The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-01-01

Governor Jelks yesterday affixed his official signature to documents which pro- vided for the pArdoning of four convicts and the paroiing of two others. and they will be released from the custody of the State this morning in order that they may begin life anew on this, first day of the year 1902.
 The, State Hardening Board held lengthy session yesterday and considered numerous applications for clemency The recommendatio were sent to the Gov ernor in the afternoon. He gave them his immediate attention in order that the convicts should be released today if possible.
 Sam. Davis, an aged negro. will pro- bably be the happiest negro in Alabama this morning when he learns that he can leave the penitentiary and that so long as he conducts himself as a law-abiding citizen he will be free man. Davis is serving life sentence and he was paroled by the Governor.
 Watt Thomas, negro. was killed In Perry County in the summer of 1890. Sam Davis was arrested charged with the crime. Notwithstanding he stoutly maintained that he was innocent, he was convicted September 9, 1890, in the Circuit Court of Perry County of murder in the
 
 prisonment. The evidence was circum- stantial and Davis still adheres to the story of his innocence. Some time ago there was an outbreak of smallpox at the State penitentiary and Davis who was "trusty," volunteered his services as a nurse. It is said that he remained faithfully with the smallpox patients and during the epidemic he had ample oppor- tunity to escape. He contracted small pox from which his. health was so greatly impaired that he is almost a physical wreck
 In recommending Davis to clernency the Pardoning Board says: "On account of the fact that he has been in the peni- tentiary eleven years, during which time his conduct has been good, his impaired physical condition and his faithfulness in nursing smallpox patients we recon. mend that Davis be paroled.''
 An unconditional pardon was granted to a Montgomery County negro, John Henry, alias Porter wimberly, because he is said to be dying of consumption. Henry was convicted of burglary and grand larceny in the City Court of Mont- gomery August 20, 1898, and sentenced to four years and day. pr. Shirley Bragg Physician Inspector of Convicts has re- ported to the Governor that the negro is in the advanced stages of tuberculosis and that he is in the hospital ward of the State penitentiary and a charge upon the State.
 John Philpot. a negro boy Of Macon County. was pardoned upon the recom- mendation of Solicitor s. l.. Brewer, who prosecuted the case. Philbot was con- vlcted of burglary and grand larceny by the Circuit Court of Macon County, octo- Der 9, 1901, and sentenced to one year and day.
 Philpit is at Speigners. Since his in generation he has been seriously i'll of typhoid fever. His mother left her home in Macon County and remained faithfully by the bedside of the young convict and nursed him through the illness. He is now convalescent. but the disease left him almost an invalid. Solicitor Brewer says that he is young boy and that his mind is not bright.
 Dan Williams Is another negro who was pardoned because of his physical condition. Williams Is slowly dying of consumption. He Is in the hospital ward at Wetumpka and although he has once before served as convict under the alias of Sweet Williams, 1t was shown to the Governor that he Is a charge upon the State and that the ends of justice have already been subserved. Williams is serving a fve-year sentence for grand larceny. He was convicted in the Circuit Court of Henry County, April 25. 1899. The pardon is earnestly recom- mended by Dr. Shirley Bragg, Physician Convict Inspector
 parole was granted to Clarence Stewart, a 14-year- cid negro boy who was sent up from Sumpter County The boy was convicted April 27. 1901. in the Circuit Court of Sumter County on a charge of burglary and was sentenced to one year and six months. He is doing time at Pratt Mines.
 The petition for clemency in this case was signed by a large number of reputa- ble citizens of Gainesville, where the boy lived. It was shown to the Governor that