The morning call., 1892-03-04
FOR FREYS PARDON.
How Young San Francisco Boy Got Into
San Quentin.

How Young San Francisco Boy GOT into
San Quentin.
Quite an interest is being taken by a
number of prominent citizens to secure the
pardon of James Frey, a young native OF
San Francisco. who is now serving twenty
Eve years sentence in San Quentin for
murder in the second degree. A strong
petition to the Governor showing the justi-
fcation for pardon has been signed by
General John F. Sheehan, j. Nj. Litchfeld,
ex-Judge James A. Waymire. f. S. Chad
bourne. John ID. Siebe. George w. Watts
and others, and several letters of like inn
port have been written to the Governor by
persons familiar with the circumstances Of
the case, and expressing their belief OF the
young mans innocence.
Frey was convicted in Sonoma County,
and was but Is years old when the crime
charged against him was committed. Up
to that time he had been for several years
in the employ of the Engelberg bakery. and
was very much liked 10y his employer.
While so employed his sister married a
Russian named Preuss, who was at that
time a gripman on the Sutter-street rail-
road. Preuss was known among his asso-
ciates as ''the Anarchist" because of his
constantly expressed anarehistlc sentiments.
He often said the company ought to be
ployes and even went so far as to propose
it if he could get sufficient following.
Suddenly he was let out His views had
reached the management and they decided
they could get along without him. Failing
to get work he induced FREY IN go with him
to Napa County under bright promises of
money making schemes. The boy says that
before he realized what was up PreuSs had
led him into n lonely mountain pass and
there disclosed TO him that lie was going to
rob q stage. He was commanded to play
his part as directed under penalty Of instant
death.
The stage was robbed, but with meager
financial results, however. Welis-Fargo's
detective, Tbacker, and posse, with the
Sonoma aud Napa authorities, were at once
put on their trail. and when they were run
down they resisted arrest. Preuss was
until he had fatally wounded another con-
stable in the party. Frey was taken cap
tive without further resistance and found
armed to his eyes. but nearly frightened out
of his senses He was tried in the county
where the crime was committed, and the
public feeling ran so high against the
offenders that there was no ghost Of a
chance TO wedge in any of the eXtenuating
circumstances.
Now that fublc sentiment has cooled
down the true nature OF the case is coming
to light. Friends of the young man are
endeavoring 10 convince the Governor that
The boy was lnyegled and iniinidated into
bis criminal plightiby his Anarchist brother
in-law, Preuss; that lis is not Il vicious boy,
never wa, and has an absolutely stainless
record III this city. Detective Thacker,
who is personally familiar with the whole
case. is convinced of the boys innocence
and has so written to the Governor. His
former employer says he still has perfect con-
fidence in his young protegP, and has written
to the Governor that he viii take him back
into his bakery as soon as he gets out of JAIL
Telegraphic news from Sacramento pub
lished yesterday morning states that the
Governor has referred the application for
pardon to the Board OF Prison Directors to
await their recommendation.