The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-01-01
cor. FLOWER'y P1RDONs
Compared with Those or Predecessor

ALBANY. Dec. Accommodations OF sem
fences and the pardons OF c%onvicts, which are
generally grouped under tho general head OF
Acts Of Executive ~Clemency." have been is
suing from Gov. Flowers desk OF late with
some frequency. and yet the grand total Of
these merciful acts, not ono OF which has been
done without a full investigation OF the fncts
In the case. only amounts to ninety-six. This
number Is not so far above that which indl-
Gated the Executive Clemency" OF Gov. Hill
in 1891. when the number reached seventy
eight. Gov. Hill was not so ready to grant
pardons and combinations during the pre-
ceding years Of his occupancy OF the Execu-
tive Chamber. and seems to have worked
gradually UP to his maximum OF mercifulness.
His record shows in 1886 but p commutn-
lions and pardons: in 1896 1t reached 40: in
1887 it lapsed to % again: in 1888 it rose to
"a: 1t was Al in 1889: 43 In 1890: and 70
in 1891.
Gov. Grover Cleveland signed combinations
and pardons to tho number OF 81 in 1888 and
70 In 1884.
But Gov. Robinson surpassed Cleveland. Hill.
and Flower. and did not sit q single year OF his
term without issuing over one hundred COM
mutations and pardons. The books show for
him this record: In 1877. Ill; in 1855. ia:
in 1879. oil.
Going back to 1865 and noting the number
OF these orders that were issued by the Gov.
ernors We find that Gov. Flower Is far below
the average in the number Of his pardons
Gov. Fenton's yearly list for four years reads
as follows: 1865. 1913 out OF 27S applications:
1896. 1914 out OF 452 applications: 1867. 142
out Of 44O: 1868. 1853 out Of 400.
Gov. Hoffman fell short OF Fenton's record.
but did very we'll. In 1869 This first year, it
was 1OS out OF Dos: in 1870. 40 out OF 400;
In 1877 1lS out ~ pl1. 1870 1877 o,t ~ pnN
Gov. Dix pardoned So tho first year uS73.
and 95 the second 1S74l
tribe. f IN fss5 il !asso an t eves h '%s !s%' and 8
the first year and 45G tho last.
Gov. Flower has received MS many applica-
one man. tho pardon clerk. busy all the time
looking, UP the cases referred to-,
Gov. Flower. in company with Mr.. Joyce.
his pardon clerk. made u tour Of the prisons
last summer. and heard n large. number Of
stories from c%onvicts. desiring 70 be released.
injustice had apparently been done. or that
Justice had been more than usually severe IN
on examination tho points given could be sub
stantiated. and 1t was the opinion of the Judge
who sentenced, tho District, Attorney. who
prosecuted. or tho Jury which convicted. that
the ends OF Justice had been subserveG. and
that the applicant was deserving, OF a r~estora-
then has Gov. Flower internosed his pardon
ing, power. Before SO doing. however. he
makes inquiries TO ascertain wnetner the per-
son has any friends who are willing to receive
him or her into their homes and to assist them
TO- begin life anew.
havior by the addition Of the following condl-
tion. which has been introduced by Gov.
This communication. is granted upon the
express condition that II the, said -
shall BE- hereafter convicted Of any felony
Of his discharge by. reason hereof and the date
Of the expiration Of the full term hereby com.
with respect to the said committed term. and
In ADDITION to the penalty which may be i'm
t@erval, Aforesaid. he shall DO compelled to
may be confined, for such, felony without de-
dnction for good behavior"
measure it oxempiiiles ali there isin Ills theory
very conscientious about tho business and
has, Ind the pigeonholes Of tho pardon clerk 3
many applications Tor pardon that have rested
gated, and the nymGe Of cases that should
tors have been pushed aside and forgotten;
In mentioning this to The sun reporter.
GHy; i tiow Eem excuses o ms s esefo6 6avs po IN %po Gthss
to look after, and hence have more time to
rummage round in these dust-covered pigeon
holes o. the pardon bureau
As II to illustrate the Governors method OF
exercising this pardoning power. while he was
etill talking with The SUI man two ladies
were announced who came from Syracuse to
intercede for a young woman. but 70 years
old. who has been confined in the Onondaea
penitentiary since 1890. Her name. they said,
was Harriet a. Merrihew. and while but Is
years old she had been forced as q wife to SEQ
her husband install another. woman in their
home as his mistress. She had been driven
to desperation. and attempted to poison him,
but had repented in time to give him an
emetic that saved his life. She was tried for
the attempt, and on the testimony Of the mis-
tress had been convicted. In 1889 an Of
fort had been made to secure q pardon. and
seven jurors signed the application. while
Judge Merwin wrote n letter. In which he ex-
pressed the opinion that the Jury had given a
compromise verdict to rid themselves Of tho
case after being out for some time.
GOV. Flower. after listening to the story and
having some OF it's features veqfied by the pa
pers that had been fled AVA In 1888. told the
women. one OF whom was the wife of a former
superintendent of the 0nondaga penitentiary.
that II all the facts could be verified. it looked
as though the prisoner had been unreasonably
conhned-for about nine years: bat before
taking any definite steps he would ask Judge
Merwin to give his opinion again. and by SOM
further Investigation would determine what
action to take. Tho women pleaded for a par
don to take the prisoner as a Christmas gift.
but the Governor shook his head and replied
that he must have the case fully investigated
before acting.