Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-05-18
THE EXECUTIVE EXPLAINS.
Governor Waterman's Reasons for Ger
tain Pardons Granted,

Governor Waterman's Reasons for Ger
tain Pardons Granted.
The following reasons were entered on
the records yesterday for the Governors
Communication of the sentence OF John w.
Rice, convicted in October, 1887, in Fresno
county, of receiving stolen property, and
sentenced to four years imprisonment:
I'm 1885 about fifty head of hogs were
stolen from parties in Fresno county, and
the circumstances of the crime pointed to
JEFF Davis, James Kerrick, Williams Qualls
and Rice as the guilty parties. Rice was
first tried for larceny and acquitted, and
was afterwards tried and convicted of re-
ceiving stolen property, the hogs hav-
ing been found in his corral. Since his
conviction the other parties in the crime
have been acquitted or discharged. The
evidence against Rice seems to show him
to be the least guilty of the four and while
there is no doubt of his having been impli-
Gated in the crime, think shorter term
of Imprisonment will fully meet the ends
of justice. The sentence is therefore COM
muted to two years"
GEORGE H. ADAMS,
Who was convicted of murder in the second
degree, in Solano county, and sentenced to
ten years imprisonment, had his sentence
committed to five years tor the following
reasons, which were recorded Yesterday:
According to the statement of Adams
case made to me by Judge A. J. Buckles of
Solano county, it seems that at the time of
Adams conviction there was considerable
feeling IN the county over crimes COM
mitted about that time, and the jury was
doubtless swayed to some extent in their
verdict by public opinion. 1t appears that
the killing was done partly in self-defanse,
and verdict of manslaughter would have
been unjust. The sentence is therefore
committed to five years"
ROBERT BLEI.
In the case of Robert Blei, who was con-
victed OF embezzlement in San Francisco
last May and sentenced to eighteen months,
the following reasons are given:
From statements made have come to
the conclusion that Blei was the victim of
conspiracy formed and carried out for the
purpose OF defrauding him out of his Justly
earned reward for services rendered in
business capacity. Unfortunately for him,
his attorney was taken sick and was I'M
able to appear at the trial, thus necessi-
tating the employment of counsel unac-
quaintei with the details of the case
While on trial Blei proved an excellent
character, which could not be assailed by
the prosecution. His petition is signed by
Judge Toohy, District Attorney Dunno,
nine of the jurors and by Adolph Weske,
the prosecuting witness, and his attorney,
John Desback. Blei is now out on bail
and is engaged in the manufacture of vine
gar, and is in every way a good law
abiding citizen"
WILLIAM JOHNSON,
Who was convicted of petit larceny in
San Francisco last August and sentenced
to six months imprisonment ard fined
$3.50 was pardoned.
The six months Imprisonment saws
the Governor, have expired, and neither
johnson nor his widowed mother have the
means with which TO pay the fine. Judge
Hornblower, who imposed the sentence,
Endorses on the petition the following:
Since the sentence was imposed | have
found that the boy was of excellent char
acter and although l have no doubt that
he was implicated in the offeuse, yet had
he been represented and his case fairly and
properly presented, l. would not; have i'm
posed so heavy penalty. | further be-
lleve that justice has been fully satisfied By
the term of Imprisonment already served,
and would if the law permitted me, remit
the fine. and l now ask the Governor to
remit the same Upon this showing the
line is RENTED"
F. L. BITHER,
Who was convicted in San Francisco in
August, 1887. of enlightenment, and SEN
fenced to three years imprisonment, was
pardoned for the following reasons:
Blther was accused of having embez-
zled the sum of $40, Or Whereabouts, from
a Lodge of Knights of Pythias, while act
ing IN the capacity of Master of Finance.
The money was returned aud an official re-
ceipt given therefor, and an attempt made
by the prosecution to dismiss the charge
against Bither, but this the District Attor-
nev would not allow. Bither is well con-
nected, and his parents, who live in the
East, are not yet aware of the disgrace
which has overcome their son. He has re-
sided in San Francisco for the last eight
years and has held many responsible posi-
tons with prominent business firms.
among them being Whittier, Fuller & Co,
who testify to his excellent character prior
to his conviction. His conduct while in
prison bas been such as to gain for him the
good will and esteem of all the officers"