The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-14
CHIEF JUSTICE SAYS
CASE AGAINST n. v.
KING WAS WEAK
Board of sPardons Considers
Application of Former Min
neapoIis Detective for a
Pardon-EMdence in Doubt.

How. far may the board of pardons
enter into the question of guilt and in
nocence in the consideration of an APP
plication for pardon?
Upon that question hangs the pres
ent fate of Norman w. King, former
city detective in Minneapolis, now
serving sentence of three and one
half years under conviction of partici-
patton in a felony From the attitude
of all three of the members of the
board, when the case was presented
yesterday afternoon, it became very
plain that if they can see course that
is clear Of legal distractions they will
exercise their power of clemency in
Kings behalf.
Both Chief Justice Start and Attor-
ney General Douglas frankly said, IN
opening the meeting of the board. that
as the evidence had come before them
the case of the state in the prosecution
Of King had appeared very weak on
certain essential points; and Gov. Van
SAINT expressed grave doubts as to the
guilt of King,
The case was laid before the board
by Victor M.tWe4ch, of Minneapolis, as
attorney, and There were also present
in. the prisoners behalf United States
Marshal GrimShaw and Mrs. Norman
w. King and her son.. Accompanying
the application and other formal docu-
naents. such. as safidayits and tram
scripts of testimony, We're letters from
several influential persons and a nu-
merously signed petition on which ap-
pear the names of many prominent cit
liens of st. Paul as well as Minneapo-
lis.
Edwards Testimony Doubtful.
Most important of all the matter laid
before the board by Mr.. Welch were
the contents of certain affidayits and
other documents calculated to show
that the man Edwards, from whom it
was alleged King received the stolen
diamond which formed the basis of the
charges against him, had admitted to
different persons that he did not give
the diamond to King. The purport Of
these documents was that Edwards
had admitted that he falsely testified
to the giving of the diamond to King
to the end that he mi ght clear himself
off suspicion of guilt in the, matter, and
might gain favor in the, eyes ofsfthe
Hennepin county authorities. ss-.4 s.s.i1
AS sbe&fi1lg upon the testimony Of
Edwards at the trial of King, Mr.
Weleh called the attention of the board
to- the fact that Edwards was self
confessed crook and lawbreaker,. whose
only source of livelihood fer years had
been to prey upon others by means of
pursuits that are in direct violation of
law. He said that Edwards word even
under oath was not in itself worthy of
serious consideration, and he believed
that it should have no weight as evil
dence except supported by proof Of
some more reliable character.
+ He said thatsGthe admissions, Of
which he had presented proof, were
made voluntarily by Edwards and were
entirely compatible with. the testimony
of other witnesses. and in great
measure borne out by that testimony.
Mr.. Welch said he believed King to be
entirely guiltless in this matter. and in
the name of the wife and son and
daughter of the unfortunate man he
urged the board to grant the applica-
ton for pardon. Qte
Grimshaw Makes Plea.
United States Marshal Grimshaw
made plea, saying that he was firmly
convinced of Kings innocence. He had
known King for eighteen years. he
said. and he believed him to be too
honest to commit the crime which had
been charged against him. He declared
it to be a gross injustice that King,
who had lived in Minneapolis for
eighteen years. and had enjoyed the
confidence and esteem of the commu-