The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-15
PARDON OF JOHN BLOOR
The State Board Will Act on II
Nov. 20.
GOVERNOR SMITH'SLETTER
He Recommends the Discharge OF the
Man Who secreted the Salary
Bin-Petitions From Butte
and Flathead.

Special Dispatch to the Standard.
Helena, Nov. H.-November 20 is the
day that the state board of pardons has
set for considering the paraon OF John
Bloor, secretary of the last state sem
ate. who. as briefly announced in sun
days Standard. was pardoned by the
governor Saturday evening. The gov
ernor to-day sent to the board a let
ter announcing the pardon. also the two
petitions presented in the case. In hts
letter the governor says:
''Gentlemen: j have been importunea
most earnestly by the friends Of Mr..
Bloor to grant him a pardon ever since
his Incarceration in prison. About 400
have signed a petition, herewith in
closed, besides numerous personal let
ters and interviews. / have concluded
that the ends Of Justice have been salts
fled by the conviction and punishment
already endured, and / think this will
be a wholesome lesson to the attaches
of our legislative assemblies. am
constrained to take this action by the
further reason that a refusal on my
part to act favorably would be con-
strued by some persons as an attempt
to gain personal ends, and I hope that
in the discharge of public duties l can
always rise above any personal feeling
or consideration.
II, therefore, with your approyal.
grant John Bloor free pardon and re-
quest that he be discharged as scon as
the forms of law can be complied with"
The two petitions in the case came
from the members OF the bar of Flat
head county and from about 800 citi-
zens of Butte. The Flathead petition
was as follows:
I'VE. the undersigned members of the
bar of Flathead county, respectfully pe-
tition your excellency to grant a par
don to John Bioor, recently convicted at
Helena OF the crime of secreting what
Is known as House Bill 1885, commonly
called the salary bill Mr.. Bloor for
about six years resided i'm this county,
during which time he was engaged ia
the practice of law. He has not only
in the profession. but outside, many
warm persnal friends. who have close
ly watched the progress of the proceed
ings which resulted in his conviction
and sentence. and who would be ex-
ceedingly gratified II executive clemen-
cy should be exercised in his behalf
Mr.. Bloor is possessed of many gener-
Gus traits OF character and we believe
that his pardon would meet with the
earnestly solicit on behalf of Mr.. Bloor
as members of the bar. favorable ac-
tion OF this petition. believing that the
interests of justice will at this time be
as fully subserved by his pardon as by
his Incarceration in prison."
Those who signed the above were ex-
District Judge c. w. Pomeroy w j.
Brennan, T. II. Nash. c. IL. Foote. II.
@. Swaney, ID. F. Smith, G.. II. Grubb
II. Al ~
Baldwin.
The Butte petition was signed by
many OF the well-known citizens Of
that town. Among those whose names
appear are ]. A. Talbot. r. j. Brophy,
l.. c. Cohen, J. z. Dawson. G. w. Ir-
vine, f. q. Dugan. ID. N. Upton, Adolph
Pincus, c. ID. Hoskins, ]. Chauvin. w.
w. McC. White. Miles Finlen. ]. A.
Murray. John McGinnis. r. T.. Leonard.
Jerry Mccarthy, Louis Lieneman, Savin
Lisa, j. @. Evans, j. G. Lynch, R j.
Watson. A. f. Bray and a host of 9th
ers equally well known. The 'Ietitlon.
which. as will be seen. does not bear
the date OF his conviction and re-
cites:
I'VE, the undersigned, residents of
Butte, respectfully petition your excel
lency 10 extend executive clemency to
John Bloor, who was convicted at Hell
ena on or about the - day of =. 1897.
or having secreted what Is known as
house bill No. 1s5. being designated and
known as the salary bill. Since Mr..
Bloor's conviction he has been a resi-
dent of the city OF Butte, has been en-
gagged in the practice of the law. and
we have been personally acquainted
with his career. During the time that
he has so resided here. he has con-
Quoted himself as a gentleman and rs
an honest and upright citizen, and we
believe that IL would as we'll serve the
ends of justice to grant him a pardon
as to cause him to serve out his uen-
tence."
John Bloor was sent to the penIten-
tiary from this county March q last,
after having been tried on the charge
of secreting the salary bill. convicted.
the judgment affirmed by the supreme
court and sentenced TO one year In the
penitentiary. Allowing for his usual
good time. his sentence will accordingly
expire Feb. y next. Almost from the
time he was sent to the penitentiary II
has been reported that an effort was
being made to induce the governor 10
pardon him. During the middle Of last
May the governor was approached upon
the question first. A petition was pre-
sented He did not act upon it, An
other petition and more overtures came
and Saturday the governor decided "a
grant the boon. Just how the board cf
pardons will act on the pardon is a
matter Of conjecture. Not few te-
lieve that the board will vote against
Il. Others claim Bloor has suffered
enough and that the board will see II
in that light and vote to release LIN
about Jan. l.