The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-05
Two Officers of the Michigan Militia
Who Were Convicted of De-
frauding the State.
APPEALS FOR CLEMENCY
LISTENED TO by THE GOVERNOR,
WHO GIVES HIS REASONS.
Action of Ingham County Authorities
Mt in Accord with ssse ExecG-
tive's Idea of Justice.

DETROIT. Dec. 4.-Governor Pingree at
10 o'clock tonight announced that he had
pardoned both Gen. w. L. White. ex-
quartermaster general, and Gen. A. f.
Marsh, ex-inspector general of the Michl-
gan National Guard, who were convicted of
completely in the State military clothing
frauds, on the payment of 5000
fine by EACH One thousand dollars
of the fine is to be paid Jan. 1. 1901. and
like sum on the first day of January, 1902,
1904 and 1905. General White was COM
mitted to Jackson prison to-day to begin
the ten-year sentence imposed on him yes
terday by Judge West and General Marsh
is under bonds pending the result of an ap
peal of his trial, which resulted in his con-
viction, to the Supreme Court.
Both Gen. White and Gen. Marsh ad-
dressed petitions to the Governor to-day
asking executive clemency. In his APP
peal General Marsh asserts that he was
convicted on the evidence of sef-confessed
perJurers, and lays stress on the fact that
the court denied continuance of the case
asked for by his attorney. When his prin-
cipal witness was sick and unable to be
presented. General Marsh asserts that he
was forced to trial wholly unprepared to
meet the charges preferred against him.
In his petition General White asserts that
the Kalamazoo (Mich) military supplies
firm conceived the fraudulent transaction
and persuaded him into entering into the
scheme. He says that the Kalamazoo com
rany assured him when he entered the deal,
which involved the sale of quantity of
the States military clothing to fictitious
@I.<
Germ and its repurchase by the State at
four times the sale price, that it was per-
fectly legal. When he became convinced
that the deal was illegal, White says he
wanted to go to the Governor and explain
IL to him, but the Kalamazoo company as
sured him that its standing would preclude
any investigation being made and in the
event of one being made they would wholly
protect him. White then lays stress on the
fact that none of the members of the COM
pany has been indicted for their part in
the transaction. The general declares that
he believes. from what he has learned OF
the treatment of the transaction by the Of
ficials at Lansing, where he was tried and
convicted, that he cannot hope for fair
treatment at their hands, and asks for
executive clemency.
Governor Pingree's announcement of the
pardon says that the men entered into a
conspiracy with corporation composed of
prominent and influential citizens OF Kala-
mazoo TO defraud the State OF large
amount OF money I'm connection with the
sale and repurchase of military clothing:
that the agent for the company was ac-
cording to his testimony, active in engineer
ing the fraud; that the circuit judge and
the prosecuting attorney of Ingham county,
who had control OF the proceedings before
the grand jury. made no effort to have the
grand jury bring all the guilty parties to
justice. but permitted the seven members of
the Kalamazoo company and their agent To
go free This Intellectual and one-side,l
kind of Justice says Governor Pingree. lis
not consistent with my ideas OF right and
wrong and has had great weight in deter
mining my action in these cases. Restitu-
tion has been made 20 the State by the
company and Marsh and White. and the
amount which the State lost by the original
transaction has been returned with inter-
est Restitution having been made. my inn
pulse Is to place all the guilty ones again
on the same footing. and therefore grant
William l. White and Arthur +. Marsh a
pardon ON their paying into the treasury
Of Inkhsm county 5000 EACH