The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-11-29
At LIBERTY AGAIN
William Knox, From MissOula, a
Sutitct Of Executive Clemency.
KILLED IN SELF DEFENSE
He Was Sentenced TO 10 Years In
the Pen, and NOW It Is Found
That ne Committed No
Crime at All.
Special Dispatch to the standard.


Helena, Nov. 9S.-After spending
more than four years In the Deer Lodge
penltentiary for crime which i've
judges and the prosecuting attorney
before whom he was tried now Virtu-
ally say was no crime at all, William
Knox will regain his liberty lie was
sent up in September. 1892, from Mis-
soula county for killing George W.
Searles. Governor Richards pnrdoued
him Nov. >, and to-day the board Of
pardons unanimously confirmed the act
OF executive clemeHcy. According TO
the petition that was signed by Judge
Marshall and all the jurors now living
CT In the county, Knox shot and killed
Searles while acting In self-deiense.
Searles was cutting wood on land be-
longing 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 killed him. The
governor. in his letter tn the board OF
pardOns, explains his reasons for
granting clcmency. The letter Is:
Gentlemen. | herewith grant a free
and unconditional pardon to William
Knox. subject to your approval. This
man was convicted in the Fourth ju-
dicial district on Sept. 9. 1892. for KILL
ing one George w. Searlcs and was
sentenced to term of 10 years In the
penitentiary, nearly half of which SEN
t,nce h. has already served.
1T IL seldom that the merits OF
case appeal So strongly for executive
Interference. yet | am fully convinced,
after "A palnstaking investigation, that
Knox acted in selfdefensc when he
killed Searles, and that the latter was
the aggressor from every point of view.
II is In evidence that Searles was try
ine to rob Knox out of the land which
had been selected by the latter for
homestead entry. and that violent
dispute arose over an act Of trcspass
by the former. During the quarrel
Searlcs assaulted Knox with an axe,
and the latter. In sclfdefense. shot the
former, causing his death. The papers
in the case fully justify the conclusion
that Knox. knowing his enemy to be
man 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 an
other of his home. which Is being lc-
gally acquired by peaceful means, Is as
guilty as he who by force seeks Ia pos
aess his purse IL Is a matter of ex-
treme doubt, from both n moral and
legal standpoint whether Knox shoull
nave hetn lncaltelbttn Iol the UiuThtT
OF SCarles. AS 1t 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 circum-
stances, | feel that the appeals for
clcmency I'm behalf OF this man should
he respected coming as they do from
those best acquainted with the facts.
Your attention is called to the state
ment herewith appended. signed by the
officers OF the court i'm which Knox was
tried and convicted. The names of the
Judge. prosecuting attorney, clerk of
the courts, and all the jurors now liv-
ing and in the country are affixed Ia
this document. together with - other
citizens. familiar with all the facts
brought out in the trial of the case. A
petition from cashe county. Utah.
signed by n hundred persons rccites
that Knox was for 90 years a resident
Of that territory; that he wus n peace
able. quiet. well-behavcd citizen. n
faithful, industrious and Woodworking
man who was never arrested or ac-
cused of any crime or misdemeanor.
This petition prays for Clemency for
Knox IN behalf Of his wife and little
children. Letters bearing on this same
case are also handed you. Believing
this to be n case mcritorluus In all re-
sTects, my action is respectfully sub
mitted tO your approval