Arizona republican., 1900-12-25
FRED HUGHES CHRISTMAS GIFT
He Leaves the Penitentiary on a
 Parole.

The most valuable anu most highly appreciated gift presented to any man in Arizona, was received by Fred Hughes, a ,resadent of ne Nrlitoriai penitentiary for the last two years and a half. E.
 The parole was signed by Governor Murphy before his departure for the East, with the direction that it be sent to the peniten;iary so that it would ar rive there the day before Christmas.
 It has been issued on a petition, with a list of names attached constituting almost a city directory Cf Tucson, census of Pima and Santa Cruz coun- ties, with an addendum embracing the names of perhaps q large majority of the men in the territory prominent in public life.
 The petition contained the represemt- ation, in the first place, that Hughes was of advanced age, about 6S; that his health was broken and that a large family, consisting of a wifi and dozen children was dependent upon him for support. This petition was re- inforced by the fact that the prisoner had been a model one, and that from the beginning ne had realized the depth of his fall and been truly peni- tent. Still further back was the sen timental fact that h. was one of the pioneers of Arizona, not one of those who came here in an early day, ac- quired holdings of worthless sagebrush and almost equally worthless so-called town TroEerty, which thcy watched grow into value mainly through the en- terpr.sa of their neighbors. Fred Hughes had fought Indians, had taken long and dangerous journeys, not for himself. but for Arizona. He had, in several legislatures. assisted in mak- ing the laws of the territory, and wi h. in a year preceding his conviction of embezz!ement, had occupied the high est position in the legislative depart ment of Arizona-president of the ter ritorial council.
 The crime of which he was convict ed was the embezzlemert Of the funds of the Pioneer or Historical society. for which a special appropriation had been made by that same legislature. He was made president of the society, f-r no one, by reason of priority of res idence or ability, was more qualified.
 He was at the same time, and had been for years, the clerk of the board of supervisors of Pima county. He was accused and even indicted for a misapprorriat.cn of county funds, but it it not likely that he will be prose- cuted under these indictments. for since his incarceration these crimes have been swallowed up in the mem- ory of Hughes earlier usefulness.
 Hughes downfall was gambling. He had been an inveterate and reckless gambler for many years, but only until within a year or two before his trouble had he ever risl1ed any money but his own.
 The parole does net cut off much of | the original sentence, for deducting | from it the time allowed for good be- | havior, he would not have had much | longer to serve.
 The governor also caused a parole to ! be issued to John Shoot sent from Co., | conino county for manslauglter. He l had killed a Mexican, under circum- | which were more or less miti- | gating The petition for SmoCt's pa | role was signed by almost everybody of | influence in the county. It was fur | ther represented that Shoot was of a | good family, and had hitherto led a l blameless life.
 Ramon Orosco, under sentence from | Cochise county, for burglary in the | second degree, was pardoned by Acting l Governor Akers. |