The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-01-07
Sentenced for Life TO the State Psn-
itentisry at Deer
Lodge.
Executive Clemency Granted Sub
jsct to the Board OF Pardons
Approval
The Convicted Man Tells How He Came
to Kill His Partner In BEAVER
head CouAty.

t
the pardon of Michael Conley Who y sstv-
ing . life sentence at Deer Lodge for the
murder Of Thomas McCiinnis At Glendale.
Beaverhead county. Conlsy was convicted
at Dillon on Juno II, 1881. de was ~ years
old At the time. A Lengthy petition u now
before the state board Of pardons signed
by prominent citizens OF benverhsad
county. Letters accompany the petition
from Hon. William j. Galbraith. the judge
who presided q the trial, Alex Il. Mayhem.
the prosecuting attorney. Jurors and Others,
Among others who have written I : exceu-
tive olemsncy are Timothv J. Campbell,
tho New York congressman; Gov. George
Il. Shoup, of Idaho; Edward J.. Dunphy.
another New York congressman, and w.
r. Sanders. II. r. Foye. q wa,d detective
in the Tenth precinct. New York city, .
cousin Of Conley's. writes that his
cousin has q remarkable voice which
he could use ID supporting his aRed mother.
il granted q pardon. James H. Hawley. =
prominent attorney OF Boise City. Idaho.
writes that he knew Conley all his life I'M
til the latter left Idaho, and that he had
never been charged with a criminal act.
He says that Hon. j. b. Pierce, now dead.
Was ths s~tepfather of Conlsy, and was for
twsnty years one of the leading citizens of
Idaho. His mother. sister,. brothers and
other relatives live in tho vicinity OF Boise,
and are \ most excellent family. Thu war
den Of the psnitentiaty ct Deer Lodge gives
Conley q good character. and says his con-
duct for tho twelve years he has been in
prison has been excellent. DR.. s. W.. Min
shall says his disposition has not been
soursd through his long confinement. and
he thinks he has been sufficiently punished.
Conlsy gives his statement of the case a.
follows: In September, 1879. he became
acquainted with McGinnis. They were en-
ploysd as tsamsters for a man who was
freightinQ from Idaho to Glendale. On the
way they became dissatisfied with their en-
ployer and decided to quit and travel to-
gether as far as Glendale. where their en-
ployer was to settle with them for their
wages. He gave McGinnis IS to defray
their expenses until they reached Glendale.
whore he promised to settle in full. They
reached the stage station near ONeips
ranch on tho morning Of Dec. 4. As il was
showing heavily they concluded to lay over
for the day. Conley got into a game OF
money he had. He asked McGinnis for 81
on account of his share of the expense
money. McC1innis refused. telling Conley
he should not have any. Hard words
passed between them and MoGin-
mis- went ont to the stockteudsrs
cabin. Conley followed to get his
blankets. When he reached the cabin Mo-
Ginnis assaulted him and threatened to out
his heart ont with = knife which he held in
his hand. Conley says he returned to the
saloon and got a needle gun, being afraid.
and with which to get his blankets. While
Conley was absent Mo0innis took down a
Winchester rifle from a rack in the cabin
and tried to charge H.. The stock tender
showed him shat il was broken. McGinnia
then started to get another one and met
Conley at the door of the cabin. McGinniG
spranR at Conley and tried to secure pos
session of tho gun. While they were strug-
Cling together the gun rent oil and Conley
says it was inoomprehensible how it hap
.pened. He drew a diagram of the mans
head on his statement showing the course
of the bullet which entered under the chin
and oame out just q little back of the top
of the head.
Ex-Gov. Toole, before his term Of Office
expired. granted a pardon to Conley sub
ject to the approval of the board
ome up for hearing. H. j.. Bur-
leigh. DR., the county attorney Of Beaver
head. first wrote to the board that he wonld
oppose the granting of a pardon and later
wrote that if the ends of justice had been
subserved by Conley's twelve years of con-
fnement he would offer no objection, but if
it was q clear case he would oppose this
granting of q pardon.