Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-04-06
Increased Number of Applica-
lions Due to Former Spasm
of Generosity
OPPOSE REPETITION OF ACTION
older Members of the Legislature
Think That the Precedent Which
Was Set Two Years Ago, of Grant
ing So Many Pardons by Legislative
Consent, Was Bad One.
to Times Republican.

i've persons who have been paroled
from the Iowa penitentiaries ON re-
Communications of the legislatures
since the law making this recommen-
dation a requisite thirty years ago
seven We're granted clemency by act OF
the legislature two years ago; and this
spasm of generosity was the direc'
cause of a great increase in the number
OF applications for pardon. so that the
present legisla ture was asked to con-
slider seventeen cases.
But of the men pardoned two years
ago it can be said that all have done
well so far as known. John w. Elkins
the .boy murderer is Flooding along in
college work and making himself use
full and there is not now anyone who
doubts the wisdom of permitting him
. chance at life. His was the case
hardest fought and about which were
the greatest nisgdvings, but his friends
are greatly pleased with his way OF
taking up serious things of life. Two
of the persons have been lost. Theo-
dore Blshick, a native of Hayti. prom
1 Used to return to that island, and the
last heard of him he was earning the
money to pay his passage. George
Stanley. who had lived most of his life
in the penitientiary went to relatives
in Maine One other is a prosperous
photogTa pher, another works on a farm
and third is plying his trade as a
stone mason.
There was just bit of scandal in
connection with the pardons of two
years ago. One prisoner was paroled
with the understanding that he would
buy farm with the $1,000 which he
had In the bank; but before he received
his pardon papers it was found that he
had paid it all to lobbyists to secure
his parole recommendation. There was
much Indignation felt because of men
working for a pardon for pay. Another
OF those pardoned is engaged today
working hard to pay off In installments
an obligation of $500 to a Des Moines
lawyer for his work in securing the
pardon.
The older members Of the legislature
6elt that the precedent set two years
ago OF granting so many pardons by
Legislative consent was bad one and
they set their faces against repetition
or the incident. For this reason, as
we'll as for the reason that the appli-
cants this year have much less merit.
the pardon business viii be small and
probably not mere than one pardon will
be granted. There are forty nine per-
sons serving time in the state perli-
tentiaries under life sentence, at this
time, but 1t is surmised that the num-
her includes only a very few who have
been in the peritentiary over ten years.
The lifsrs. apparently. do not live long.
The following are the prisoners who
have been pardoned from life sentences
for murder in the first degree since the
law went into force in 1874 requiring
Legislative approval:
Fort Madison Penitentiar.
Frank Linehart, Clayton county COM
united -. pardoned 1878.
William Riley, Blackhawk county,
committed October Z, 1867, pardoned
April 10, 1880.
q. J. Bruce, Lee, December %. 1876,
May IL, 1854.
L. w. Werniek, Harrison, March 10,
1873, September 3, 1884.
Finnis Allen, Fremont, November 4,
1879, December 10, 1884.
John S. Ltutae, Jasper, October I,
1875, March 20, 1892.
Charles Cook, Lee, May 10, 1882,
March %, 1892.
John Saai, Decatur, August 81, 1877,
September 2, 1892.
"A. T. Hocket, Mahaska, June II, 1885.
April 80, 1886.
5 Henry O. Osborn, Polk, December %,
1883, January -, 1898.
James johnson, Pottawattamie, JAM
uary Is, 1856, April II. 1898.
i George Il. Stanley, Story. April so, |
1872, April 26. 1902. !
v Joseph Mccreary, Mills. May Fl, 1879.
April 20. 1902.
Average years served Is.
Anamosa Penitentiary.
John Deitch. Linn; April N, 1885, 4
May j, 1889. 4
Hanorah CURTIN, Allamakee; May %,
1885, May 26. 1890.
William Riddle, Cedar; May II, 1885;
April 20, 1892.
william Slowey, Clinton; March %.
1880; May T, 1896.
!, George Trout Woodbury.; March II,
1887; April 80, 1896.
Bernard Kennedy. Dubuque; Feb. 10.
1883; April Is. 1898.
Cornelius Moelchen, Dubuque; Dec.
81. 1878; April 13, 1900.
Otto Often, Pocahontas; Feb. 8,
1887: April %. 1902.
Theodore Bushick, Mills; Oct. 10,
1870; April 20, 1902.
John Wesley Elkins, Clayton: Jan. IA.
1890; April 20, 1902.
John Bellew, Webster; Oct. 10, 1894;
April 49, 1902.
William Young, Woodbury.; Feb. 20. |
1897: April "a. 1902.
Average years record II.
The following are the prisoners in the |
state penitentiarfes under conviction Of |
murder in the first degree:
Fl. Madison Penitentiary.
w. P. Glyndon, Hardin county. COM
mitted April II, 1873.
NJ. B. Foster, Taylor county, Dec.
"a. 1890.
Byron Gwinn. Lucas county, Sept. s.
1891
Albert Parnitzka, Van Buren, county,
Dec. 81, 1891.
George Weems, Polk county, Aug. /,
1894.
Stephen Courtney, Louisa county.
March 20, 1895.
Buck Mayberry, Wayne county, June
20, 1895.
orman Mcpherson, Louisa county.
March rs, 1897.