West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1896-02-27
THE GOVERNORS PARDON.
UaluStlaable Statements Made by
Newspapers Refutcd.
Governor nacCOrkle's Record on thi,
Line Proved TO be More Consery-
ative Than That OF ANY OF HE
Predecessors Facts and
Figures which SPEAK
For Themselves.
From the wheeling Register.

'''N' - lN' NNA NNltcl OH MT.
John Baker White, the Governor
private secretary, and showed him.
clipping from Wheeling paper.
and said il it would not DO too much
trouble he would like to know inst
how the number of pardons granted
by Governor MacCorkle compares
with the number of former execu.
tives of this State.
Mr.. White replied: 81 have re.
Gently noticed several criticisms of
this nature in the press of this
State, and have just been looking
mp the figures, which show that
Governor MacCorklo has issued
fewer pardons in the same length
OF time than any Of the former ox-
eoutives of this State. These ar.
tlcles are but another illustration of
the ignorance shown by certain pa
pers OF the State in oriticising the
administration on matters about
which they have never taken the
trouble to inform themselves.
"Hcro are tho statistics taken
from the records of this Office. For
the three years OF Governor Mac.
Corkle's administration, find there
have been presented III petitions
for pardon, of which number 2s
have been granted, releasing con-
yicts from the penitentiary. And
this out Of a present prison popula.
ton Of 545 State convicts.
For the three years OF Governor
Fleming's administration, find
that there were presented 1874 pc.
titons for pardon, of which so were
granted; aud at the end OF the said
three years there were about 3GO
State convicts in the peniteatiary.
"During the last three years of
Governor Wilson's administration,
Iiad S3 petitions presented and 40
granted; and there was prison
population st .he end Of this three
years Of BOG.
"For the Inst tbrce years Of Gov.
ornor Jaokson's administration. /
end that he granted 65 pardons.
and that the prison population at
the end Of this three years was 235.
"In gathering these statistics. /
have not taken into consideration
the misdemcanors, fines aad jail
sentences in which executive Glenn
ecy has beOn extended, but the
ratio in these cases is about the
same.
zoe the 20 pardons issued by
Governor MacCorkle, | find that
II were issued on strong recommen-
dations from the Judge, prosecuting
attorney, and. in most cases, the
majority Of the jury who tried the
prisoner. In 8 other cases, / find
that pardons were issued upon the
written recommendation Of the
prison physician, showing the pris.
oners' health to be seriously I'M
paired so that the Courts sentence
had resulted in injury and punish
ment to the prisoner by inducing
disease and destroyipg his life (by
reason Of close confnement). man
ifestly not contemplated by the
Court or jury, and IN three OF these
cases the prisoners we're in the last
stages Of consumption and were
sent home to die. OF the remain
1 ing 8. one was pardoned in order
that be might be used as witness
for the State in an important Grim
inal case; one ia order tnat be
might 90 TO the bedside Of his wife.
who was dying and leaving family
Of seven childreHj this mans sent.
ence vas nearly out when he vas
/ pardoned; and another was con
fined under sentence Of tho Court
for stealiug two dozen bottles OF
beer, but it was bis third ofense
and he WIS sent up for life. lie
had served nearly two years for this
ofIenso when pardoncd
Compare tho num- bor OF petitions
presented and tbc oumbor OF con
vic's in The prison 40 tho end Of
each period Of three years, with the
number Of plrdoos granted. and we
. End that
Governor Fleming pardoned 3G5
per cent. Of the congicts petition.
ing FOR pardon, Of about IA per