. 1t was
simply q case of mistaken identity. Yet
they had been in PRISON for over year,
and were branded as criminals. | have
felt better ever since for having given the
time to investigate that case thoroughly,
and SO remedy great wrong.
"There have been other cases almost
equally as interesting, and there are one
or two now pending that | have been
working over for months, and tracing up
one clue after another, involving an
enormous amount OF correspondence.
These are generally cases of poor men
who have no attorney or friends to hunt
up testimony for them, and where the
responsibility falls entirely on the govern
or. My own experience as judge, | feel
to be great help in some Of these cases,
as it also is in the numerous cases of ap-
plications that have no real merit, but
where great show of reason is made"
II suppose there are good many Of
those, " interrupted the scribe.
Eyes, indeed" said the governor
"And the worse the case the more per-
sistent the application. There are people
who think if they can employ lawyer,
or have influential friends or relatives,
they surely ought to get out; and one OF
the greatest trials in this office is in d, al
ing with these cases. | have had more
trouble over couple of cases in which
the prisoners had relatives OF large politi"
cal influence than about anything else.
Of course they can bring petitions rod
long; and it is surprising how recklessly
good men will sign such petitions without
knowing anything about the case. They
do it to save time, without thinking of the
responsibility. In one case number OF
the signers came afterward to say that
they thought it was different case en-
tirely and wished to oppose any pardon"
81 suppose you almostieel like pardon
ing them to get rid of them ?" said the re-
porter.
"Well, that would no doubt be an easy
way" answered the governor "bUt have
4 IN hat N 10 tp