The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-04-23
PRICE ONE CENT.
WOLFOON'S PARDON SIGNED.
His Good Record in the Army
Prompts Executive Clemency.

The Lawyer Who Was Implicated In
an ALLEGED Fraudulent TransaetIoR
in New Orleans Free to Return to
His Regiment in the Philippines.
The President today signed a pardon
for Joseph n. WOlfson. whose case has
attracted considerable attention. Wolf
son was a prominent lawyer and man
of influential family in New Orleans
for a number of years prior to July Il.
1895. when he enlisted in the army. He
settled in New Orleans in 1854 and for
twelve years was a depositor in the
Union National Bank of that city until
it failed on September 6. 1895.
The bank had d capital and surplus
of $40, 600 which entirely vanished
Woifson was charged with being in1-'
piicated with certain officials Of the
hank in conspiracy to defraud the de-
positors. It was alleged that-h was
allowed to overdraw his account to the
extent of $4,000, knowing the banks
condition and its imminent failure He
was tried in conjunction with Frank 3.
]
in progress for twelve days made an
alleged confession and turned States
evidence. He admitted having juggled
the books of the bank
The testimony, It is asserted, was IN
corroborated, hut notwithstanding a:
verdict of guilty was rendered in both
cases and Wo1fson and Leefe were sem
fenced to eight years in the peHiten-
tiary. Upon appeal to a higher tribunal
the verdict was sustained by a divided
bench. A writ of certiorari was applied
for to the United States Supreme Court
and denied.
Pending a formal decision in the case,
wolfson obtained permission to enlist
in the Third Mississippi Regiment DUR
ing the Spanish-American war. Later
he enlisted in the regular army and
was sent to the Philippines with the
consent of the Secretary of War and
the Attorney General. He was assign
| ed to the Twelfth Infantry and made
an exceptional record He received the
highest commentator Of his regimentaI
and company officers. He Is now home
on sick leave, but viii return TO his
to serve. His family is now in Switzer-
land
Attorney General Griggs refused to
make favorable recommendation in
WoIfson's case, but upon his retirement
the case was presented to Attorney
General Knox, who took a view direct
" opposite to that held by his prede-
eessor- In recommending to the Presi-
dent that a pardon be granted, Mr..
Knox stated that he has considered
much relevant and important fnforma-
ton which was not before Mr.. Griggs.
Continuing. Mr. Knox says:
.Wohson-s guilt may be conceded. al
though as to that one Of the Judges OF
the United States Circuit Court Of Ap-
peaIs. Judge Boarman. in a strongly
reasoned dissenting opinion maintains
that it was not established Be that as
it may, his application is predicated on
other grounds entitled, in my judgment,
To great consideration After convfc-
ton and pending an appeal of mis- case
Woifson entered as a private Of volun-
teers and served in the Spanish war
Later he was enlisted in the regular
army anu Sci ~Gta, dSCGL0441S ~ l-lASA5
Of his regimentaI and company COM
marders, thirteen months on the firing
line in the Philippines with conspicuous
bravery. His subsequent services are
thus detailed by Major John T Knight,
major and quartermaster Z S. Y, at
Manila;
:. I placed him in charge of !, SEQ daily
laborers employed and paid by my de-
under his admirable management and
under his admirable management, and
skill I was soon able to reduce this
number materially, and in other ways
save the quartermaster department
thousands of dollars. His devotion to
duty. especially during the rush of or
ders at the commencement of hostilities
in China, when my department was
compelled to srork day and night. load
ing and discharging transports, caused
him to contract many tropical diseases
by being exposed to sun and rain. and
he was invaIided home after repeated
efforts to return to duty His services
both as a soldier and in my department
alone commend him to your kind con-
sideratiOn, and I most ferventIy beg
vOrIl. fayora bIe cIAraencx