The record-union., 1894-10-09
EXECUTIVE CLEMENCY EXERCISED.
Governor Markham Pardons One and
CommuteS Two.
An Employer Who Determined to
Make Some Money Out of His
Clerks EmbeZZiement.

Governor Markham has pardoued
William B. Hall, who was sentenced in
November. 1891, in San Francisco to four
years in States Prison tor embezzlement.
the pardon to take effect OH October 10,
1891.
1t appears that up to the time of the
commission Of this offense the petitioner
had always borne a good reputation in
all respects. and had held positions of
trust and honor, beside being well-to-do
financially. The funds embezzled were
rendered to the firm, and every means
IN his power were made for reimburse
ment, even offering many hundreds of
dollars more than he had embezzled;
that the prosecuting witness demanded
a much larger sum, which was refused,
and petitioner pleaded guilty. Hon. D..
j. Murphy, who passed sentence, recon-
mends that pardon be granted, and says
that he expressed great dissatisfaction at
the conduct OF the prosecuting witness in
his endeavor to obtain larger sum of
money from the defendant and his
friends than he was entitled TO, and that
under all the circumstances thinks the
public interests Will not be injured by
granting pardon.
The conduct of petitioner since his in
generation has been praiseworthy, he
having filled several positions of trust III
the prison, and is now employed as head
bookkeeper III the clerks Office, all of
which Is vouched for by the prison Off
Gals. The state Board OF Prison Di-
rectors unanimously recommends that
he be granted pardon, TO take effect
October %, 1894, for the foregoing reasons.
His term OF sentence would expire by
law on November l, 1894.
WILLIAM q. FINLEY.
He has also commuted the sentence of
William u. Finley, who was sentenced
in December, 1892, from Napa County
tor three years, TO two years and six
months, for abduction for purposes of
prostitution. This will release him on
December 9th next.
1t appears from the testimony of the
two girls taken before Hon. +. b. Ham,
Judge of the Superior Court, that they
were not abducted by the petitioner, but
on the contrary, left their home in Calls
toga, Napa County, OF their own free w Ill
and accord, TO avoid the persecution of
their parents. The conviction OF defend
ant resulted from the fact that the girls
were under the statutory age being aged
ii years and months and 10 years and
10 months) and were therefore not legally
capable of giving consent to such alH-
ance; and whereas, the petition for
pardon is signed by many OF the leading
citizens of Calistoga, where the crime
was committed. Judge Z. ID. Ham and
District Attorney William Gwynn, Jr.,
join i'll the petition for pardon, and state
that they believe the petitioner has been
sufficiently punished, and that if a pardon
be granted. it will be in the interest OF
! reformation.
| For the foregoing reasons the State
! Board OF Prison Directors recommend
| That the sentence be commuted to two
years and six months from the date Of
! Imprisonment.
HARRY CRAWFORD.
| He has also comnluted the sentence of
! Harry Crawford, who was sentenced for
| life in June, 1886, from San Bernardino
! County for murder in the first degree TO
fourteen years, which vii! release him on
April =, 1898.
From d careful perusal of the testimony
given at the trial and from letters and Ger