The morning call., 1893-11-12
AT STATE PRISON.
A Convict Is Released by
Death.
November Meeting of the Directors
at the Penitentiary Yesterday.
Recommendations to Mercy.

There was tinge Of sadness at the meet
ing of the Board Of Prison Directors al
San Quentin yesterday, when ii had been
expected to make it an occasion of joy in
stead For ten long years Wong Goo had
been serving a sentence for murder, and
in addition to the courteous way in which
he treated every one, and which won favor
for him. he had been convicted on very
doubtful testimony. Therefore few
months ago when Wong's health began to
break and his pale cheek and trembling
step made him none the less faithful in
the performance of his work in the cap
tain of the yards office. it was with will
ing ear that his request for a pardon was
received, and at the last previous meeting
of the board the recommendation was al
once forwarded to the Governor. and at
yesterdays meeting it had been intended
to set the prisoner free. But the kind in
tentions of the directors were anticipated,
as Wong's sentence had been coDmuted
by a higher power. Three days ago he
died, and he had the largest funeral that
San Quentin Prison has seen in many a
day. Scores of convets asked for an hour S
leave to attend. and even Captain Edgar
followed the procession to the prison bury
ing ground.
President De Pue had just returned from
his Eastern trip and made an informal re-
port of visit which he had paid to the
Illinois State prison at Joliet. There are
ten or twelve factories in that peniten tiary,
and Mr.. De Pue said he saw many articles
being manufactured there, which are sold
In the San Francisco markets. But the
work issall done on State account, that is,
there is no contract convict labor.
Warden Hale reported a number of i'm
provements and repairs that have already
been made, and some that are yet needed
to place things in condition for the winter
season, and they were ordered to be al
tended to at once.
The Salvation Army charioteer band
asked permission to visit the prison on
Thanksgiving day and hold service in
the afternoon. The request was granted.
and the convicts in addition to holiday
in the mills and additional dishes a. dinner
will be entertained by brass band and
songs by some of the Salvation Army
lassies.
The petition of r. d. Fredercks of
Fresno County, sentenced for the crime of
arson in December, 1890, was denied.
Warden Hale preferred charges agains t
ten prisoners for various iDfractions of the
prison regulations, principally having
opium In their possession. One of them
lost year of his credits, while others got
Two women, now serving sentence in
the prison. expect TO become mothers in
January, and the attention OF the directors
was called to the fact. One of them is
Mrs. WorthingtoD, lately sent from this
city, while the other woman is from Tu-
olumne County. The board directed the
Warden to place the women outside the
walls In anticipation OF the event, and
thus save the children the disgrace of
being born on prison ground
Warden Hale had nine parole cases
ready for presentation, but as there was
not full representation of the directors
present no action could be taken.
Dick Reeves, sentenced from Sacra.
mento for burglary. in February, 1885, and
sent up for sixteen years, was recon-.
mended to the Governor for Communication
of sentence TO fourteen years, which, with
his credits, would SET him at liberty a
once.
Charles a. Ahlefield, sentenced from
San Francisco in November. 1891. for en-
bezzlement of $500, and sent up for ioul
years. was recommended to have his SEN
tence commuted so that he would be dis
charged on December 81, and start The
new wear free man.