The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-13
LIBERTY OR PRISON
From First Page.

er to saw that he agreed with him az
to the object of reformation as to the
limited terms of years, but he had
noticed that the legislature had re
fused to extend the parole system TO
life ConVictS.
President O'Brien explained that at
the time the parole law was passed
life conVictS were excepted from the
provisions of the law for the reason
that it was supposed that the law was
gotten up in the interest of the Young
erS He was member of the senate
at the time and knew that was the
reason life prisoners were excepted
from the provisions OF the law.
Continuing, Mr.. McCafferty said one
of the strong points made by good men
in this and other states, was that the
prisoners had been of such GOOD pc
haVtOr during the tWenty-One years
they had been in the prison. Not
mark had been made against them,
and to one who knew the strict dlscl-
pline under which prisons We're con
Quoted, this seemed wonderful Inc
reformation of the men had been
true one. They could not have prac-
ticed hypocrisy for tWenty-one years
had they tried. According to the
statement of Warden Wolfer, they had
served twice the average length or
time of life prisoners, and if for no
other reason, considering their RECORDS
while in prison, should be pardoned'
The board of managers of the prison
asked for their pardon and this, II for
no other reason, should result IN Its pc
ing granted 1t was the first time IN
the history of the prison board 1t had
appeared and asked for the pardon OF
prisoners. They represented the state
and would take the responsibility of a
pardon being granted. Warden Wolf
er, who for twenty-siX years has given
prison matters and prisoners a study.
asked that the men be pardOned as
matter of justice. 1t was in the inter-
ests Of justice and humanity that the
prison board and warden asked for the
pardon. The two chaplains had also
petitioned for clemency, as had eX-
Cows. Sibley and Marshall. The state
of Missouri and every one Of the lead
ing citizens prominent in official po-
sitiOns. the bench, the senators, the
governor and eX-gOvernOrs, members
of the legislature. and the state official
had signed the petition asking that
pardon be granted. Mr.. McCafferty
read from letters which nave been pub
lished in the G | e, extracts touch
Ing on the question of a pardon from
noted citizens of Missouri. 1t had been
stated, MIR. McCafferty said, that there
was political motives behind the pc
titiOns and letters. 1t was absurd, he
said, to think that all of the men OF
note and prominence who had written
letters or signed the petition to have
been actuated from political motives.
Does the chief justice of the supreme
court of Missouri, all the associate
justices, the governor, all the ex-gov-
errors, and the officials Of the state
sign for political reasons or motives?
If ever a petition represented any
thing. said Mr.. McCafferty, this one
certainly does A letter from Col.
Emory S. Foster, was read by Mr..
McCafferty, in which the writer stated
that he owed his life to Cole Younger
who had prevented a squad of Confed-
crate soldiers from killing him while he
was lying wounded after a battle.
The influence of the pardon on the
other prisoners now confined in the