The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-08-06
ELLIS BOYS RELEASED
Fees Will Be Reduced by the
 Pard0ning Power.
Practice of Arresting Persons for Riding on Trains Will Besstopped by Reducing County Fine and Forfeiture Fund-Gov-
 ernor Talks.

"You ask me about what I shall do in the matter of the Butler County convicts, charged with rid ing on trains unlawfuIiy. I have pardoned the two Ellis boys today; shall pardon others"
 This emphatic statement was made by Governor W. D. Jelks to a repre- sentative of The Advertiser yesterday afternoon in response to a request for information as to what action he would take concerning the wholesale arrest of persons in Butler County charged with riding on trains.
 Continuing. the Governor said:
 II cannot nullify the law-I can only execute it. So far as I know or be- lieve. the officers of Butler County have been perfectly regular in these particular cases in their trial and con- viction. I am disposed to believe that very few days in the penitentiary man or a boy committing the offense that these are charged with commit ting and I shall look very favorably upon any application for pardon from any of these people when they have served a very few days"
 The Governor said that he would not discuss the merit or demerit of the train-riding law. but he did say that punishment should not be severe for its violation.
 Will Reduce County Fund.
 Behind this statement of Governor Jelks lies a remedy which reaches the methods employed by Butler County officials to arrest and convict persons charged with train-riding. If the Gov ernor adheres to his determination 10 pardon these convicts after they have served a few days at Pratt Mines the fine and forfeit fund of Butler County will pe so greatly reduced that there will be no fund with which to pay the fees of these County officials. for the arrest and conviction of crim- inals.
 of the Governor continues to par don these persons after few days service in the mines, you will find that the number of persons sent up from Butler County will be greatly reduced" said a State official yesterday. "The convicts will not stay at the mines long enough to work out the costs which go to the clerk, the trial judge and the sheriff The business will be- come unprofitable and arrests will cease."
 Governor Jelks said that he had not examined into the feed bills from But Ter County. He said he did not approve of so great a number of persons being convicted in one county in one month on this trivial charge, but that he could do nothing but pardon them when they had served a few days.
 It was also learned yesterday at the Executive Department that complaint had been made to the Governor about persons being arrested on this charge | in Conecuh and Escambia Counties as well as in Butler County. and 1t was said to be probable that the Governor would order a thorough investigation of the entire matter.
 Montgomery Men Pardoned. Governor Jelks returned from his home in Eufaula yesterday morning. The communication from Captain A. Gerald, Chief of Police of Montgomery. fin behalf of Odie Ellis and w. L. Ellis, Montgomery young men, sent up from Butler County, did not reach the Gov ernor until yesterday afternoon.
 Later in the day a Committee from Camp Lomax, United Confederate Vet erans, called at the Executive Depart ment and made an appeal to the Gov ernor to pardon the two Messrs. Ellis. stating that they are respectable young men and sons of a we'll known citizen of Montgomery. This committee con- sisted of Judge John G. Winter. Major V. M. Fillmore, Rev. A. J. Lamar, MT c. A. Lanier and Mir. G. W. Ely.
 The application for clemency was not referred to the Pardoning Board. The Governor read the communication. lis tened to the committee, and announced that he would exercise the Executive authority and pardon the young men.
 Odie Ellis and w. L. Ellis are aged F years and 20 years. They were arrested in Greenville. July 24. for riding on trains. and were sen- tenced to seventy-tw9 days each in Pratt Mines. They will probably re- turn to Montgomery today or tomor-