Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-26
President Asked to Extend Clemency
to Wilkins and Butler.
VIOLATORS OF OLE0MARGARINE LAWS
Tremendous Influence Again at
Work in Their Behalf.
THEIR FLAGRANT OFFENSE

An application for pardon Of Joseph
Wilkins and Howard Butler, who are now
serving terms of Imprisonment in Moya-
mensing prison, Philadelphia, for violating
the oleomargarine laws has been made to
President Mckinley, and the Attorney
General now has it under consideration
The attorneys of the convicted men, who
are Jeremiah NJ. Wilson, A. A Hoehling and
Henry E. Davis, are pressing ardently for
favorable action upon the application, and
all the tremendous personal and political
influence which is welded by the manu-
facturers Of oleomargarine in the west
such as the firm of Braun & Futch and
others, is being exerted in the same direc-
ton. Joseph Wilkins was a member of the
firm of Wilkins & Co., who conduct busi-
ness at No. pol 9th street northwest and
occupy stands 4S1 and 4S3 in Center mar
ket.
Caught in the Act.
Butler was an employe of the firm. These
two men were apprehended early one Sun
day morning, three years ago day before
yesterday, by special agents Bowen and
Van Horn of the internal revenue bureau
In the act of stripping off and otherwise
removing the internal revenue stamps and
other distinguishing marks from over 100
packages Of oleomargarine in a warehouse
oii tiie water front III tnlldQelphla.
They were watched while thus engaged
and were arrested in the very act. and the
instruments they used and the packages de-
faced taken possession Of They were in
dicted by the United States grand jury in
Philadelphia, and before the day set for
their trial arrived several attempts were
made by the influences behind them to Sc
cure their release by paying large sums of
money in shape of compromise. Attorney
General McKenna declined to entertain the
nrnnncitinn n nrt ;+ Il
been approved by the officials of the Treas
ury Department. When Judge Mckenna
was made a justice of the Supreme Court
of the United States another attempt was
made to compromise the case, 5000 being
the sum offered. The Treasury Depart
ment again recommended acceptance, hut
Attorney General Griggs, who had just as
sumed office, refused to approve it.
The men were then brought to trial and
were convicted. Neither defendant took the
witness stand in his own defense, as the
evidence of the special agents was too over
wheming in both direct and g. circum-
stantial way.
Carried to U. 8. Supreme Court.
The attorneys, who were then Messrs.
Wilson and Hoehling, made a strong fight
upon the legality of the Indictments but
their points were overruled and the men
were promptly convicted Wilkins was
sentenced to pay a fine of 81 500 and serve
six months in prison, and Butler to pay
fine of $500 and serve three months. A writ
of error was sued out and the case taken
to the United States circuit court of ap-
peals of Philadelphia, where the case was
argued last spring. Several weeks ago JUS
t1ce Burlington handed down an opinion on
behalf OF his two colleagues and himself,
afhrming the action Of the lower court in
every particular. Thereupon an appea' was
taken to the United States Supreme Court
ana the highest tribunal in the land upheld