The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-07-14
ed time to consider whether they would
sign or not.
Start Says Case Was Weak.

ed time to consider whether they would
sign Or not.
Start Says Case Was Weak.
This Chief Justice Start was willing
to believe, but he still maintained that
he did not attach any great weight to
petitions in a case of this kind He
said that he did believe. from his
knowledge of the testimony in the trial
of King, that the case of the state had
been very weak. Edwards. he said had
been shown by his own admissions and
by evidence. to be one of the worst
scoundrels and criminals that it could
be possible to conceive. and he de-
plored the fact that any man of fair
fame should be convicted of a crime
upon the evidence of such witness.
He recalled the fact that it appeared
in the evidence that when Edwards
and young Adams of the man
accused of actually stealing the dia-
rnond-approached the saloon together
Edwards said to Adams: You wait
for me outside here, for if you are
with me King won't take the diamond"
In view. of that circumstance it did
not look reasonable, the chief justice
said, that Edwards really intended
giving the diamond. To him the stu
alton looked like this: Here on this
hand was the state prison staring Ed
err hand was chance to secure free
dom; and Edwards, without the slight
est computations against perjury or
any other form of crime, testified as
he believed would best serve his pur-
pose
Attorney General Douglas directed
attention to evidence in the case which
tended to show that on the same night
that Edwards was supposed to have
given the diamond to King, Edwards
was met at the same saloon by a man
named Johnson and Edwards offered
to sell Johnson the diamond. Other
points of the evidence were discussed
and then Gov. Van SAINT inquired of
Chief Justice Start:
Governor Puts a Question.
''Well, are we permitted to go into
the evidence or to consider the ques-
ton of guilt or innocence in determin-
ing these cases?"
1--WE should leave those things as
the court has settled them, except in
cases of manifest injustice" was the
reply. IF convincing proof is laid be-
fore US that an injustice has been done,
We may. perhaps, act, but the courts
have opportunities that this board
cannot have in looking into these
cases.
The members decided that it would
be highly desirable to have letters
from the trial Judge in the case, and
these Mr.. WEIGH said he would en-
deavor to secure at once. In the mean
time the board took the ease under adj
viSement.
A case which challenged interest be-
| cause of it's popularity was that of
George B. Miller, sentenced from No
bles county in November last to serve
two years and six months for forgery
~, f17n
entation of the case made before the
board it appeared that Miller's crime,
| if such it could be called, was purely
technical and worked no harm in any
way, nor could it have benefited Mil
| ler
| Board Pardons Miller.
| Miller as it was shown, was a sales
man for the lumber firm of Doliff & Co.
| at Dundee, and had been instructed by
\ his employers to give no credit to any
| body, but to require either cash or a
note in payment for all goods sold by him.
| To one of his friends it is said Miller sold
bill Of goods amounting to $3.50 on cred
| it. but to avoid censure from his employ
ers he made note of that amount and
| signed the name of this man, Levi Silse. to
| the cash drawer. and. not knowing of it's
| existence, Silse came in later and paid
his account The firm lost nothing. and
in any event. Miller could not have profit
| ed by his act further than to escape cen
| sure for his. disobedience in extending
credit to Silse. After Miller had been
away from Mobiles county for year he
! returned, and through the efforts of enc
mics, as it is stated. the case was prose-
| cuted and he was convicted. The board
! granted him a pardon.
Il The board denied the application of
Phillip Rice. sentenced from Ramsey coun-
1 ty ten years ago to life term for the
murder of Joseph Herda. The man Herda
| was killed late one night in a holdup at
h iI1ct aff nf I,
| street. Rice and Joe, alias ''Speck."
White We're arrested and charged with the
murder, and Rice was convicted and SEN
fenced to life Imprisonment
| Rice, who is said to be unbalanced in
mind. has addressed long, rambling and
| somewhat incoherent communication to
the board, alleging conspiracy against
| the different officers Of the prison and
even the state officials.
The sentence of frederick C. Pratt,
sentenced from Hennepin county to serve
| two and a half years for embezzlement,
was COMMITTED to two years. He was
committed June TO-, 1902 Pratt was en-
J. M. Davis & Co. in Minneapolis, and
the embezzlement OF his employers
money.
HamItons Case Passed.
| The case of Frank H. Hamilton, al
legged to have killed Leonard Day at the
West hotel, was not taken up by the
| board but it is expected that it will be
| reached today. Hamilton was committed
| Feb. 20, 1901, to serve seven years.
| The application of Fred C. Owens, SEN
fenced from Todd county in May of this
year to serve nine months for grand lar
ceny in the second degree. was denied.
| An application from Michael J. McLeer,
of Saltwater, sentenced to the Washing
| ton county jail for ninety days for
drunkenness, was denied with much
promptness. The members of the board
recalled that McLeer had been pardoned
| from the county jail only a short time
before his present sentence was imposed
+, i'm Inn