The Saint Paul globe., 1899-03-29

An audience of 100 persons attended
the meeting Of the house committee or
state prison and reformatory last even
ing. The bill of Senator Wilson relating
to the release Of the Youngers was the
matter under consideration and, owing to
the large audience the session was held in
the senate chamber.
Senator Wilson. the author of the bill,
started In at s o'clock and spoke for an
hour and a half, reiterating the argu-
ments he made in the senate at the time
the bill passed that body.
Mayor Skinner, of Northfield. protested
against the passage of the bill for the
reason OF the evil effect which such ac-
tion as contemplated by the bill would
have.
Dr. John Wright rector of st. Paul's
church, of this city, made a plea for the
passage of the bill. basing his arguments
on the grand change the law would have
In its general effect. 1t was in the line
of enlightened sentiment and should be
considered in the light of a general law
rather than as calculated to benefit the
YoungerS alone.
Prof. Goodhue, of Northfield, opposed
the bill saying 1t had but one purpose
and that was the releasing Of the Young
ers. He detailed the raid which resulted
in the murder of Cashier Haywood and
spoke of the wantonness of the murder
ers. He had no idea that the Youngers
Ii released would resume their former
life. The movement had originated in
Missouri and was backed by men of high
standing who had been comrades Of the
criminals during the Civil war There
was no demand for the release of the men
oy the people Of the state The senate
In the bill! passed had attempted to evade
the responsibility by shifting it to the
shoulders of the pardon board. He hoped
the house would act in a more manly
manner He contended that the sentence
or the Youngers was none too severe and
was opposed to any modification.
George Batchelder. of Faribault and
Rev. H. Kennedy, of Saltwater. favored
the passage of the bill
b. F. Carpenter, of Northfield. opnosed
the bill in very bitter speech, in which
he called attention to the actions of the
Youngers at the time Cashier Heywood
was killed, and the commands issued nv
them to shoot everybody on the streets.
Those interested In the release of the
twain had even written to the daughter
OF the murdered cashier and requested
her to sign the petition for their pardon.
None Of the other murderers had been
psrdoned from the prison by special leg
1slation. and there was no reason why
an exception should be made of the
Youngers.
In a week after they were pardoned
they would be in Missouri. and it would
be impossible to reach them, as the au-
thorities in that state refused to give
up men for train robbery The Youngers
had received a fair trial and If a term
of twenty-three years was to be a suf-
fcient atonement for murder what would
be said about the persons who had been
hanged since the Youngers committed
| their crimes and could not be reached
by pardons? The men had been. given a.
very easy time since they were commit
| ted to prison. The prison management
| had made things as pleasant as it was
| possible for them. Receptions were held
| and they did not have to paint harvesters
| or work in the shops, but were given
| light and easy work and all the rules of
| the prison relaxed as to them. If the
! Youngers were to be let out after serving
| twenty-three years the legislature could,
| at the next session, make the penalty
only ten years for murder
A. D. Keyes. Of Farfbault. opposed the
| bill on the ground that the release of
| the men would ne against good goy ef H.
| ment and the good policy of the state.
| Senator Stockwell favored the bill, MAX
| ing a short speech.
The committee took No action, but ad-
journed to meet at the call OF the chair
| man.
The delegation from Mortified, who
came up especially to be present at the
| hearing, consisted of Mayor Nj. w. Skin
! neg, r. p. P.lGarpenter, Prof III. Goodh,ie.
| w F. Chiftfng. t. j. Dougherty, G. IF.
: Drew. e. M. Walffidge. A. R. Gress, j.
: ..;i..::t 80 .s.s1 ..-..! a.... 2 sfsss.i