The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-08-23

The State, 2lst.l

to 30 presented to tho governor ask
ing for tho pardon Of Col. Wm. A.
Neal, former superintendent of tho
State ponitentiary, wrrr hnnded in
yesterday by Col. p. II. Nelson, his
attorney, who read ono Of thom and
mado tew relnurlis in rogur" to tho
appllcation for pardon. Governor
McSwocnoy listened patiently to tho
presentation and then took tho pa.
| pcrs, stating that ho would give
thom due consideration in tho course
Of time. Ho did not, however, in
any way Indicate what course he
would tako III tho matter. During
tho hearing tkN governor asked Mr.
Nelson somo questions rs to what
amount Col. Neal still owed tho State
or whether by his acts tho State
stood in danger Of losing anything
These questions had reference TO the
items M to the notes Givcn by }. b.
| Watson FOR thrpo years convict hiro
and rs to tho Carolina National bank
claims for $1,000 which tho supreme
court has decided tho State docs not
have to pay, but which it is undor-
stood tho Legislature will ho asked to
mako good on tho ground that tho
State received tho hcnoiit Of the
money. or hand rcplios were given
to tho questions asked by tho gov.
ernor, but later on wri,tcn oxpluna-
tlona of these matters viii probably
be fled.
Tho petition Glr, road as fellows:
To His ExcelIrncy, Miles b. Me.
Sweeney, Governor, CoIumhiu,
5. G.
We, tho uudorsiHut citizens Of
flchland county, respectfully poti.
| ton your excclloncy to grant full
pardon to William a. Neal, late
superintendent "l tho ponitcntiury
| who, at tho juno term, 1901, IF tho
Court Of General Sessions OF R,ch.
land county, was convicted under
Section 3Oi Of tho criminal statulo,
Of failing 10 turn over to his Success
sor in oilico within 30 days from tho
time he qualified, certain funds
which had been collected, by him rs
| uperintondont, and WAS sentenced
to pay Il lino Of : 900 and to i'm
prisonmont in the county jul for a
| torn Of four months.
Tho olronce Of which he was con-
victod was not an Infamous ono, and
Wns n technical violation OF law. At
Il formor torn Of court ho was tried
and acquitted by breach Of trust
with fraudulent INTENT as to the
samo funds for which he was in
dlctod and convicted for not turning
ovor to his successor within tho timo
prescribed by tho statute.
We are informed tho record shows
that Col. Neal made a full and frank
statement before tho committee an
pointed to investigate the affairs Of
tho penitontiary, and stated that he
would pay every cont that ho owed
the State. When the amount due
vas ascertalnod it was paid in full
by tho suretich on Col. Noal's bond,
and theroupon ho paid thom tho
amount 30 paid out for him. Tho
amount had bcen paid by him prior
to his first trial for breach Of trust
upon which he was acquitted. Tho
State has been paid in full by VIM.
A. Neal, the ontire amount for which
his bond was liable.
The charge against him was one
involving no moral turpitude, but
was simply for failing to turn over
within 30 days certain moneys which
had been collected by him ~ super.
intendont. This sum Of money was
paid rs horoinbofore stated, prior to
trial, and with no idea Of compro.
mise
Such being tho statute and tho
fact showing that he had not turned
it over within 30 days tho court
could not charge otherwise than it
did, and tho jury could not but find
Il verdict Of guilty. AS tho law has
boon vindicated and tho amount
found duo on, his bond paid, wo think
it clearly a caso in which your OK
! colloncy should intorpose and issue