Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-01-02
BOARD CUMMUTES
LYNcH'S SENTENCE.
Convicted Slayer of Col Godfrey
PrOwse Gets Life I'm
prisOnment
DECISION ARRIVED AT TODAY.
Men Who Figured in the Recent Jail
Outbreak Give Testimony ia
His Behalf.

Shortly after I o'clock this afternoon
the state board Of pardons voted
unanimously to commute the sentence
OF James Lynch to life imprisonment.
The decision, was arrived at after a
thorough examination Of those who
figured In the late Jail delivery at the
state prison, at which time Lynch Is
said 10 have prevented the killing Of
Guard Zebulon Jacobs, as he was about
to be shot by Abe Majors. Among
those examined were Lynch himself,
Abe Majors, Waddell, Conn0rs, Mullen
and several others.
The state board Of pardons met to-
day in special session at the state
prison and considered the application
of James Lynch for commutatlon OF
sentence to life Imprisonment. Lynch
IL under sentence to be executed on
Friday, Jan. s., for the murder OF
Colonel Godfrey Prowse at the Sheep
Ranch gambling house or Commercial
street, on Sept. II, 1900, His case has
twice been appealed 10 the supreme
court and the Judgment OF the lower
court was affirmed in each instance.
At the last regular meeting of the
board Of pardons or Saturday. Dec, IL,
1908. Lynch's application for commute
tlon of sentence was denied. since
that time his attorney and friends have
been hard at work to secure additional
facts to present to the board In order
10 secure him a second hearing be-
fore that body. Ever since the fact
became Known. that Lynch prevented
the other conyicts from killing Guard
Jacobs during the recent prison break,
the sympathy of the community mas
gone QUITO the condemned mar and
on every hand expressions have been
heard favorlng a Communication
Of his sentence. When the
board denied his Communication, a
petition for a rehearing was at once
circulated and received the signatures
OF n large number OF influential citl-
2ens. The board then called the special
meeting which was held today.
THE INVESTIGATION BEGINS.
The meeting was FIRST called to order
In the supreme court room at the city
and county building. Governor Wells
stated the object OF the Neeting and
then stated that arrangements MD
been made for the board TO meet At
the state prison in order TO hear tlo
statements Of those who might throw
some light on the case and that a room
had been provided for the meeting
Turning 10 Justice Bartch, Gov, Wells
asked him II that arrangement would
be satisfactory to him and insured hin
that he would then have the oppor-
tunity OF eating his first meal In jail,
All the members OF the board present
stated that they were willing to go oft
TO the prison. whereupon Gov. Wells
assured them that their term OF impris-
onment would not be a very long one
GO TO STATE PRISON.
The board then adjourned TO the state
prison. The members who were pres
ent are Gov. Wells, Justice Bartch, Jus
tice Mccarthy and Atty Gen Breeder.
Chief Justice Baskin was the only alb
sentee. In addition to the members q
the board, Attys, II. G.. Edwards and
win +. Wanless, representing Lynch,
and several parties who testified before
the board went out to the prison also.