The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-29

SECRETARY SHAW
EXPLAINS PAROLE
Former Governor Denies He
Freed Shercliffe for Politi-
A. Cal Reasons.
Diamond Thief Sent Back to Pen
itentiary to Finish His
Term.
Liberty Granted as an Experiment
Because Term Had Nearly
Expired.
From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Build

From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Build
ing, Washington.
washington, April 29.-Secretary
shaw, in response to requests from
number of newspaper correspondents
prepared statement concerning the
narole by him, while gorevrnor OF
iowa, Of Frank Shercliffe, diamond
robber. That statement contains all
the secretary desires to say. IL Iol-
lows:
Every attempt to make political capital
out of the incident has failed. Sherclltfe
was sentenced In 1893 to seventeen years
In the penitentiary. Ee had behaved well
while In the penitentiary, had saved all
his good time and at the time OF his
parole had about two years to serve.
The correspondence for and against his
parole was very voluminous, and had been
often repeated. The letter from Judge
Hubbard was followed by another letter
from the Judge withdrawing his request
This, It would appear, has not been given
out.
granted the parole after being con-
WINGED that Shercliffe, whose real name
was Morris, purposed to reform Friends
secured employment for him In Omaha
and I released him under agreement thai
he should accept this employment, render
monthly statements to me and forfeit his
good time if he abused the confidence re-
posed In him.
Became Dissatisfied.
He became dissatisfied with his en-.
Vironment at Omaha and asked permits
sion to go to his brother in Marshal
county, Iowa. I saw the letter from Mir
to Matt Steadman, former secret service
man, recounting his return home Hf
then voluntarily went to the sheriff OF
Marshall county and told that he was 6
notorious diamond thief and told the
sheriff where he could be found.
He wrote Pinkerton to the same effect
Pinkerton went to Iowa and had an IN:
terview with Shercltffe and gave hin
some money have no doubt Sherclire
intended to do right. I never was conf
dent, however that he would succeed.
He rendered his monthly statements
regularly and accurately for about year
I had three men In Marshall county
watching him. He became restless, how
ever, and finally left home, and revoked
his parole and ordered him sent back t.
the penitentiary, where he is serving the
balance Of his term. ss,.
Case Is Interesting. :,
His case Is most interesting from thu
standpoint OF criminology. He Is the only
man with criminal record with whom
experimental, and did this with my eye
open. but ordered him back before m!
term expired. ea
w. S. Richards, who was pardon
clerk to Secretary Shaw when#he was
governor, has written to LaF'ayette
Young, editor Of the Des Moines Cap
itol, as follows:
The washington Post and perhaps othe
eastern papers are publishing, under a De
MoInes date line, a report of the parole Q
Frank Sherclffe by Secretary Shaw Will
he was governor. The report sets on
that the parole was granted at the re
quest Of Judge Hubbard, and the Nlette
from the judge is published.
Please examine the files and get a cop
of Judge Iubbard's subsequent lette
withdrawing his request, If it Is still o
file
remember the letter very we'll an
both Mr.. Fleming, private secretary, an
Mr.. Patterson, parole clerk under Gov
ernor Shaw, remember distinctly tn
withdrawal Of the request.
It is declared here that the stor
regarding the Shercliffe parole wa
sent out from Des Moines by Gov
ernor Cummins' private secretary, o
that that official Is responsible for 1t
being sent out.
The feud between Cummins an
Shaw regarding the iowa idea"
said to be the incentive. Shaw say
the story was offered to every morn
ing newspaper in Chicago five day
ago and was refused by all OF then
It's publication in Washington an
other eastern papers, where the de
tails are unknown, would, of course
have the effect. If having any effec
at all, to injure Shaw and embarras
him. Apparently. he's not worryin
l, w W. Jermane