The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1897-12-30
McKinley's Pardon Record.

President McKinley'S activity In par.
doning bank wreckerS and embezzlers
is becoming scandalous. The latest
object Of executive clemenOy reported
by the press dispatches is W. E. Burr,
Jr. ,Eex-cashier Of the ST. Louis National
Bank, who was serving five-year SEN
tence at the Jefferson City penitentiary
for the embezzlement Of $4,000. 1t is
reported that the pardon was issued on
the recommendation Of Attorney-Gen-
eral McKenna, who had received from
republican National Committeeman
Kerens, the two democratic senators
and other influential people Of the state,
petitions asking for clemenoy.
Here is list Of the other pardons OF
this nature that have been granted by
President Mckinley so far during the
nine months of his administration.
Harry L. Martin, Illinois, convicted
Feruary 10, 1896, of embezzling funds
Of a national bank; sentenced TO 8 years
in the penitentiary; pardoned April Z.
Alonzo B. Crawford, Missouri, con'
victed Of violation Of United States
banking laws; sentenced October 8,
1894, to five years in the penitentiary
sentence commuted by Mr.. Cleveland
to three years and six months; pardon
ed Hays.
Henry a. Kennedy, Pennsylvania,
convicted on two indictments for VIC
lation Of national banking laws; sen
fenced September Is, 1891, to ten years
in the penitentiary; sentence commu
ted by Mr.. Cleveland to seven years
pardoned May 81.
John NJ. Wall, Ohio, convicted Of
violation of the United States Banking
laws; sentenced April 90, 1897; to five
years ie the penitentiary; senetnce com
muted May 28 to two years and full
pardon granted October Q.
Fred E. Edgar, New York, convicted
May 9, 1894, of violation of nationa
banking laws, sentenced to FIVE year
in the penitentiary; pardoned June /.
Charles r. Fleischman, Illinois, con
victed of violation Of banking laws
sentenced December s, 1896, to fv,
years in the penitentiary; pardonec
June 28.
Fred L. Kent, Missouri, convicted o
embezzling the funds Of bank; sen
fenced September z, 1893, to ten year
in the penitentiary; pardoned July Z.
| Edward r, Carter, Of New York, con
victed Of violating the national banking
laws; sentenced January 8, 1895, to 81
years and six months in the peniten
tiary; pardoned July9.
4 Francis A. Coffin, Indiana, convicte
OF violation OF United States bankin
laws; sentenced October 26, 1895, t
eight years in the penitentiary; par
doned September 9.
| Lewis Redwine, Georgia, convicte
Of violation Of United States bankin
laws; sentenced January 10, 1894, to 81
years in the penitentiary; pardoned o.
tober 90.
Stephen M. Folsom, New Mexico, cor
victed April II, 1894, Of making fals
entries in the books Of national bank
sentenced to five years in the peniter
tiary; pardoned November IS.
Fred Griffin, Illinois, convicted c
embezzling the funds OF nations
bank; sentenced May "a, 1895, to Av
years in the penitentiary; pardoned NJ
! vember %.
It seems as if President McKinle
had a special fondness for pardonin
bank wreckers and embeZzlers, the yer
: class Of all others that ought to be th
last to receive clemency: Their plar
are especially disturbing to society, an
especially blameworthy in that the
! constitute violations of sacred trust
OF course criminals Of high stsudinl
like those holding positions of respol
sibility in great banking institution
can bring to bear in their behalf MOI
pressure, political and otherwise, tbs
ordinary offenders. In the face of Il
long pardon list and the facts as r.
ported in some cases, one can not be,
thinking that influence is the chief ia
tor in securing clemency.
In the interest Of depositOrs az
shareholders alike subverters of tru
funds should not be allowed to go u
punished when convited of crime. Ho
can president elected on the issue
sound currency and sound bankii
Justify this attitude of lenienoy towa
dishonest bankers?-Chicago Record