The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-07-26
LIFE CONVICTS FREED
WHITE MAN AND A NEGRO ARE RE
LEASED.
william steelmnn, Of Etowah, Pardon
cd, and Anthony Brantley,
Negro Of Je1erseOn, Par
doned by the Governor.

Brantley of Jefferson County, convicted
of highway robbery.
steelman is at prison No. 4. in Mont
gomery County, where his good con-
duct he's excited the admiration of the
guards and other penitentiary officials.
The crime for which he has already
given the State eleven years of his life
was the murder Of John NJ. Davis. an
other white man In Etowah County, in
the fall of 1892. william Steelman
was a co-defendant with his brother,
George l.. Steelman. Both brothers
were convicted and sentenced to life
imprisonment. George Steelman. who
is serving out his sentence at the
lumber camp of the Hand Lumber Com
pany at Dolive. has confessed that he
killed Davis. and that his brother was
innocent of the crime.
In his confession which is an an
davit and made a part OF the record.
George Steelman says that he did not
attempt to absolve his brother of blame
at the trial for fear that he, George
Steelman, would be hanged, and as the
evidence was entirely cfrcumstantiaI he
had hope that both of them would be
acquitted.
william Steelman has been at work
through lawyers and friends to secure
a pardon since the administration of
Governor Oates at which time members
of the jury which convicted him Joined
In n petition to the Governor to grant
him a pardon. William Steelman was
for a long time leased to the lumber
company at Dolive. and every official
of that company joined in a petition
fer clemency to him because of his good
conduct.
1t is shown by his record that during
his confinement he has earned between
$500 and $4,000 for the State.
In applying for a pardon Steelman
alleges that his trouble was due to his
interest in the political campaign of
1899, when he was an ardent supporter
Of Governor Thomas G. Jones against
Capt. Reuben F. Kolb. He says that
he had a controversy with one Abe
HudGins of Etowah County, Kolb
supporter. relative to the votes of sew
enty-five negroes; that the negroes fin
ally voted for Jones and that Hudgins
swore vengeance on him. He declares
that he was subsequently convicted on
the testimony of Hudgins.
A singular feature in connection with
the case was the interest manifested In
1t by Israel Belser. negro preacher
of Montgomery County. Belser labor
ed untiringly to bring about the re-
lease of Steelman, whom he believed
to be innocent. In recommending
Steelran to CIemency some time ago
the State Board of Pardons made this
statement:
TN this connection we desire to ap-
plaud the generous spirit of Israel Bel
ser. a high class. kindly hearted negro
citizen and minister of the Gospel in
this county. He has spent his time and
his honest efforts in bringing about
the pardon of this white man. His mo-
tive has been one of absolute kindness
and charity and we beg to say that his
sincerity and his honest interest in
the matter has to a very considerably
extent. influence our judgment and our
verdict. We bespeak for him and for
his charity client the kindness of your
excellency."
Reviewing the history of the Steel
man case. Governor Cunningham wrote
the following statement on the applf-
cation for clemency:
This applicant for executive Glenn
ency was convicted, Jointly with his
brother, for murder in the first degree.
March IS, 1893. and sentenced to the
pcnitentiary for life. He has been in
the penitentiary for eleven years and
four months. The testimony is to the
effect that he was man of good char
acter prior to his conviction and the
universal testimony of contractors and
officers of prisons where he has been
employed is to the effect of unqualified
good eOn0uct. Tie mas often DeeH
trusted by officers of the prisons and
has proven himself worthy of every
trust He has worked at many places
since his conviction and officers of
these places all testify to his good
character and recommend clemency.
During the administration of Gov
ernor Oates the entire jury which tried
him petitioned for executive clemency
on the ground that he was convicted
III IN a
of Pardons on two separate occasions
have recommended a pardon. His
brother, convicted for the same Of
Tense. has confessed in the
presence of the chaplain OF
the penitentiary and also made af-
ndavit, in which he says That he alone
is guilty of said murder. and that MS
brother william. NJ. Steelman, had
nothing to do with said murder, knew
nothing about it and is entirely inno-
cent thereof Notice has been given
twice to the effect that application
woul. be made for pardon and moth
ing in opposition thereto has been re-
ceived in this office.
In consideration of the probability
of this mans innocence, and of his I'M
prisonment in the penitentiary for more
than eleven years. during all of which
lime he has discharged every duty put
lD0n MN anu uHiAol Ia 6CCt WIN
duct let pardon issue"
A parole was issued to Anthony
Brantley. the negro who was convicted
of highway robbery.
Brantley was convicted in the City
Court Of birmingham, October 80. 1896,
ard was sentenced to ninety-nine years
in the penitentiary. The history of the
case and the conduct of Brantley is
given by Governor Cunningham In
granting the parole as follows:
"This applicant for executive Glenn
epcv was convicted in October, 1885,
for robbery, and sentenced to ninety
nine wears He has served seventeen
years and nine months. During this
lime his conduct has been most ex
nmplarv. often aiding the officers of
the prison In preventing escapes and
Informing of conspiracies to escape.
He has been at the coal mines during
This period. nearly all OF the time being
first class.
The trial Judge recommends favor
able consideration of his petition. The
BOARD of Pardon recommends executive
clemency. In consideration of his uni
form good conduct and faithful service.
let parole issue, conditioned upon good
conduct"