The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-05-19
Reasons for Committing the Sentence
of Rioters Fully Stated by the
President.
A Most Brutal and Inhuman Condition
of Affairs Shown to Exist ON
the Island.
Workmen Treated Worse Than Con.
victs-Fined and Flogged ON the
Slightest Provocati0n.

WASHINGTON, May 1s.-The president
has commuted to imprisonment for life
at hard labor, the three Navassa rioters
sentenced by the circuit court of Mary
land to be hanged.
In taking this action, President Har-
rison says: have examined with care
the papers submitted in these cases, and
am not willing that the death sentence
should be executed.
The killing was, as to each OF the
prisoners satisfactorily established and
that it was felonious is also clear, But
the conditions surrounding the prisoners
and their fellows were of a most pecu-
liar character. They were American
citizens under contract to perform labor
upon specified terms within American
territory, removed from any opportunity
to appeal to any public court or public
officer for redress for any injury, or the
enforcement of any civil right. Their
employers were, in fact, their masters.
The bosses placed over them imposed
fines and penalties without any SEM
blance of trial. These penalties extended
to Imprisonment and even to the cruel
practice of tricing men up for refusal
to do work. Escape was impossible, and
the state of things generally such as
might
Make Men Reckless and Desperate.
The United States government should
provide by law for the execution of the
contracts to labor in Navassa before a
public officer whose duty it should be to
see that the men although they 60 to
Labor, ARE well informed as to the nature
Of the obligations assumed, and should
maintain ON the island an officer with
power to hear complaints and adjudge
controversies. / have, within few
weeks sent war vessel to investigate
the complaint Of workman who by
letter complained to me that he was
forcibly detained beyond the time con.
tracted for. A report upon the case has
complaint of this man Of an
Injustice ON the Island Was True.
The naval officers made an inquiry into
the condition of things on the island
and conclude their report as follows
I've would desire to state further that
tho discipline maintaied ON the island
seems to be that of q convict establish
ment without it's comfort and cleanli
ness, and until more attention is paid te
the shipping of the laborers by placing
it under government supervision to pre-
vent misunderstanding and misrepresen
tations, and until some amelioration Il
shown in the treatment of the laboreri
there, disorders will be Of constant re
currence. In this connection we desire
to cay that the fault does not seem to LID
with the superintendent but with the
company, which neglects to heed hi.
recommendation and further to supply
food of a quality and at proper times tt
be both sufficient and palatable. Thi.
Is not case for pardon. The crime
was very grave cne, but, taking intt
account all of its antecedents and Incl
dents, have concluded me to
Commute the Sentence
to imprisonment for sentences. The
sentepces in the case of George G.. Key
Henry s. Jones and Edward Smith, con
victed of murder in the court Of thu
United States for the district of Mary
land, and sentenced to be hanged, arr
each commuted to Imprisonment for hft
at hard labor IN the penitentiary.