The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-01
HIS HAPPY new YEARS
Emil B. Norell Receives a Pardon
From Governor Smith.
GREAT REQUEST FOR IT
AS City Treasurer of Havre, Norell
Took Some of the City's Funds,
But He Has Since Made the
Shortage Good.
Special Dispatch 10 the Standard.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Helena, Dec. 31.--The new year will
bring joy to the heart of one man serv-
ing a term i'm the state penitentiary at
Deer Lodge, and happiness to a little
woman, his wife, who has been pray
ing these many months in far-away
Minneapolis that Montana's governor
would heed the petitions and pleas
made in behalf Of her husband. About
the last official act Of Governor Smith
for the year 1897 was To grant a pardon
to Emil Il. Norell, who is serving a
sentence of five years for embezzling
the funds of the town of Havre while
town treasurer This afternoon about
an hour before leaving the executive
office, the governor sent a letter To the
board of pardons apprising that body
Of his action He also submitted to the
board lot Of papers connected with
the case, which 1t appears has been
hanging fire for some time. His letter
to the board Of pardons was as follows:
II transmit herewith all the papers
presented 10 me in the matter of an
application for pardon for II. =. Norell
who was sentenced Feb. 20, 1896, to Il
term Of five years for the embeZZlement
of some money as city treasurer of the
town of Hayre, Since his Imprisonment
he has repaid all Of his shortage, and
his bondsmen are among those who ask
for his pardon. | am constra ined to
act favnrably in this case by reason of
his conduct in arranging for the salts
faction of his shortage and because al
most the entire community where the
Gffense occurred, as well as the judge
who sentenced him, and many other
good citizens petitioned for his pardon.
with your approval | grant to said
f. II. Norell full, free, and uncondi-
tional pardon, and direct that he be
discharged from imprisonment on Feb.
20, 1893, just two years from date of
| sentence"
The papers in the case consist of two
/ petitions and several letters, and from
4 their nature it is evident that Norell S
| previous good reputation and the posi-
/ biity Of his suceun.bing to eonsump-
| ton prompted the governor to wind up
/ the years business by making nice
/ New Years present. Standard readers,
| especially those living in Northern
Montana, are familiar with NorelF $
/ case. AS town treasurer he became
short in his accounts. He was arrested
and when his case was called in court
/ at Fort Benton, he pleaded guilty and
4 was sentenced to five years. His case
attracted considerable attention at the
/ time, as there We're rumors that politics
i had considerable to do with his down
/ fall Ever since he went to Deer Lodge
+ Frank Peavey. a prominent citizen OF
I Minneapolis, has been corresponding
with u number Of Montanans and lay
| ing the foundation FOR a determined
effort To procure a pardon. Norell was
once in the employ of MIR. Peavey, who
Is in the grain business and in that
capacity handled considerable of his
employers money.
4 When Mr.. Norell came to Montana
1 he brought good letters Of recommend
afion from Mr.. Peavey and others
equally prominent. He brought $25.0 900
with him with the intention of investing
/ il in the banking business. lie endeav-
/ ored 10 associate himself With I. c.
! Power in the business here, but there
was no opening He went To Northern
j Montana. and for a while was con-
nectea with the Bank Of Neihart. Then
/ he went To HaVre and became interest
i ed in a bank there, eventually becnm-
/ ing city on town treasurer.