Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1901-10-05

The West Virginia Pardon Board, in
session at the penitentfary. will com
plete its labors of the week and adjourn
this forenoon. 1t has acted ON a num-
Der of applications for executive
olemency, In addition to those already
given to ths.public. So FAR at this meet
ing of the board. no recommendations
for psrdons has been made by both
Brannon have agreed in numerous un-
favorable recommendations. In some
two or three cases, they have not
agreed and one member has made a
favorable recommendation TO the gov
ernor while the other has not done so.
Yesterday in the case of Char.es Dor
eey, who was convicted in the circuit
court Of berkeley county OF two cases
of grand larceny. and on September IL.
1894. was sentenced in one case to six
years and in the other to five years con-
tiement, the Board recommended
against the pardon of the petitioner
lion for a favorable recommendation
aud this was the third time that he has
been turned down. He was convicted
of stealing cattle and claimed that he
was only hired to make a sale Of the
animals which were found in his pos
session. The party. whom he accused of
putting the cattle in his charge WAS
also tried in Berkeley county and ac-
quilted, the jury seeming to think that
Dorsey was the guilty person. The
pardon board evidently shares this view.
Thomas Garrison, who was also
turned down by the Board was convict
ed of burglary in the Circuit Court of
Jefferson county, and on the 5th day OF
December, 1899, was sentenced to
twelve years in the penitentiary He
was from Pittsburg, and was charged
with being engaged in what is known
as the celebrated toll gate robbery in
Jefferson county He claimed he was
the victim of detectives who wanted
the large reward offered for the cap
ture of the criminals who perpetrated
this crime, and attempted to convince
the Board that he was not even in
Berkeley county at the time. He did
not make out a sufficient case 10 war
his behalf
Zac,s- Hartwell was convicted of muir
der>in the first degree in the Circuit
Court of Mercer county, and sentenced
December S, 1891. TO confinement in the
penitentiary for life. His pardon was
asked on the ground that he was only
fifteen years of age at the time OF the
c6mfnission o. the offense. that he'hes
already been sufficiently punished. His
paIoon Was accommodated by Idr. Bran
non. MIR. Morris made no recommen-
dation.
James Bennett was convicted of rob-
berry in the criminal court of Fayette
county and sentenced January 80, 1896,
10 ten years Imprisonment Governor
Atkinson refused twice to pardon him
and the board once before declined 10
make favorable recommendation, but
this tins he was nearly successful, Mr..
Branlon recommending his pardon, for
the reason that the prosecuting attor-
ney Judge, and large number OF other
reputable citizens favored II, and on the
grounds that he thought there was con-
siderable doubt of the guilt of Bennett.
In this case. Mr.. Morris does not recon-
mend the pardon. but dos not oppose
1t. and gives as his views of the case
Il am compelled to say that | do not see
the matter in exactly the same light
that Mr.. BFannon does l interpose no
objection TO the pardon CT Bennett. but
| do not feel that it is my duty to give
him a favorable recommendation. |
hope the governor can see his way clear
to exercise clemency in behalf of this
man, and this is the most that l can
cay for him,
If the executive is inclined to pardon
because there is a strong feeling in
behalf of this man, a convict, and for
the reason that he has strong recon-
mendations from prominent people of
his county, then this is a case in which
he win be fully warranted in taking
e favorable action. 1t is claimed that
Bennett is innocent of the crime. If
this is true he is certainly suffering
terribly for the wrong doing of some
other person. 1t is right. too, that he
severity of the punishment he has al