Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1900-06-20
PARDON or PATSY DIVER.
Gov. Smith Decides That the Jury Did Not
Know Anything About the Cir
cumstances.
independent, June 1s.l

independent, June 1s.l
Gov. Smith today granted a free
and unconditional pardon to Patrick
Dwyer, convicted in Fergus county
Of killing Robert Thornton, at Gilt
Edge, in August last year. and sent
TO the penitentiary in September for
two and one-hslf years for man
slaughter. His term would have ex-
pired Oct. %, 1901. II the governors
pardon is approved by the board OF
pardons, Dwyer will leave the pen in
about three weeks.
An investigation OF the case con-
WINGED the governor that ID wysr killed
Thornton In self-defense. Many we'll
known citizens Of Fergus county ne
titioned the governor to exercise ex-
ecutive clemency. The governor an
nounced the pardon in the following
letter TO the state board Of pardons:
From an inspection Of the evil
dence taken on the trial OF Patrick
Dwyer, OF Fergus county, | believe
the homicide for which he was con-
victed was done in seli-defense; and l
do not see how the jury found a YER
dict of guilty. The deceased was vir-
tually in the act Of shooting Dwyer
or was making such demonstrations
with his Winchester as TO excite fear
OF immediate danger In any reason
able man. Many OF the good citizens
Of the county and state take a SINH
lar view, Judging from the letters and
papers filed with me In EwJer's be-
half. | have therefore concluded, II
you give your approval, to grant
Patrick Dwyer a free and uncondi-
tional pardon, to take effect as soon
as the forms OF law a be compiled
with
Thornton was nicknamed PAN
Handle Bob" He was a we'll known
Character living near Gilt Edge. Ac-
cording to the petitions and papers
sent to the governor in Dryers be-
half the latter killed Thornton in self
defense, as the governor points out.
Dwyer was tried and convicted of
mauslaugter. He was defended by
j. A. Largent of Great Falls and C0rt
Il Worden of Lewistown. James W.
Freeman, e~x.county attorney OF Cas-
cade county, assisted County Attor-
ney Smith in the prosecution OF the
case.
Mr.. Freeman has since become in
terested in the effort toprocurea a par
don for Dwyer and came to Helena
recently and laid the matter before
the governor. Five petitions and a
number Of personal letters were pre-
scented to the executive. As stated.
some of the best citizens Of Fergus
county signed the petitions or wrote
the governor urging him to exercise
executive clemency.
Mrs. Dwyer, the wife of the man
who was pardoned, also waited up
on the governor and asked that her
husband be pardoned. as he was her
and her child's support. T.J.Johns,
editor Of the Lewistown Eagle, asked
the governor to act. So did Z. W.
King. superintendent Of the Great
Northern Mining and Development
Co. of Gilt Edge, formerly superin-
tendent OF the Great Falls water
works. Mr.. King represented tn the
governor that Dwyer acted purely In
self-deiense.
81 believe wrote Mr.. King, that
the punishment Dwyer has already
received will meet the ends OF justice
fully as well as though he served out
his entire term"
Mr.. King laid stress upon the fact
that Dryers family needed his sup
port. Frank A. Barnes, a Gilt Edge
attorney, also wrote the governor In
a similar vein. So did Cort Il WOr-
den Of Lewistown, who defended
him. J. h. Washburn, manager OF a
store in Gilt Edge, was another who
wrote the governor.
c. L. Murray. clerk Of the district
court in White sulphur Springs, I'M
pressed upon the governor the fact
that Dryer formerly lived in Meagher
county and was always considered a
good citizen. David Hilger, ex-reg-
lister OF the Lewi-town land Office,
and one OF the leading citizens OF Fer
gus county. wrote IA strong letter TO
the governor in Dryers behalf. The
fvp uptitinns wore VpuprnUy signed