The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-05
PINGREE'S PARDON.
It Is Extended to Men Convict
ed of Defrauding State.

Detroit Mich. Dec. 5-Governor Pingree
at 10 o'clock last night announced, that he
had pardoned both General w. L. White,
ex-quartermaster general, and General A.
F. Marsh, ex-inspectOr general of the
Michigan national guard, who were con-
victed of completely in the state militia
clothing frauds, upon the payment Of
IS, 900 fine by each One thousand dollars
of the fine is to be paid January J. 1901,
and a. ike sum on the first day of Janu-
ary, 1902, 1903, 1904 and 1905.
General White was committed to jack
son prison yesterday to begin the ten
years sentence imposed on him by Judge
WieSt, and General Marsh is under bonds
pending the result of an appeal of his
trial, which resulted in conviction, to the
Both General White and General Marsh
addressed petitions to the governor, ask ask
General Marsh asserts that he was con-
victed on the evidence of Self-cOnfeSSed
periurers. and laws stress upon the fact
that the court denied a continuance of the
case asked for by his attorney when his
principal witness was sick and unable to
be present. General Marsh asserts that
he was forced to trial wholly unprepared
to meet the charges preferred against
In his petition General White asserts
that it was Kalamazoo military supply
transaction and persuaded him into enter
ing into the scheme He says that the
he entered the deal, which involved the
sale of quantity of the states military
clothing 10 a ncI1IlOuS company organized
by the Kalamazoo company and its repur-
chase at four times the sale price, 1t was
perfectly legal. When he became con-
WINGED that the deal was illegal, White
says he wanted to go to the governor and
explain it to him, but the Kalamazoo COM
pany assured him that it's standing would
preclude any investigation being made and
In the event of one being made they would
wholly protect. White then lays stress on
the fact that none Of the members Of the
firm has been indicted for its part Of the
transaction. The general declares that he
believes from what he has learned Of the
treatment of the transactions by the Of
ficials at Lansing, where he was tried and
convicted. that he can not hope for fair
treatment at their hands, and asks for
executive clemency-
Governor Pingree's announcement of
the pardon says:
''These men entered into a conspiracy
with the HendersOn-Ames company. cor
entail citizens of Kalamazoo to defraud
the state of large amount of money In
connection with the sale and repurchase of
military clothing One Bickerstaff, who
was the agent for the Henderson-Ames
company, was, according to his testimony.
active in engineering the fraud The cir
cult judge and the prosecuting attorney
of Ingham county. who had control OF the
proceedings before the grand jury made
the guilty parties to justice. but permitted
the seven members OF the Henderson
Ames company and their agent, Bicker-
''This Intellectual and one-sided justice
is n consistent with my ideas Of right
and wrong and has had great weight in
determining my action in these cases. Res
titution bas been made to the state by
the Henderson-Ames company and Marsh
and White and the amount which the
state lost by the original transaction has
been returned with interest. Restitution
having been made. my impulse is to place
all the guilty on the same footing and
thereby grant William L. White and Ar
thur +. Marsh pardon upon their paying
laob Int the treasury Of 1Rgham county 5000