The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-25
Kicks on tho Way Judges Pronounce Their
SentNuces

Topeka, Kan, April Ex-Governor
John ". Leedy is out with a brand new
reform. He says that the criminal laws
of Kansas are discrininative; that the
penalty for trivial offenses often is more
! severe than for great crimes; that the
unfortunate who steals to prevent star
walton often is given a harder sentence
than is the man who robs whole COM
munities, as a bank cashier. He pro-
poses as a remedy to examine the
records Of the pris5ners in the state pen
irentiary, and by the exercise Of the par
doning power to make the punishment
fl the crime" The governor left for
Lansing this afternoon FOR this purpose
In conversation with a correspondent,
Governor Leedy said: For several
weeks I have spent little time nearly
every day considering applications for
pardons. Some strange cases have been
brought TO my notice. One case was that
of a 16-year-old boy sent TO the peniteu-
tary for five years for burglary. He
was out Of work, out Of clothes. had
neither home nor friends, and was half
starved. He went 10 a farm house and
offered to do any kind Of work for
meal. The farmer ordered him away
and threatened TO set the dogs on him.
The boy went into the woods near by
and lay down to die In a little while
The farmer and his family drove off.
The boy went into the house, ate a
square meal and stole a pair of trousers.
Our law made the offense burglary, and
the boy was convicted on the facts and
sentenced TO prison for five years. which
is the minimum penalty for tha. deed
about the same time Colean, the
Fort Scott banker. robbed the people Of
Bourbon county Of $4,000. His offense
was embezzlement, and he got the
maximum penalty. which was FIVE years.
The law here discrimina.es in favor of
the rich banker, who steals thousands
as against the wretched beggar who
steals hyead. / have given the boy his
liberty.
II shall put in a couple Of days at the
penitentiary looking up cases OF this
character which / understand are
numerous. My object, as suggested by
the Mikado OF Japan in opera, Is 20
make the punishment fit the crime By
virtue Of the power vested IN me. by
law, shall grant pardons and commute
sentences so as 20 make the punishment
for the various offenses in accord with
the enormity Herewith. This does not
mean the release of any great number
Of convicts. II simply means that Of
tenders against the law shah receive
their just deserts, no more. no less. as
nearly as l can even things up while
holding the position Of chief executive.
The courts are not 10 blame for the
Determinations complained OF. The law
= 70 blame. As the Jaw cannot be
changed a. once, deem Il my duty 10
act"
While 4, the peniter;iary. Governor
Leedy VIII examine into the case OF
Sell Of Neosho county, who is serving =
life sentence for the murder o. his
father. mother. brother and sister. on
tie nigh. Of March :. 1856. 81 that tine
Sell was Is years old. He has been n
ihe penitea,izry nearly eleven years
The Wonsn's Christian Temperance
union takes the position that Sell IS IN
aocent and has asked Cor his pardon.
The union claims that t7le boy was cor
victei on circumstantal evidence. The
state board Of pardons has the case I'll
der consideration