The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-03-03
APPLICANTS FOR PARDONS.
A Long List of Those Refused by the
Governor.
The Case OF Joseph Frey Submitted to
the Prison observation-disclosures
Given for the RefusaIs.

DoaTu OF 1rlSOn directors IN relaClon 10
applications for pardon:
TO the Honorable Board of Prison Di-
rectOrS-GENTLEMEE By direction OF the
Governor | have the honor to present
herewith the application of Joseph Frey,
convicted of the crime of murder In the
second degree, and under sentence OF
twenty-five years. from Sonoma County,
september, 1888, for your consideration.
The Governor requests that you give
The case your careful consideration, anu
make such recommendations as your
honorable body may deem proper.
Petitioner and his brother-1n-laW,
Preuss, robbed stagein Sonoma County.
A Constable and deputy pursued them,
when Preuss fired, killing the Constable,
and was in return killed by the deputy,
who also shot applicant through the arm,
The ball penetrating his body. He claims
20 have been in this country but two and
a half months; not to have understood
The English language; that he was but 20
years old, and was compelled by his
orother-in-law, Gauch older and des-
perate man, to assist in the commission
Of the crime, under penalty Of death. He
lad trial and the jury disagreed. He
then pleaded guilty, and received a sem
5ence of twenty-five years. This case is
referred to you for your consideration, for
The reason that have in my possession
lengthy petition, in which 1t is set forth
hat special consideration is claimed, be-
cause the applicant was unlawfulIy CO.
creed to plead guilty to crime of which,
ne is entirely innocent. This statement
IS certified to be true, and worthy of con-
3ideration by such well-known citizens as
John ID. Siebe, A. Z. Hotaling, George ii.
5anderson, James w. Rea, George w.
Waits, James a. Waymire, Il. 5. Chad
bourne, Paris Kilhurn, J. +. Sheehan, J.
VI. Iitchfield, NJ. II. DeY Dung, and an
exceedingly long list of well-known
reputable business men in San Francisco.
rhe wife of the brother-in-law PreuSs
says that the boy Frey is of weak mind,
entirely within the power of her hus-
0and, who used him for his own bad pur-
poses. This lady'S statement is certified
20 be worthy of consideration by the fol-
owing well-known ladies: Mrs. A. p.
8otaing, Mrs. Gustave Sutra, Mrs. NJ.
4. DeYoung, Mrs. Lewis Sloss, Mrs.
Lilienthal, Mrs. Sol Lewis: Mrs. Hecht,
and many others.
Strong personal letters have been re-
3eived from John b. Siebe, Stewart Men
lies, Lloyd Tevis, A. p. Hotaling. and
other well known business men of San
francisco, in which the above statement,
signed by the reputable citizens above
spoken of, is reiterated and enlarged
upon. / cannot think that such posi-
i've statement as that made in the petit
non. that he was unlaWtully coerced into
q plea of guilty, would be certified to by
men of the character l have mentioned
unless they knew and were positive of
he correctness of the assertion. l there
ore submit the case to you for your con-
sideration, and would suggest that some
of these well-known citizens be re-
order that you may ascertain more fully
The extent of their knowledge of this
matter.
APPLICATIONS REFUSED.
The Prison Directors have been in
ormed that the Governor has, after con-
sideration, refused the following applica-
ions without submitting the same to
Them:
George Spencer-Los Angeles County,
grand larceny, six years, 1888. The evil
dence shows beyond doubt that Spencer
gobbed man lying on the sidewalk in
LOS Angeles in drunken stupor. He was
seen in the act by the police officer who
arrested him, and the property of the
other party was found upon his person.
His statement before the jury was very
contradictory. There is no doubt of his
guilt, and as his time expires within
lhree or four months there is no necessity
or executive clemency.
George Dietrich-Los Angeles, murder,
ZEN years, 1887. The death of the man as
saulted was the result of drunken sa-
loon row, in which the bartender and this
applicant were the principal parties
They INDUCED in Wordy war for quite a
period, in which all the vile names in the
category were used great many times.
lie was put out of the saloon by the pro-
Drietor, and continued to call the barten-
der hard names, and dared him to
come out and fight. Finally the bar
tender did come out, but was I'M
armed. Applicant stabbed him several
lines, once in the bowels till they
Drotruded, from the effects of which be
liz
ance of it having been done in self-de-
tense, do not believe defendant was en-
tirely guiltless, and a verdict of man
slaughter and ten years was not eX-
cessive punishment under the circum-
stances.
Charles Backenstos = San Joaquin,
burglary first degree, two and a half
years, December, 1881. The parents of
this young man make plea for him and
inclose letter from Sheriff Cunningham
of San Joaquin County. From this letter
draw the conclusion that the applicant
) bad young man and deserves the
punishment. The only thing that might
he given consideration is the fact that it
Is claimed that he is not particularly
bright; but as he is too old to be sent to
the Whittier Reform Farm, and probably
not within the rules that would admit
linn to the Home for Feeble Minded.
I'm not constrained to believe that he
SuOUlu DC I6lSdS6u lOI TIC present, IN the
hope that his punishment may deter him
from the commission of future crimes.
George Williams-SierraC County, grand
larceny, seven years, 1891. Applicants
only plea is that he was innocent at the
time the crime was committed. l have
examined into the matter enough to
satisfy me that this plea is not correct,
and believe that at the time he committed
The crime he was in condition to be re-
sponsible for the act. l, therefore, deny
The application.
James Logan-V entura, forgery, one
lear, September, 1891. There is no doubt
from the testimony received in this case
Of the guilt of the applicant, and his pun
jShment certainly is exceedingly light
lie has another information against him
1or the same offense, which of itself
would preclude any fayora BILE action.
Richard kenna and Peter L. Hall
Dehama County, murder, life, 1876 / have
had transcript of the evidence in this
case sent to me from the county where
Inc ohense was committed. A careful
perusal shows that the offense was DELHI
crate and premeditated, and l am unable
10 ind any justification for favorable
2ctlon. l have delayed my decision in
this case for several weeks, after reading
the testimony and giving it consideration
4 second time, IN order to be sure / was
not overlooking some favorable matter.
bat have finally decided that there is
nothing TO warrant favorable action.
James Bennett-San Francisco, grand
larceny, ten years, 1890. This applicant
cid not give any reason for executive
Clemeney, except that be was entirely
innocent, which he said he could prove.
have gone over the testimony in the
case and there can be little doubt of his
guilt, and as usual in these cases where a
plea of not guilty is the only thing relied
Upon and no new evidence produced, /