The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-25
MERCY SHOWN
 TO CONNECTS Seven of Them Freed by
 Governor. FIVE LIFE PRISONERS Liberty Awarded Them With out Petition for Fidelity. Chief Executive Deeply Impressed With solemnity of Act, Discusses Qualities of Mercey and
 Qualities of Mercy and
 Justice Paroles and
 Pnrdons.

life convicts last night the eve of Christmas, their convict pick axes and shovels will, 1t Is also hoped, have been laid away forever. This morn ing these convicts credited with long and faithful service to the State of Alabama in their Imprisonment will begin to draw the breath of liberty.
 Gaddie Thomas, of Walker County; Wesley Jenkins. of Hale County; Bragg Body, of Bullock County; Csger Greene, of Perry County; and Mary Jane Kendall, of Lowndes County are the fortunate conviots.
 These were all serving sentences of life Imprisonment for murder. The shortest service in the number has been something over fourteen years and the longest, that of Mary Jane Kendall. twenty-three years, nine months and six days.
 Mercy and Justice.
 Let parole issue.' The words sounded peremptory as they were ut- tered, by the Chief Executive of the State yesterday afternoon about a o'clock. But they embody a stroke of clemency which an observer could see was born of a great battle in the mind of the Governor between the stern traditions of office and the rig. i'd policy-he has announced In dispen. sing mercy.
 AS you boys know I have pardoned and paroled but very few convicts since l have been administering the office of Governor" spoke Governor Cunningham to newspaper men as they surrounded him in his private office. An examination of the req sons I have given in all cases will show that the criteria set by me ror executive clemency have been and will continue to be rather rigid.
 This policy. in my Judgment, is necessary for the maintenance of law and order in this State," continued the Governor with unmistakable firmness of voice. T have not yet yielded to public sentiment or to personal ap- peals. But it seems to me that on this blessed day, the eve of the most momentous day in history and herv was pause in which tears rolled from the eyes of the man wrestling with deep emotion. Rain drops were falling heavily withuut and pail of clouds hung over tho terrace of the capitol grounds, visibip through the windows. The scene was pathetic and the occasion will finger long in the memory of the chief actor of this drama of real life.
 On this blessed day." the Governor resumed, T do not think I would de- part from my rules generally if I ex- ercised executive clemency for a few old. faithful. friendless convicts upon the ground of mercy. have pardoned none of them, but have simply paroled them. know most of them personalIy and know them to be good and faith ful convicts. Their paroles will be a surprise to them and I believe they will be good citizens hereafter"
 Sigh of Relief.
 As the Governor thus concluded he gave a solemn sigh as If his mind had been relieved of heavy burden. He had rarely pondered this much even over important matters of State. The human interest of the mercifuI acts was intensified by the fact that the Governor knew and had talked face to face, with most of the convicts who will owe to him their liberty this, the first free Christmas they have enjoyed in over a decade.
 All of the paroles issued were recom- mended by the Board of Pardons and most of the murder convicts were recommended by the late State Super intendent of Mines, W. l.. Rogers. The paroled convicts serving life imprison- ment were at Slope 10 Pratt Mines. E4dCn pu6 Ol thcIil' lHt 1ONeTnOT says, has earned for the State from $2,0O0 to $3,o00.
 It will be noticed in the list of mur- der convlcts that Mary Jane Kendall, a negro, woman, is included. She was sent to the penitentiary for life on be- ing convicted of infanticide. In be- half of none of the life convicts paroled was any plea submitted to the Gov ernor, all of them being ignorant of any definite purpose to liberate them
 Seab Irwin PardOned.
 pardon was issued to Seab Irwin convicted of burglary in the Tallapoosa Circuit Court in the fall term of 1904
 Parole was also issued to Lilly Hicks negro woman, convicted in Septem- Der, 1903. of miscegenation.
 The endorsements and orders of the Governor in these and the life convicts cases are as follows:
 "Seab Irvin--This applicant for ex- ecutive clemency was convicted at the fall term. 1904, for burglary, and sen- tenced to one year and one day in the penitentiary. The Judge and Solicitor and Pardoning Board recommend his pardon The Judge says: had some doubt at the trial of the defendants guilt, but not sufficient to set aside the verdict at the time.
 
 sideration and I know that there Is sufficient doubt about the guilt of this man to warrant an issuance of a par don. Therefore let pardon issue"
 Lilly flicks-This is a negro wo- man. She has not applied for execu- tive clemency. She was convicted in September 1903. for miscegenation. Her paramour, a short time since, up- on the recommendation of the trial judge, was paroled. The trial judge also recommends the parole of this woman. in which the Pardoning Board concurs. Therefore let parole issue. conditioned upon good conduct"
 Five Life COnvicts.
 Gaddie Thomas, Wesley Jenkins. Bragg Body. Cager Greene, Mary Jane Kendall-The following convicts. to wit. Mary Jane Kendall, convicted in March. 1881, for murder and sentenced for life: Cager Green, convicted in September 1890, for murder and sen tenced for life; Caddie Thomas, con- vIcted in March. 1884. for murder and sentenced for life; Bragg Body. con- victed for murder and sentenced for life in July, 1888. and Wesley Jenkins, convicted for murder in 1890 and sen- tenced for life.
 Tn consideration of their long. con- ttnued and faithful service and in rec oznition of their good conduct as pria-