The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-03-30

Governor Montague Flatly Re. Re.
fuses to Commute Sentence
VI and is Commended. III
JUSTICE HARLAN DE cLlNEs.
Sees No Reason for Granting
Writ of$Error,6 So LastBAve-
me Is Closed.

@5I 1 would seem that all tho avenues by
which former Alderman John NJ. King
had hoped to procure his release from
prison have been blocked. and that he
Y will serve out the full term Of twelve
months IN the city jail, TO which he{was
sentenced about six months ago In tho
4 Hastings Court for accepting bribcs while
+ d member of8thc city Council. ss
u Governor Montague yesterday FflatlyH de.
E nicd the petition OF King for a comiiu-
Ftat;on or sentence. and In 50 doing made
some tstriking observations upon the
crime for which King is now con fined. s
3. Al tho same time, Mr.. Justice Harlan.
K OF tho United States Supreme Court, re-
q fused TO grant d writ Of error lin tho
y case on the; ground taken several days
ago by Chief Justice Fuller that no
4 Federal questions were involved, and that
the court was therefore without jurisdc-
y ton. The State Supreme Court some
S months ago denied King q writ OF error
"A SO tharc$i Ia now no ray Of hope left by
which he may be released from prison
\ walls until the end Of his term.
Governors Observations.
The statement issued by Governor AZ on
tasue, In dlsposing Of the case, which was
h widely and favoraby commented upon
I, yesterday, Is as follows: n
If58SI assume from the verdict OF the ri
jury. the sentence OF the lower. court
titerenpon. and the refusal OF the su-
l,remc5 Court Of Appeals TO disturb
The fa,nc, that the guilt Of the appli- Z
,5t2 cant for pardon was absolutely es-5 5l
3stnbisbed. II so. It seems that the d
Punishment provided BY law was II
wholly inadequate to the offense COM
vi inittcd. The stealing OF property,
either By robbery OF person. breaking
I'D into houses or iron safes. is insignlf-sa
y can't az compared 10 an offense which J
Involves a breach o.offiolnl$duty.4th the ~
the undermining OF Our whole socia 5s
" inblic. Tho rule Of the people is n
81 n.nckcrya II their rights and interests
n are sold BY those Who are sworn I o 4
Eiard and protect them, and bribery "
& and graft must not only receive y
judicial punishment, but public con-
demnmtion. isss ..s z
~ therefore must deny tho applied
II "a J. MONTAGUE
y. Another Failure.
Information came from washington
s last night to the effect that Mr.. Levi
David, Sswho last week failed to securca
VI writ or error from Chief Justice &Fuller,9
VI the supfcn.. Court in the King case,
4 had met the same ia te before Mr.. JUS
tide Harlan. and thai his last re sort5lfi
appealed TO would be nn#cffort 10 gain
a it.lc release az the former alderman
( through q. writ Of habeas corpus II I is
more than probable, however. that there
will be no further move In the matter,
aud that the man will keep his lonely
,vis!ls under 6crgeant Smith for six
months more. While there MAS. OF
'cotrse. Widespread sympathy displayed
z ii tic ma ttersfor the aged and distress
+ ch ,iother OF King. 1t is not I'M
55tar TO say0that there was no public de-
n,und for the mans release, and that his
case did not draw heavily upon public
sympathy
Governor Montague's bold observations
lii reference to the case Ware commended
On every hand. and but few were heard
10 express the opinion that they desired
lie communication of tf,s convicted alder
mans sentence
It is manifest that the case Is now at
rest, and that King will serve out his
Term.