The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-02-03
FREEDoM TO DURHAM
GAN RETURN TO HIS FAMILY
SOON
ELIGIBLE TO A PAROLE NOW
State Board of Pardons Yesterday
COMMITTED Hts Sentence From Six
a'+.Y Years and a Half to Three Years
a. No Decision Reac hed In the Case
of Dunai, the jackson County
Murderer.

One of the four lucky fellows who were
given renewed hopes, of freedom by the
state board of pardons yesterday was
former Aid. George A. Durham, Of Min
-neapolis. The board yesterday COM
muted his sentence from six years and
six months to three years, which makes
him eligible for parole now, and will give
him clear bill next winter. He was
convicted in the Hennepin county court
of asking bride, and sentenced Nov. 10,
1897. The case was tried again in the
district court and finally appealed to the
supreme court During the period be-
tween his incarceration and the final de-
cision of the supreme court Durham was
confined in the county Jail, and was not
sent to Saltwater until some time dur
ing the summer of 1898 A year ago
Durnam's application was first filed with
the board, and a carload of Mr.. Durnam's
neighbors came down to urge the merit
of his application. The board at the
time, however, denied the petition, and
the pardon is granted upon second ap-
plicatton being filed. Mr. Durnam's wife
is in very poor health
- The board extended executive clemency
in four cases, and failed to reach
conclusion in the case Of Albert
Dunai, who is sentenced to hang for
murder in Jackson county. Dunai's ap-
plication for communication Of sentence
from hanging to life imprisonment has
been before the board for several weeks.
The board committed the sentence Of
Charles H. Lamphere from life imprison-
ment to six years Lamphere killed
man named Jeswein, the tragedy being
the result of family quarrel. He lived
as squatter in Becker county, and his
victim was a neighbor, living short dis
lance away. Mrs. Jeswein attempted to
cross the Lamphere property with a
team, and the elder Lamphere and his
son turned the horses heads around, and
started the Jesweins towards their home
The elder JeSwein came over to find out
what it was all about, and the women
according to the evidence, commenced
first to slap and pull each others hair,
when the male members Of both families
took hand in the fracas. Lamphere sent
his boy after a shot gun. Jeswein took
the gun away from Lamphere and hit
hin2 over the head with the stock. In
doing so the gun went off, the charge en-
tering the body, causing instant death.
The evidence of this point was quite
clear. The gun stock was shattered by
the contact with 9Lamphere's head, and
in fact the discharge of the gun was
purely accidental. Lamphere's nppliea-
,tion for pardon is signed by the jurors
who convicted him, and all who have
Joined in asking for his release contend
that he should have naver been convicted
for murder in the second degree. He was
an old soldier, having received an honor
able discharge, and his health at the pris-
on was very poor. Gen. NJ. Il. Clapc also
wrote strong letter to the board, and,
after careful review of the evidence,
the board. committed the sentence to six
years, which will give. Lamphere his lib
erty next year. lz.c -.
f.. The application of Harry iWyman sent
up from Hennepin aeounty for fifteen
years for grand larceny in the first de-
gree, was denied without prejudice, which
is taken to mean. that at later date
the application will be considered.
David SOderqvist, sentenced from Hen
nepin county to the state reformatory for
robbery in the first degree. had his term
fixed at three years, which will allow
him to be released Immediately.
T. CIV. Gutherless Of Faribault county,
|. had his sentence committed from three
years and four months to two years. He
) was sent up about a year ago for grand
lalagcenN in the second degree. A petition
accompanied his application signed by
|. the Jurors stating that circumstances
have come to light which is known
at the trial would have resulted IA con-
viction of a less grave charge.
A large number of old applications were
denied. and others continued until the
next meeting, of the board, which will
be held in April. fs1Gs