The San Francisco call., 1896-03-02
Blind Home Director HirShberg
Also Writes to the
Governor.
FAVORs A REFORM SCHOOL.
If No Clemency Is Shown 1t Is Feared
>: Majors Mother Will Not Long
" Survive.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,
QnS Rrnad NAY March 1

}
A petition was forwarded to Governor
Budd tonight asking for his immediate
iRtercession to prevent the boy burglars
from being sent to Folsom.
The prisoners will be sent to the peniten-
.tiary Monday afternoon unless the execu-
tive clemency is granted.
The petition is as follows:
, $40 HIS Ercellency James H Batdd, Gouer-
nor OF the State Of California: The under
signed would respectfully call your atten-
tion to the case of the two minors, Abe
Majors and Bert Wilmore, now under SEN
tence 10 serve ten years in Folsom peni-
tentiAry. Tne boys are under II years of
age. and we feel that when you are fully
acquainted with the facts you will be per-
suaded that the case is one that merits
your interference.
I'm the case Of one of the lads, Ace Ma
jors, particularly strong case OF previous
good character exists, including a good
career IN the Young Mems Christian As
sociation and several people who have
employed him.
'fAt his trial Mr.. Haywards of the Rail-
road Restaurant testified that he would
employ Majors ct once were he at liberty.
He also said that he had frequently in
trusted the boy with several hundreds
each month and had never known him to
misuse a cent.
Both lads made clear confession of all
that they had done and assisted the police
10 ind the stolen property. Mrs. Wagner
Is com pletely prostrated, and 1t IS certain
she would not survive the shock many
months should her boy be sent TO Folsom.
&c. If you will order a brief delay in the
taking OF the boys to Folsom We will at
once prepare and forward to you a COM
pIete statement of the case"
Several friends of Mrs. Wagner, the
- 4 ~
David S. Hlrshberg promised to write to
Governor Budd tonight, advocating the
sending of the lads to a reform school.
d. Hirshberg is the man who was chosen
by the Governor TO succeed John ?. Irish
as director of the Blind Home. 1t is
thought that his letter will have much
weight with the Governor.
Il was a deputy sheriff at the time
Majors father died, said Director Hirsh-
berg tonight, "and l have taken an in
terest in the boy for many years, 7 think
the penitentiary is no place for those lads,
and believe they should be sent 20 a re-
form school, Desperate as their crimes
were those boys are not hardened Grim
iDais and 10 send them 20 Folsom would
r.. q all their future life
The Sheriff has orders to take the youth
ful prisoners to Folsom tomorrow after
noon, and unless he receives orders from
the Governor his present instructions will
be carried out.
That young Majors is not an innocent
STRIPPING, now penitent, was proved by his
utter indifference TO the grief and presence
of his broken-hearted mother until such
time as he was convinced that the reverse
would be more advisable. In this be-
havior he was seconded by his elder
brother, Archie, who is now doing all he
can to help the man who is now in jail for
refusing to support his two little children.
born while he was the husband of the
Majors mother. II is to be regretted that
justice is not always meted out with such
indiscrimirate zeal from the Alameda
County bench.
As the case against the boys now stands
the Governor will probably pardon them
as soon as they have showed evidence OF a
desire to become useful citizens Judge
York made this recommendation in his
order of committal.