Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-01-10
PRISON PAROLE BILL.
Last Legislature Spent Some Time
Considering It,
IT WAS NOT PASSED, HOWEVER.
Governor Acts as He Sees Fit-Parol.
ed Convict Required to Live in
Prescribed Territory and Stay at
Home Nights.

DeS MONIES, Jan. 1.-THE last leglS-
lature spent some time considering
prison parole bill which was intro
duced by Senator w. c. Macarthur, of
Burlington. In the hurry of the legis-
lative work and in consideration of
the fact that the subject had not been
thoroly discussed in the state, this bill
was not pushed, but in its place the
governor was given an extra clerk, to
help him in considering applications
for pardons and paroles. The under
standing was that the governor should
give more attention to this work and
should adopt a more thQro system of
keeping account Of convicts released
on parole. The governor has, been
following this policy, and, tho he has
been very conservative in the exercise
Of the paroling power, he has met
with criticisms in some cases.
In the case of w. A. Cummings, sent
up from Des Moines in September,
1896, for thirty years for attempted
assault on two little girls more COM
ment has been made than in any 9th
er, yet it was one of the strongest
cases that have been presented to the
governor for clemancy. The applica-
ton for suspension Of sentence was
Endorsed by Judge Holmes, before
whom the case was tried, the county
attorney who conducted the prosecu-
ton, the parents of both the little
girls alleged to have been assaulted
and by ali the county officers, mem
bers of the board of supervisors and
over 100 other well known residents
of Madison county, where Cummings
formerly lived
Judge Holmes stated that there was
grave doubt of the defendants guilt.
This was Endorsed by the county at
torney The governor had all of the
evidence transcribed and made per-
sonal investigation into all the cir.
cumstances of the case. He came to
the conclusion that the defendant
was probably not guilty. The Madison
county people said that he came of
good family, bore good name, and
that they did not believe it possible
that he was guilty of the crime
charged. All this, except the letter
of the county attorney, was submitted
to the governor more than year ago,
but Cummings was not released till
the day before Christmas, 1900. Cum
mings is a small man of light build,
who was forty years old when he was
sentenced, His brother-in-law in Mad
ison county agreed to give him a
home and provide him with employ
ment
AS in all other cases where a SEN
tence is suspended, this man is re-
quired to live within certain terri
tory, to stay at home nights and re-
frain from the use of intoxicating
liquors or from frequenting places
where they are sold. He must make
monthly reports to the governor, tell
ing what he is doing, how much he
earns, and he must produce receipts
showing where his money has been
spent. Like all others who are pa
rolled, he was informed that he was
not being pardoned, and that the only
difference in his condition was that
instead of serving his sentence in the
penitentary he was permitted to go
outside and work and retain his earn
ings for himself as long as his con-
duct is satisfactory. He is required
to work every day when his health
will permit, and if he violates any of
these conditions he is liable to be
thrown back into prison any day by
the simple order of the governor.