Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-28
WRONGLY CONVICTED
THE PRESIDENTS DAILY HORSE
BACK RIDE TAKEN.
Today he is Accompanied by Mrs
Roosevelt-Case of the Post
mastership at Seattle.

President Roosevelt has Just granted .
pardon to a member of the police force OF
the District of Columbia who was once
convicted of petty larceny, and the papers
show a most interesting case
The man who has had his good name
cleared by this pardon Is Thomas Nolan.
He was convicted in the Police Court of the
District of Columbia of larceny. having
been accused Of stealing a bottle of milk.
September 4, 1900 he was sentenced by
Judge KiInball to pay fine of so. This
fine was paid but Nolan declared himself
innocent of the crime and maintained this
throughout. Subsequent to the payment OF
the fine Judge Kimball at the request OK
Rev DIR. Thomas Gordon. re-examined the
case, and so much convincing proof was
presented that Nolan was innocent that
Judge Kimball became convinced that the
man was not guilty and should not have
been convicted The term of court having
expired, however, he had no power to set
aside the conviction and clear the record OF
Nolan. and the docket was allowed to stand
showing the conviction and fine
The old story that black spot, whether
innocently or accurately placed on a mans
record will follow him through life was
never more clearly shown in this case. Some
time ago Nolan passed a creditable exami-
nation and was appointed member of tho
police force of the District. Then 1t was
discovered that Nolan had been convicted
Of petty larceny and that the record of his
conviction was such fact to impair his
usefulness as an officer. He was therefore
suspended pending an investigation of the
matter and the clearing up of the record
The District Commissioners and Maj. Syi-
vester, superintendent of police, admitted
that a conviction of petty larceny does not
constitute a legal bar to q mans appoint
ment on the police force of the District-a
most interesting adrnisson-but at the same
time they would not receive a man on the
w nf h1 II M M
be cleared. All the facts having been care
fully laid before the President, including
letters from Judge Kimball, Henry b. f.
Macfarland, president of the Board OF
Commissioners of the District, and Maj
Sylvester, the President granted full par
don, which will enable Nolan 10 resume his
position on the force.
President Goes for Ride.
The President, accompanied by Mrs.
Roosevelt went out for horseback ride this
morning mounting horses In the suburbs
The weather was not too cold to keep them
at home, and they returned in the after
noon exhilarated from the exercise.
The President spent about an hour in his
Office before going for the ride. but received
callers except Secretary Moody. who had
some details of the movement of ships and
marines to South American waters To dis
cusS with the President The remainder OF
the time in the office was spent in going
ters requiring immediate answer are iicii.t-
ed by the President al these short visits
to his office each morning before he takes
a ride.
In keeping with the Presidents determi-
alton not to have any cabinet meetings
during the hold iys, there Will be no meet
ing Of the cabinet tomorrow at the regular
hour unless circumstances should cause q
change in plans.
Representative Campbell of Kansas called
to present deaf mute 10 the President. but
he had gone and the call will be made an
other time Clay jackson is the deaf mute
in Gaiiaudet College, who has great ad-
nliration for the President and asked Mr..
Campbell to present him.
The Seattle postmastership.
When President Roosevelt was on his
western trip and was nearing Seattle he
picked up Seattle paper which had a long
story about the coming of the chief execu-
tive, and stating that mis- mail was beginning
to arrive The article said that among the
letters was one from Mrs. Roosevelt bear
ing the White House stamp and being ad-
dressed in her hand. The President didn't
like this and had inquiries made as to how
any one could see his mail and be able to
report what kind OF letters he was to get
The Post Office Department set on foot an
investigation and called upon George w.
Stewart, the postmaster for eXplana-
tion. This was satisfactory, although it left
just enough for opponents Of Postmaster
Stewart to make a fight on his reappoint-
ment to his position. This fight is still go
ing on. 1t is said that the President will
not let the incident of his mail have any
thing to do with his determinatio OF the
case. He must soon appoint a postmaster
at Seattle, however. Mr.. Stewart is in
deTsed by Representative Humphrey. in
whose congressional district the Office is
located. Senators Ankeny and Foster
said TO have left the appointment To Mr..
Foster, but at the same time il is said that
w. A. Garlic a former member of tfe iegis-
lature. has the friendship of Senator An
keny. Mr.. Carle is also backed by other
politicians and the fight is going right
along.