The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1897-07-09
SHALL THEY BE PARDONEDP

An application has been made for
pardon for the Younger brothers and
the same will be heard before the
board of pardons on Monday next.
There has always been a good deal Of
opposition to any move of this kind in
the past, and doubtless there will be
at present. But that opposition will
be less potent at this time than at
any time in the past. While there
have been movements heretofore in
favor of their pardon, this is the first
time we believe that it has taken
definite shap in the form of a petition
signed by the warden of the state
prison and the entire board of prison
inspectors, and also asked for by
the YoungerS themselves. Another
thing that has much to do in the
changing of public sentiment is the
fact that the two Youngers have
served nearly twenty-one years, and
during all that time have been most
exemplary prisoners, neither of them
having received single black mark
during that time. This is most re-
markable record and speaks we'll for
them.
Had it not been for peculiar fea-
ture of the state law at the time of
the Mortified tragedy, which allowed
a person charged with murder in the
first degree to plead guilty and so es-
cape the death sentence, the Youngers
would have been hung at the time.
They we're sent to states prison. But
they took advantage of that pecu-
liarity and have served term longer
than the average of life sentences, as
most men so sent up for such period
usually die in from ten to twelve
years.
Warden Wolfer says that he be-
lieves the Youngers have fully re-
pented from their evil ways, and ii
released, will spend the remainder OF
their lives as good citizens. If this
be true then that which is sought to
be gained through prison punishment
has been attained, and the highest
principles of humanity demand that
they should be released. For the
reformation of the prisoner is one OF
the principal things aimed at. Of
course it will be said by some that it
cannot be fully known whether these
men have really repented aud will
live the lives of good citizens. True.
That must be proven by the lives
they lead If they are liberated. They
are not men who were given to sham
ming during the years they had their
freedom, and it is hardly probable
they have taken it up now. Neither
can it be claimed that by their good
conduct and their long term in prison
that they have expiated the many
crimes.of which they have been guilty.
No term of imprisonment nor a death
sentence would do that, for it is not
possible within the law. The Pioneer
Press in speaking of this point well
says: "The idea that the object OF
punishment is the satisfaction of hu.
man vengeance, under the name OF
justice, belongs to an age Of barbar'
ism long since passed. The object OF
punishment is twofold-to deter
others from the commission of crime
and in case of punishment by i'm
prisonment to reform the prisoner
We believe that twenty-one years Of
incarceration at hard labor in the
state prison is sufficient to deter any
youths ambition to follow in the early
footsteps of the Youngers from enter
ing upon a career which closed 81
disastrously for them. There can b'
no doubt about the complete anc
radical reformation of the prisoners.
Cole Younger declares that neithe
he nor his brothers shot anyone a
Northfeld. The shot that killed tn
brave cashier was fired by Jess
James. And there is no evidence t.
show that it is other than he states
But the raid was planned by Cole
who was the leader of the gang, ant
he and his brothers were as response
BILE morally and in the law as thougl
they had fired the fatal bullet, an
the punishment they have receive
has been fully deserved. But it woul
seem from all testimony that the OF
ject of the law had been fulfilled i
their long term of service, and tina
one of the objects aimed at would b
accomplished with their release.
That they were not devoid of bet
ter sentiment was shown at the tim
they were being so holly pursued
They preferred capture and possibl
death rather than desert their brothe
Jim, who was most seriously wound
ed. and whom the James boys wante
to shoot, so that he would be n
farther drag upon them. had the
been hardened criminals beyond a
hope of redemption they would doubt
less have followed the wish of tn
James boys. The fact that they rt
fused to desert their helpless brother
showed a manliness of which man
criminals are totally devoid, and VI
on which has been built that characte
that has won the admiration of tn
prison officials and caused Warde
Wolfer and the board of inspectors t