Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-09-17
PARDON FOR 0)SBYS
Judge Jones Recommended
That President Pardon Men
Indicted For Peonage
PUNISHMENT is SUFFICIENT
George D. and Rarancas F. Cosby, Inn
prisoned for ever Year, Have Ex-
pressed contriteness. and in Other
Ways Law Has Been vindicated-
Their Families Are in Want.

| Washington, Sept 1.-THE president
has granted full and unconditional par
i.dons to George u. and Barancas r.
| Crosby, convicted at Montgomery, Ala.
of violation of tie peonage law. These
men were indicated for holding Pike
Swanson in condition of peonage
! pleaded guilty On June 20, 1908, anG
on the same day were sentenced to
! Imprisonment for a year and a day in
the United States peniteutiary at At
lanta, Ga. Thay have been impris
oned ever since. and today We're re-
!. leased on Geographic instructions from
| the department of justice.
The president granted the pardons
upon the recommendation of Judge
Jones. who sci tenced the prisoners.
In his letter to the president Judge
Jones says:
! The favorable recommendation no
made proceeds on no idea that the
the conviction that the punishment al
ready undergone by the prisoners has
accomplished ell the real ends Of the
| law in these ses.
The prisoners have undergone the
humiliation of imprisonment in the
penitentiary. tie sting of condemna
| ton by their nsighburs and associates,
land the wide publicity of their Of
Tense. There is no ground for believ-
ing that they will ever again, under
any circumstances whatever. engage
| in like practices They attempted no
defense. but pleaded guilty at the earli-
est opportunity They We're contrite
and admitted that they Justly deserred
punishment. The reform of offenders
themselves, so far as the law contem-
plates that, las been completely eff
fected by the punishment.
'fhe question Of pardon may, there
fore. properly be considered now solely
as regards it effect upon the admin
istration OF justice and the public well
fare. The law has been thoroughly
vindicated, ard the evil against which
1t was directed in these communities
has been completely crushed. Con
nivance With the abuses of corrupt
magistrates III that locality in the ex-
ercise of power to hire out offenders for
payment of fine and costs on convic-
lion for small and often sham offensos
in order to reap profit for the hirer
has been thoroughly exposed and orok-
en- up. It has met the hearty reproba-
ton of the great mass of the people
In all walks CT life. The example has
been all sufficient to deter others from
like offenses in the future
Among thu. signers of petitions for
pardon are rlany negroes. They feel
safe from any repetition of like offenses
and join with their white neighhors In
these petitions for clen1ency, believing,
in this instance. that it will rebound
to the public good, and smooth the re-
lations between the races. The great
body Of the people of TAllapoosa county
have, in effect. became sponsors FOR the
good behavior OF the prisoners. ana the
loyal observance of the law in this re-
spect by all others in the future.
A public opinion, stronger even than
the power of the law, has been aroused
to stand up in the future for justice and
fair play to the weak Granting the
prayer of these petitioners, would rec
ognize and strengthen thas. moral in
fiuences, which. at least are the only
enduring foundation OF a reign Of law
cannot doubt that g,,oi would come
from granting the prayer OF The petit
TONERS.
Apart from these considerations
there are others which are deserving
of weight.
Families in Want.
George D Cosby has Il wife and six
children, the Oldest a girl oe IL, and the
youngest, a oaby born since his mpris-
onment. His wife is sick and quite fee
ble Barancas Cosby mas a wife and
two children and his wife is now quite
ILL., Both the prisoners are of small
means, and left their families no sup
port The families of the two Croshys
have been moved to the home of the
father-in-l an infir,n confe larate
soldier, now 20 years of age. They are
dependent upon him for support, when
he is hardly able to take care of his
own family
The condition of The families ot
these prisoners appeals keenly u the
people of their county, and has enlisted
in their behalf the efforts Of many good
people in ali parts OF the state, who,
while expressing nothing hut condem-
nation for the offense, have In letters
and personal interviews strongly ex-
pressed the belief that it would have
a wholesome moral effect, under the
circumstances. now to pardoe the pris-
oners.
After much reflection and consider
alton of the matter, I unhesitatlngly
recommend an immediate and uncondi-
IT.