The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-01-12
In A VERY BAD LIGHT.
The County Attorney of Chautau-
qua County Besmirched
BY THE STATEMENTS SWORN TO

Row on File With the state Board of
PardOns-A Woma ans Effort to SEE
cure the Release or Her Brothers
from the PenIEenriary.
There is a most remarkable story in
connection with the pardoning of George
and James Pease, two Chautauqua county
boys who were this week released from
the penitentiarY by the order of Governor
Lewelling.
On the 10Th of last November these
young men were convicted in the Chau-
tauquA county district court of stealing
three calves, and were sentenced to a
term of three years in the penitentiary
for grand larceny.
These young men have sister, Mrs.
Hughes, who resides in st. Louis, and is
the wife of wealthy man who is chief
electrical engineer of the St. Louis and
Chicago electric railroad.
Mrs. Hughe tried to prevent the con-
viction of her brothers in the district
court, but was met by the county attor-
ney, according to her own sworn state
ment filed with the state board of par
dons, who proposed to enter nolle in
the case, if she would pay him $500 and
submit to certain proposals which no
honorable man ought to make to
woman.
Mrs Hughes then hired the best attor-
neys in that part of the state, and fought
the case until it went to the jury. She
left for st. Louis after the case went to
the jury. feeling sure that her brothers
would be acquitted, but they were con-
victed.
She did not attempt to secure a new
trial, but at once set about to secure
their release by DardOn.
Two members of the state board of
pardons, Judge c. E. Foot and Secretary
Laybourn, visited St Louis the last of
December when the National Populist
conference was held in that city.
Mrs. Hughes called on them at the
LindeIl hotel and invited them to her
handsome home.
A friend of the Pease boys says that
the two members of the board of pardons
and Private Secretary Fred Close were
the guests of Mrs. Hughes while in St.
Louis The members of the board say
they were not there.
Ten days ago Mrs. Hughes came to
Topeka and registered at the Dutton
house where she was much made over by
Mrs. FoOte and Mrs. Lease who were also
at the Dutton.
Mrs. Hughes, who is a very handsome
woman, went before the board of par
and the board was not long in sending
| the recommendation to the governor that
the pardons be granted.
Governor Lewelling, it is said, looked
over the papers in the case and was
about to put his veto on the case when
Private Secretary Close asked him to
wait until he would. see the boys sister,
who was in the outer office. Mrs. Hughes
was ushered into the governors private
Office, and was only in there d short time
until the governor was induced to sign
the pardons.
The pardons were signed Monday
about noon, and Mrs. Hughes went at
once with it to Leavenworth and secured
the release of her brothers from the
penitentiary.
Judge j, Y. Beekman.. not as an attor-
ney, but as an old friend of Mrs. Hughes,
went before the board and urged the
pardon.
Representative Shouse of Chautauqua
| county, says that the county commits
! sioners ordered the county attorney to
come here and go in person before the
board and resist the pardon. The board
stys that the county attorney made nc
personal appeal before them.