Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-07-20

The State board Of pardons met in
res1lar monthly session this morning.
The personnel Of the board was Acting
Governor Hammond, Supreme Justices
miner and Bartch, Acknowledgement
Breeden and District Judge Hall, who
took the place of Supreme Justice Bas-
Kin who is out Of town, a large num-
her of eases were considered chief
among which was the petition for the
pardon of Fred George, who was con-
ylcted of murder in the second de-
gree and sentenced on Nov. 2 1895 to
FIVE years IN the State prison for be"
ing accessory to the shooting of Mar
sinai n. Il. Dawes and Constable
Thomas Stagg near Evanston, Wyo., in
1895 and for which Pat Coughlln suf-
fered the death penalty.
Georges case was leesented to the
hoard BY Attorneys McMaster and DIM
inny. Recommendation for pardon
were read from Mrs. Lilly b. Kenyon.
who offered the young man home and
employment, Editor G. W. Penrose of
the News" Mrs. Louise Dawes the
widow of Marshal Dawes, eX-Congress-
man ". II King, 0.P. Pratt, the mayor
and council Of Park City, Warden Dow
and a large number Of others, among
whom were several OF the jurors who
convicted George. A communication
from j. NJ. Mcclellan, one of the OFF,
GERS who pursued Coughln and George,
stated that George was not a desper-
ate character or he would have shot
me in South Willow canyon in Tooele
county when he gave up to me,
Justice BartCh who was the trial
Judge and sentenced George TO life
term, was much opposed TO the grant
ng OF pardon. He said that evidence
at the trial had shown that the firing
when Dawes was killed was so rapid
that the loading of the guns must have
been done BY George, Mr., Dininny
said that evidence mad been produced
since the trial was had to show the
petitioners innocence.
Judge Hall moved continuance OF
the case until next meeting of the
board so that the transcript OF the tes-
umony might be produced. Mr.
Dnnny said that this was impossible
as the short hand notes had been lost,
Attorney General Breeder seconded the
motion for continuance.
Judge McMaster made most earnest
plea for the granting of liberty to
young George, who was only sixteen
years old at the time of the Dawes
murder. He spoke Of Georges ex-
emplary conduct In the penitentlary
and how he had learned to read and
write He referred 10 the report that
Stage had slgnified his intention OF not
arresting hut killing the two men whom
Il Ne and the other members of the posse
Il We're pursuing. Judge McMaster al
So made the statement that he believed
Il Georges statement that he had never
n fired a shot or loaded a gun during the
4 shooting and that he had wanted IT,
q escape but that Coughin had threat
(. ened to shoot him II he made any at
a tempt 10 leave him. He thought II
n would be better 10 turn him out now
"a than criminal OF 80 years of age
Fl Mrs Kenyon and DR.. Mccoy also
II spoke for young George and his good
q characteristics.
PARENTS GET THEIR SON,
d There were moist eyes and women
II dabbed futiyely at their eyes with
4 thelr handkerchiefs as p, II. Hunt Of
Il Decatur concluded his appeal to the
i board Of pardons this morning with the
words, III YOU viii only let me take
j my boy back home | will remember
4 your names as long as / live" Here
4 his voice broke and the tears rolled into
hls eyes But he had said enough and
winfield VIII return with his parents to
Decatur
Inc boy whose pardon a mother and
father have come all the way from
Decatur His, to procure. Is Winfield