The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-22
PLEADS FOR PARDON.
Sid Pickens Makes a Pathetic Appeal
to Governor Leedy-Other
Pardons

The state board of pardons has rec
commended that the application of Sid
Pickens for a pardon from the state
penitentiary be refused. The recon-
mendation has been sent to the gov
ernor, who has not yet acted upon it.
He will probably stand by the board.
Pickens was sent to the penitentiary
for five years for burglary committed
at Culver & Bailey's hardware store.
When Judge Hazen sentenced PickenS,
he remarked:
4 have given you the extreme pen
atty provided by law, but regret that
1 am not empowered to make it ten
years instead of five"
Pickens' appeal for pardon is pa
thetic In q. letter to the governor he
recites briefly his worthless career and
processes a desire to reform. He says:
I am a young man and do not attempt
to defend myself from the charges
which have been proven against me. [
realize that my life has been worth
lessly spent, but it has been because
of the bad company into which have
been unfortunate enough to fall. 1 now
have a, grave responsibility resting up
on me- and believe that my present
term in the penitentiary has caused so
many changes in my character that l,
if permitted to do so, could take up the
life which I have been practically cut
off from and live as a good citizen
should.
need my help. The former are grow
ing old and are wholly dependent upon
my beloved sister for support. She is
sacrificing and loving and works
night and day to prevent them from
starving, but after all is able to offer
father and mother but a mere living.
I now desire to be given q new trial in
life I stand ready to pledge to the
members of the board, the governor
and the people, an honest effort to live
as a good man should live were l per-
mitted to leave the penitentiary."
The board says in the report to the
governor that a careful examination of
the case has been made and there is no
reason for Pickens' pardon
In the case of w. e. Price of Hutch
inSOn two reports have been transmit
ted to the governor, something which
rarely occurs. ]. v. Randolph and n.
w. Wells say that it is their belief that
Price is absolutely innocent, While M
Thomas, the third member submits an
extended minority report declaring that
in his judgment the decision of the
courts should be sustained and Price
be compelled to serve at least a reason
able term before being pardOned. Price
was convicted in the district court of
stealing five head of cattle from D. H
Jones and six head from Cox Bros, in
Mcpherson. He was found twice guilty
of grand larceny and sentenced to five
years on each count. The supreme
court affirmed the sentence of the lower
court and Mr.. Thomas says both deCiS-
ions should be sustained, intimating
that there is, in his opinion, no evidence
tending to show that Price is innocent
and further that the administration of
justice should not be prevented.
Price was sent to the penitentiary in
January, 1895 and has served but little
more than two years of his ten year
term.
statistics show says Mr.. Thomas,
in the minority report, that the aver
age term served by persons convicted
of grand larceny is three years. If this
be true and it stands unQuestiOned,w why
pardon this man until he has served
such reasonable term
The board is considering a large num-
Der of applications for pardons but in
the majority of cases ratifies the ac-
ton of the courts through which the
cases have passed before reaching the
board. recommending communications or
pardons in such cases as are surround
ed by circumstances favorable to the
applicant.
fusal of the following applications:
John Hess, WyandOtte county, serV-
ing five years for grand larceny.
William knapper, WyandOtte county,
serving four years for what would have
been manslaughter, had death ensued.
The sentence of D. B. Hall, of Wilson
county, ten years for assault with in
tent to commit grand larceny, Will be
committed to seven years if the COVER
nor acts on the recommendation of the
board. He was sent to the penitentiary
in 1894