The Madisonian. (Virginia City, Mont.) 1873-1915, 1896-12-05
HE Is AT LIBERTY
WILLIAM KNOX PARDONED
FROM THE EPENiTENTIARY
to 10 Years in the Pen, and Now it is
at All.

at All.
After spending more than four years
in the Deer Lodge penitentiary for q
crime which five judges and the prose
cutting attorney before whom he was
tried now virtually say was no crime ut
all, William Knox will regain his lib
erty. He was sent up in September.
1892, from Missoula county for killing
George w. Seares. Gov. Richards
pardoned him Nov.o s, and Monday
the board of pardons unanimously con
trmed the act of executive clemency.
signed by Judge Marshall, and all the
jurors now living or in the county.
Knox shot and killed Scarles while act
ing in self defense. Searles was cut
ting wood on land belonging to Knox
and dispute arose. Searles assaulted
Knox with an axe and the latter who
had fallen to the ground after turning
to run away, shot and almost instantly
ter to the board of pardons, explains
his reasons for granting clemency. The
letter is: = ~'*"e <tr. ~"fN 81,
''Gentlemen, | herewith grant y free
and unconditional pardon to William
Knox subjectto your approval. This
man was convicted in the Fourth ju-
dicial district on Sept. 6, 1892, for Kill
ling one George w. Searles, and was
sentenced to term of 10 years in the
penitentiary, nearly half of which SEN
tencc he has already served.
SIT is seldom that the merits of
case appeal SO strongly for executive
Interference. yet am fully convinced,
after a painstaking investigation, that
Knox acted in self defense when he
killed Searles, and that the latter was
the aggressor from every point of view.
1t is in evidence that Searles was try
ing to roo Knox out of the land which
had been selected by the latter for
homestead entry, and that violent
dispute arose over an act of trespass by
es assaulted Knox with an axe. and the
latter, in self defense, shot the former
causing his death. The papers in the
case fully justify the conclusion that
Knox. knowing his man to be of violent
temper with a vicious purpose in view,
had every reason to believe that his
own life was in danger. The man who
attempts to deprive another of his
home, which is being legally acquired
by peaceful means, is as guilty as he,
who by force, seeks to possess his purse.
1t is matter of extreme doubt. from
both q moral and legal standpoint,
whether Knox should have been in
carcerated for the murder of Searles.
AS it is, he has not only served large
portion of his sentence but has lost his
property by reason of his incarceration
and his family has been broken up.
Under the circumstances, | feel that
the appeals for clemency in behalf of
this man should be respected, coming
as they do from those best acquainted
with the facts. Your attention is call
ed to the statement herewith append
ed, signed by the officers of the court
in which Knox was tried and convicted
The names of the Judge, prosecuting
attorney, clerk of the coarts, and all
the jurors now living and in the coun-
try are affixed to this document, to-
gether with "a other citizens, familiar
with all the facts brought out in the
trial of the case. A petition from
Cache county, Utah, signed by hund-
red persons recites that Knox was for
20 years a resident of that territory:
that he was peaceable, quiet we'll be-
haved citizen, a faithful, Industrious
aud hard working man who was never
arrested or accused of any crime or
misdemeanor. This petition prays for
clemency for Knox in behalf of his
wife and little children. Letters bear
ing on this same case are also handed
you. Believing this to be case meri-
torious IN all respects, my action is re-
spectfully submitted to your approv-
al