The San Francisco call., 1899-12-10
PARDON MAY SAVE
A CONVICT'S LIFE
Plight of an Inmate of
San Quentin.
TWO EFFORTS TO KILL HIM
oPPENHEIMER'S FRIENDS HAVE
SWORN VENGEANCE.
Embezzler Loudon Paroled and JOS
eph j. Ellis Reelected Clerk of
the Board of State Prison
Directors.
TWO EFFORTS TO KILL HIM
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN QUENTIN PRISON, Dec. 9.-Con-
vict ID. c. Probasco is a marked man. He
has been placed under the ban by the
other prisoners and If he remains at San
quentin the time is sure 10 come when
ne VIII meet death at their hands 1t may
De n knlfe-thrust. a blow on the head
from bludgeon or the dread cord OF the
garroter; but violent death in some foIm
is as sure as fate.
When the Board of State Prison Direct
ors met to-day in regular monthly ses-
sion novel scene was witnessed. War
den Agulrre arose at the beginning OF the
meeting and said he had a matter of grave
Importance TO draw TO its attention. Pro-
Dasco was the burden OF his rema-hs.
me warden informed the board that this
prisoner was the one who had informed
Guard Samuel Yoho that Convict Jacob
OpPenheimer was stabbing Guard James
Mcdonald in the jute mill on March l6
last and thereby saved McDonald's life
for TINS The more vicious element in the
prison mad decreed that he should die,
ana already two attempts had been made
on ms nfe. Though they We're made IN
VAIN, no clew had been discovered to the
Would-oe murderers in either case Aguir-
re DelieVed that Probasco was deserving
or executive clemency on account of his
act at the time of the stabbng and asked
thal ne pc recommended for Iardon.
Guard Mcdonald sent the board a letter
IN Whlch ne asserted that he believed he
owed his life to Probasco and that if IL
had not oeen for him Yoho would not have
reached the spot in time McDohald
asked the board TO recommend executive
clemency.
Guard Yoho told the directors that he
was was walking away from the scene of the
attempted murder when Probasco rushed
up ana told him what was going on: o:n-
eTWlse ne could not have saved McDon-
ald life. Hoho favored a pardon
After due consideration of the circum-
stances the board adopted a motion by
". whlcn u was decided TO ask the Governor
10 PARDON Probasco. The convict is serv-
ing H-year term from Sskiyou Tor
hIrder IN the second degree and in the
or1lhary course OF events he would not be
| released until November l, 1906
PRESIDENT Fitzgerald was absent from
ihe meeting to-day, but IL was the regu-
lar time Tor the election of a new clerk
| OF the board for the succeeding four years
ana the directors concluded not TO tarrv
IN the matter Director Devlin was placed
~ the chair and Wilkins nominated the
incumbent, llI Joseph J. Ellis. Hayes sec
onued the motion. The nominations were
closed and poll was taken. with the re-
SUIT that Ellis received the votes of WI
t, htlns, hayes. Devlin and Ray. Ellis was a
clnch' from the first and has not had a
competitor for the office for sixteen wears
ms ms marks the beginning of his NTH
William ]. ]. Cunningham NJ ca,a,,
Or, who has been experimenting in the
manufacture of grainbags out of hemn
ana max hber In the iutemill since No
VemDer q last, handed in several sneci
mems of his handiwork Some good hagy
We're presented and the board was Wei
! pleased with the results of the experi-
ment. IL was decided until further notice
TO discontinue the sale of bags i'm larger
| quantities than 2000 on account of the de-
mand exceeding the supply.
clayton Z. Bump, who was raroled +Uo
] years ago, addressed the board and asked
for a pardon. He said he couldsget a good
position in the East but could not take
nobody to leave the State. Bumn was 'irr' inn''
prlsoned when he was only is years old
Tor highway robbery committed in Mon
! terey. lie was made the victim of the
cunning Of an eX-convict who was killed
during the attempted robbery and Sheriff
Mathews of Monterey has since then
proved the boys best friend The Direct
! ors concluded to have the Governor for
ward them the papers in the case and
make an investigation.
| h V. LouGon OF San Rafael serving a
| term for embezzlement committed Iyhila
| he was Deputy Tax Collector OF Marin
! County. was paroled. His term would
| have expired in February and the na-ole
Will take effect on the 2Oth inst. Various
| attempts to secure a parole or pardon
/ have been made, and this effort was sue
cessful only In order that the man might
/ have his rights Of citizenship restored
The applications of ]. Emmington.
/ serving ten years for burglary from
Sierra County, and of NJ. f. Brickman.
! serving twenty-five years for murder
/ from Monterey County, to have credits re-
! stored which We're lost for transgressinc
/ the rules. We're denied
! The members Of the board showed their
! humanity in the case of Alfred UeberalI. a
! young fellow undergoing five-year SEN
| tence for burglary from San Francisco
| The convict formerly worked in the lutte
mill. and eighteen months ago had his
J hand crushed so badly that II was ampu-
! tated by the prison physician. To-day the
| board adopted an order TO purchase him
patent hand az n cost Of $50. He will
| be released in three months
] The grainhag and raw iute report of
| warden Aguirre was as follows:
! Grainbags-On hand. So. 900: carried
over on orders from last year $685. 900; sold
! during the year 6.752. .22i; shipped during
! the year. 1926. 224: sold. awaiting orders
/ for shipment. $4,000; on hand. available
| for sale. II 600
Raw iute-On hand in warehouses.
1898 bales. sufficient to run the mills from
| May 10 TO June 1. 1900: contracted for to
arrive, 1000 bales, per sailer from Cal
cutta.
W -,