Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-10-04

The State pardon board met in regu-
lar session yesterday morning at the
Moundsville penitentiary. President P.
w. Morris, of Parkersburg, and ". w.
Brannen, of Weston, were both in at
tendance, and considerable business was
transacted. The meeting convened
shortly before eight o'clock, and short
ly afterwards the following arguments
were heard: Col. Fitch appeared for
Thomas Collins, who was sentenced to
! the ~penitentiary for life in company
| with Forgey, for train robbery. The
crime was committed near Huntington.
| Col. Fitch made an excellent plea for
the prisoner, but the board will take
no action on the c.se for several days
yet. J.. r. Koontz appeared for James
Bennett, of Fayette county. This pris-
oner is serving a ten year sentence for
highway robbery. His case will also
be settled later. Attorney w. L. Hig-
gins, of Winfield, Putnam county, rep
resented M. M. Withrow, serving a ten
year sentence for murder in the second
degree, Joe Racer, serving a five year
sentence, John Duncan, a thirteen year
sentence, Harry Rinehart, seven year
sentence, Harry Edmondson, two year
sentence, and A. H. Hawkins, three
years. Each mans case was reduced
to writing, and after a short talk the
cases were submitted to the board for
action. c. r. Oldham appeared for
Walter Todd, of Parkersburg, who is
serving a ten veal sentence for break
ing Jail and assaulting the jailer. His
petition was not complete and will be
presented again. The case of William
Eaton, the Wheeling fire bug, was ar
| gued by S. o. Boyce for the prisoner,
and Frank Nesbitt for the State. Both
gentlemen made earnest pleas, and it
remains to be seen what action will be
taken. Eight of the jurors VINO con-
victed Eaton have signed his pardon,
and many other names are on the list.
Attorney Boyce also appeared for
Frank Randall, who is serving a jail
sentence. Attorney Nesbitt appeared
also in this case for the State. The ar
guments were heard and action will be
taken at a later date. The petitions of
Andy Day, of Tucker, serving a 5
yCo1 GOhlCaSC, llCl1OOA ' f11lloAlS, VI
Braxton, serving a 5 year sentence;
Hannah Turner, of Barbour, serving a
2 year sentence and John Frazier, of
Cabell, a Is year man, were all pre-
sented, but no action taken. After all
this routine business was transacted the
following petitions were acted upon:
Hayes Hagar, sentenced from Boone
county to two years Imprisonment for
perjury, the board recommended an I'M
conditional pardon. From the evidence
submitted it was found that Hagar
should not have been sentenced to the
prison. His offense could, according
to the Code, be nothing greater than a
misdemeanor which would mean a Jail
sentence. Hagar had a strong case
and it was no wonder that the board
acted favorably on his application.
Walter Lee Samples, sentenced
from Richie county, the board re-
fused to act fayorably on his petition.
The following other convicts met the
same fate: W. R. Francis, of Mingo
county, and Andy Toler Hatfield, Min
go, sent up for murder in the second
degree; Eugene F. Shores, of Berkeley
county, 10 years, robbery; Ernest jack
son, Jacob Meyers, Alice Menifee, 10
years, murder; w. E. Moss, Upshur
county, life sentence, charged with ar
son; John w Murphy, Wayne county,
5 years; Alfonso Miller, Boone, II
years, burglary; David Payne, 8 years,
Greenbrier county. grand larcency, and
Wade Grant, of Wood county. All the
above cases were submitted and no
good reasons being presented the
board declined to recommend pardons.
This was all the business transacted
but another session will be held to-day.