The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-16
ROWLAND FREE At LAST.
Tho Third Pardon Issued TO the
Slayer Of Bussiere Is
Approved.
It IL Granted by Acting Governor
Botkln and tho Board
Successful
Two Of tho Three Members Who Did THIS
Had Twice Disapproved Similar
RECON- m andationR.

John A. Rowand is q free man at last.
After twice before passing through the
staQe between executive clsmcnoy and the
appreciation OF the board of pardons. and
failing both timea he and his friends have
been successful. The third exhibition of
executive olemeucy resulted favorable to
the convicted man. It was approved BY
tho board Of pardons. composed. with one
exception. Of the same mon who had twice
before refused to listen to II.
II was on April 26, 1887, shat John A.
Rowand inflicted tue wound that caused
to the penitentiary at Deer Lodge under a
life sentence. Rowand, who was living at
Butte. had been drinking heavily. accord
Ing to all the testimony and his own adj
mission. He went to the snloon of Peter
Martin md called for drinks. for which hs
did not pay. telling the proprietor to charge
shem. After some words brought about by
Che failure to settle for the drinks. Rowand
went away, and having armed
himself, came back. Martin put
him out Of tho saloon. as he
appeared to be boisterous, and fearing
further trouble, got o police whistle and
started to the door to blow 1t to call an Of
tioer. As he opened the door. Rowand.
who was standing about eight feet WAY,
fred at him. The bullet just grazed the
inside of Martins arm and entered the
back of Bussiers, who. being the collector
for a Wholesale becr firm. was in the saloon
IN business. The wound resulted In his
death. and Rowaud was tried and con-
victed of murder in the second degree and
nnNtmnnAl 1 ~ Ah> $cs- -. 1s<c
No sooner had the doo,s Of the peniten-
tiary closed on RowAnd than his friends set
to work to secure his pardon. He had
wealthy n influential relatives in Quebec,
Canada. of which dominion he was a ma
tive. One of the hardest workers for How
and was an official of the Canadian gov
ernment, n through his solicitations tho
Hon. James G. Blaine. then secretary of
state. was induced to take an interest In
the case. Othera in this section OF the
country joined ip. and the result
vas that IN March, 1880, Coy:
h HoS.s * The Board Of p.rde pasa eornpos: q
Of Secretary Of State Rotwitt. Auditor
Kinney and Attorney General Haskell. re-
fused to approve the pardon. The efforts
on towards behalf did not cease, however.
and on Feb. 8, 1891. the Hon. j. E. Rick
governor in the absence of tho Hon. Jos.
X. Toole. again pardoned the man. This
time the same board of pardons rs before
again refused to sanction the pardon. So
the matter rested until Gov. Richards went
east, and Lieut.-Gov. Botkin beoame tho
acting governor. Col. Botkin again par
doned Rowand. and yesterday the board of
pardons approved his action. Thuo it will
be seen that syery one OF the executives of
Montana' since the territory became a state
has had a chance at Rowand's pardon. Gov.
Toole as executive and Gov. Richards md
Lieut.-Gov. Botkin as acting executives.
At the hearing yesterday one of those
who appeared before tho board, Joseph
Beaupre. said that the widow of the muir
dered man had Withdrawn any objections
to the pardon of Rowand. Warden Mo-
Tague, Of the penitentiary, said that Row
and had expressed the determination, If
hardened, to do everything he could for the
widow and family of the man no killed.
Rowand has a mother and sister living at
Quebec, Canada, and il was their u~ntiring
efforts that resulted finally in his pardon.
Majestic ranges and Greenlanl refriuarators .t