The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-09-24
PE0NACE MEN FREE
President Roosevelt Pardons
Two AIabamians.
JUDGE JONES INTERCEDED
Federal jurist Says Prisoners are
Penitent and, in His Opinion, the
Ends cf Law Has Been
Reached.

Through the executive clemency OF
President Roosevelt two men convict
ed of peonage in Alabama some
months ago walked out of the federal
prison at Atlanta, Ca, early Wednes-
day afternoon as free men.
These two men were George D. and
Barancas F. COSBY, and they were ar
raigned in the federal court at Mont
gomery on June 80 last. Bota plead
guilty and were sentenced to serve q
year and day in Uncle Sans prison
in Atlanta.
The two Cosbys, from the time OF
their entrance into the prison. were
employed on the farm. as bota were
familiar with such work.
The word from Washington that
their pafdons had been signed by
President Roosevelt came to them en-
tirely by surprise. Warden Meyer in
person notified them of the receipt OF
thepardons. The Cosbys, both strong,
emotionless men, heard the news IN
silence, thanked the warden for his
kindness and at once prepared Tor
their departure. Early in the alter
noon they were furnished win citi.
zens' clothes and sufficient money 10
carry them to their home in Alabama
The prisoners were indicted origi-
naliy for holding Pike Swanson in
peonage. They pleaded guilty at the
earliest opportunity, and this fact op-
Grated largely in securing their par
dons. Judge Jones. before whom they
were tried, also interested himself IN
their behalf, and wrote personal let
ter to President Roosevelt asking him
to free the two men. .-.
Judge Jones stated in his letter that
in his opinion the ends Of tie lazy had
been reached. -
During the month of June more
than eighty indictments against mum.
ber of individuals fer violation Of the
peonage law were returned by the
grand jury at Montgomery and sever
al convictions were secured, the SEN
tences imposed ranging from the min
iynunl, one year, to the maximum, five
years.
In his letter to the president Judge
Jones said in part:
"The favorable recommendation
now made proceeds on no idea tcat the
sentences were unjust, but solely from
the conviction that the punishment al
ready undergone By the prisoners has
accomplished all the real ends OF the
law in these cases.
''The prisoners have undergone the
humiliation Of imprisonment in the
penitentiary, the sting Of coz Jenna
ton by their Ieighbors and associates,
and the wide publicity of their offelse.
They have been separated from their
families and have worn stripes. There
is no. ground for believing that they
will ever again, under any cireum-
stances, engage in like practices. They
attempted no defense, but pleaded
guilty at the earliest opportunity. They
were contrite and admitted that they
justly deserved punishment. The re:
form of offenders themselves, so far as
the law contemplates, has been
completely effected by the punishment.
''The question of pardon may, there
fore, be properly considered, now
solely as regards its effect upon the
administration Of justice and the pub
lie welfare. The law has been thor
oughly vindicated, and the evil against
which it was directed. in these COM
munities, has been completely crushed.
Conniyance with the abuses of corrupt
magistrates in that locality in the ex-
ercise Of the power to hire out offend
ers for payment of fine and costs on
conviction for small and often sham
offenses, in order to reap rIcdt for
their hirer, has been thoroughly ex-
posed and broken up. 1t has met the
hearty appreciation of the great mass
of the people in all walks of life. The
example has been all sufficient to deter
others from like offenses in the fu-
turo."