The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-08-04
.PAROONS ARE REFUSED
The Governor Declines to Use
Executive Clemency.
SOME STRONG PETITIONS
Filing Ellingson Wanted His Freedom
Frank Landhof Thought He Had
Served the State Long
Enough
Special Dispatch to the Standard.

Helena, Aug. 3.--Governor Smith to-
day announced the conclusions that he
had reached upon number of applica-
tions for pardons presented to him.
Some of the applications We're presented
several months ago, while others are Cf
more recent date. The governor de-
clines every one. Strong representations
were made to the governor to pardon
Elling Ellingson, who was convicted in
Jefferson county last year Of grand
larceny in stealing some ore from
mine belonging to Thomas Cruise, and
disposing of it in Butte. He was sent
up for three years. He had previously
borne a good reputation and the petit
tons filed in the case were to the effect
that he had been sufficiently punished.
Thomas Cruise, who was the principal
sufferer by Ellingsons action, was
among the first to sign the application.
Others who signed petitions were T. T..
Collins, G. II. Hays, Judge Smith, c. NJ.
Webster and many others of like Pr0mi-
nence. The governor decided that he
could hardly interfere in the case at
this time.
A majority of the jury who heard the
case and other citizens of Red Lodge
and Livingston joined in asking execu-
tive clemency for Frank Landhoff, who
is serving a sentence of 10 years for kill
ing Pat Cannon at Red Lodge in 1894
during a row in a saloon. The plea of
Landhoff was self defense, he claiming
that Cannon had knife and was at
tempting to cut him when he fired. 1t
is claimed that Cannon made an insult
ing remark about LANDLORDS wife,
which led to the trouble. The petition
ers asked the governor to release Land
hoff that he might return to Livingston,
where his wife resides, and where she
is a charge upon the county, as he can
support her by his labor. The governor
did not see his way clear to act in The
case.
A pathetic appeal is that of Dan Hol-
land sent up from Silver Bow June ,,
1898, for II years for murder He asks
the governor to commute his sentence
to 10 years, and incidentally INDUCES
in a few remarks anent the evils of
drink, which led to the crime. The gov
ernor declined to do anything for him.
Phillip Allen, sent up from Deer
Lodge county in November, 1896, for 10
years for manslaughter, is another
whose petition for release received ad-
verse action. The governor also de-
clned to act in the case of Andrew ?.
Larson, sent up for 10 years from Flat
head county in September 1898, for
murder. and in the case of John La
velle, serving a sentence of two months
and compelled to pay fine of S3ll and
costs in Park county for assault IN the
third degree.
Margaret Charter. a half-breed.
makes a rather sensational admission
in her petition filed in behalf of Made!-
inc Trottier, who was sent to the penn
tentiary from Choteau county in May,
1897, for six years for assault she
coolly informs the governor that she
IN Il
grudge against the Trottier woman. AS
she is a breed, and perhaps not
very familiar with the seriousness of
her admission that she committed per-
jury, it is not likely that any effort VIII
be made to convict her. The Trottier
case was famous among criminal cases
in Choteau county. The Woman's hus-
band is serving a sentence of 80 years
for participation in the assault The
Charter woman was the complaining
witness.
The governor also refused the petit
tion presented in the case OF Aubefy
Wall. convicted of burglary in Madison
county in November, 1896, and sent UP
for five years.
The governor has under consideration
the application for a pardon for Little
Whirlwind, a Cheyenne Indian. VINO
was sent up for life from Custer county
after being convicted of participating in
herder whose killing came near stirring
up considerable trouble with the In
dams. Little Whirlwind is brother
of Spotted Hawk, who was convicted ct
murder in the first degree for his par
ticipation in the killing of Hoover, and
sentenced to hang. The supreme court
granted him a new trial The case was
then dismissed and he is at large. Lit
tie Whirlwind's counsel, Sanders X
Sanders, who have petitioned the COVER
nor for the Indians pardon, represent
that the evidence upon which Little
Whirlwind was convicted was the same
as that used against Spotted Hawk,
and that it consisted chiefly of the testi-
mony of an alleged accomplice by the
name of David Stanley. Little Whirl-
wind also claims that the record of his
trial in the lower court was not pre-
sented to the supreme court in a man
ner that permitted of all of the alleged
errors to be made plain. The governor
has also received the transcript of the
evidence, which he will read before
reaching any decision