Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-11-13
GOV. MCORKLE'S PARDONS.
His Average Has Been Low, and In stony
Duny'S Case a Mighty Petition Was
Presented

DuAg'3 case MlkEtJ EebilAoh was
Presented
Special CsrrssDoHasnes ort6e REGISTER.
CHARLESTON, VIVA, November IL
"A host Of criminals have been par
doned by Governor MacCOrkle, Of West
Virginia, including John Duffy, a noied
thief ~ Philadelphia Record.
This statement was inspired by an
article which was published some days
ago by a Wheeling evening paper,
likening Governor MacCorkle to Gov
ernOr Altgeld, OF Illinois, and crlticiz-
ing him for the pardon OF StoneWall
Duffy, of Wheeling. Such articles do
gross injustice to the Governor and IN
told injury 70 the State. have taken
the trouble 20 investigate the matter,
and find that Governor MacCOrkle has
issued fewer pardOns than any or his
predecessors, aud that 10 is exceeding
ly difficult TO obtain pardon from him.
We find that Governor jackson issued
93 pardOns in four years; Governor
Wilson issued 13 pardOns in five years;
Governor Fleming issued 90 pardons in
three years, making a total OF 23S in
twelve years.
Governor MacCOrkle has up to this
time issued but eight pardons in the
eight months he has been in office,
which would bring his yearly average
up TO twelve in one year. 1t will
be seen that Governor MacCorkle
has issued but three-1fths as many
pardons as the general yearly average
of the three former Governors named.
As compared with the yearly average
Of Governor Jackson, Governor Mac
Corkle has not issued more than half
the number. As compared with Cover
nor Wilson's yearly average 1t is about
One-siXth less and as compared With that
of Governor Fleming it is two-fifths
less. In addition 20 these facts it must
be remembered that the number Of
prisoners in the penitentiary has In
creased largely over the number in the
penitentiary during the administration
Of his predecessors.
As 10 Duffy whom he has recently
pardoned, who is not and never was "a
notorious thief" the reasons given by
the Governor for his pardon, are fully
jUStifiable, and his pardon was recon-
mended by host of Wheeling'S cit-
zens, among whom are found the names
of eleven of the jurors who tried the
case; also, Hon. T. ). Riley, Attorney
General: Hon. John o. Pendleton, mem
Der Of Congress; Lewis Steenrod, ex-
Sheriff Of Ohio county; John w.
Mitchell, Clerk Circuit Court; VIM.
II. Dimmy jailor; c. 4. Blanch-
ard, County Assessor; VIM. Myles,
ex-City Collector; Frank Cruise, Louis
Bonenberger, w. w. Irwin, Council
men; A. @. K. Ebeling, 5. b. Mckee,
grocer; John w. Kennen, grocer, T. +.
Thoaer, City Clerk; George Baird, Sec
Rotary City Water Board; z. K. Farrell,
member City Council; George Hook.
County Clerk Of Ohio county; J. II.
Shafer, Assistant Secretary Gas Office;
L. A. Woeber Jr., City Receiver; w.
II. Fee, Assistant City Clerk; John A.
Welsger6er, Il. II. McNichOl, Chief OF
Police; Geo. Ankle, Justice OF the Peace;
c. 2. Brown, ex-SherjfT of Ohio county;
John Frew, D1ilB HltClligGDcCr; L. p.
JepsOn, Cashier Bank Of Ohio Valley;
Geo. X. McMechen Il Son Co; ThOS.
O'Brien, ex-State Treasurer; VIM. Ell
linhgam. John w. Cummings, Supt.
Water Works: CIV. Seabright, ex-MayOr
of Wheeling; Noah Zane, JnO. p,
O'NIal.ey. member Council; +. L. Hoge,
City Engineer; Peter Delaplaine, John
A. Howard, Prosecuting Attorney;
A. a. Franzheim, Sheriff of Ohio
county: Hon. Joseph r. PAUL, Judge
Of the First Judicial Circuit; Col. w. w.
Arnott, Attorney at Law.