The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-01-29
EX-BANKER JAMES d. FISH.
President Cleveland Issues an Order COmmut.
ing His Ten-lear Sentence.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 2S.-The President
has cOmmuted the sentence OF James ID.
Fish, formerly president of the Marine Ma
tional Bank, of New York, who was convict
ed in April, 1885, of misapplying the funds
of that bank and sentenced June q, 1885. TO
ten years imprisonment in the State prison
at Auburn, n. Y, upon the first count OF the
indictment, with the statement that judg-
ment for like punishment will be entered
upon conviction had under ten other counts
ofthe Indictment. The Presidents indOrse-
ment in this case is as follows:
This convict is sixty-nine years of age. Prior
to his conviction he was trusted and respected
by all who knew him, and all his dealings and
intercourse with his fellow-men, both in business
and social life, had been such as 10 secure their
the application for his pardon there is no occa-
sion TO refer to the nature of his oense nor COM
nlent upon the evidence upon which his conyic-
ton rests, further than to suggest that this is q
case in which the actual and willful intNnts 10
defraud depend upon influences somewhat uIl-
certain. have rarely, if ever. seen "a petition
for executive ciemency signed so nlunerOusly as
the one presented in this by citizens OF
great respectability and business standing.
administration of the criminal law by giving
valuable testimony upon the trial OF another Of
fender He has endured his Imprisonment thus
far with all the fortitude and resignation posi-
BILE. and has been scrupulously obedient to all
prison rules and regulations. Medical proof pro-
duced before me fully establishes the fact that.
with advanced age and serious disabilities, and
by reason of his confinement, he Is physically
and mentally fast failing, and am satisfied that
he will not survive his imprisonment IL much
longer extended. Every object sought to be OBJ
tanned by punishment of crime will be accom-
plshed. in my opinion, by communication of the
cOnvict's sentence TO imprisonment for term of
five years and six months, with allowance OF de-
ductions for good conduct. Such communication
is therefore granted.
The action of the President will cause the
release of the ex-president of the Marine
Bank May IA, next.
AUBURN, n. Y, Jan. 2S.-The pardon of
James ID. Fish was q great surprise to the
prison officials. Warden Dursten informed
Mr.. Fish of his good fortune at about 5
o'clock this afternoon. He manifested no
surprise at the news. At the same time he
received a message from his brother-in-
law, which read as follows: Justice has
triumphed at last. Congratulations a
telegram of congratulatiOn." remarked Mr..
Fish as he handed it to the warden to read.
In the evening the warden cited Mr..
Fish to his office, and there a reporter at
tempted an interview, but Mr.. Fish stopped
this by his answer to the first question: Il
have nothing to say" and returned to his
cell. When Mr.. Fish's daughter Emma
was informed of the pardon, she said: rs
it authentic2 and her eyes filled with
tears and her lips quivered when the was
assured that such was the case. She was
much moved by the news, but answered
mo" to the question, 'Have you anything
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