The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-12
GOVERNORS CLEMENCY
FIRST PAROLES GRANTED IN TWO
 MONTHS. .
william Thomas and Emos Frankun Renleassd from Penitentfnry- Cftisenshap of William Clay
 of Madfson Restored.

For the first time in two months. q remarkable run in Alabama. paroles have been issued from the ofIice of the Governor and one restoration to citf- renship. these being ordered yesterday by Acting Governor Cunningham
 Those enjoying the first executFe clenency since September are Will liam Dock Thomas. of Lee County: Enos Franklin, of Marengo County and William F. Clay. of Madison County. Dock Thomas and Enos Franklin were convicted in the fall term of 1903 on charges of assault with intent to murder, the first being sentenced to three years and the latter for two years in the penitentiary. William Clay was convicted of illicit distilIing by the United States Court and is a Confederate soldier seventy-two years | old.
 It was the purpose of Clay to be res stored to citizenship in time to partici- pate in the National election last Tues
 day. as the following extract from a | letter recommending the restoration
 indicates: He wants to register here | on November 5. 1904. He is a good Democrat and we need his vote." But the executive Ciemency was postponed too late and clay will have to wait four more years to vote for 6 Presi- dent.
 The following endorsements were made on the papers by the Governor: "Enos FrHnklin-This applicant for executive clemency was convicted in November, 1908, of< assault with intcnt to murder and sent to the penitentiary for two years The trial judge. the so- licitor. ten of the jurors and the board of pardons recommend his parole. The trial judge says: I did not think he was guilty to the degree that deserved very severe punishment. therefore sentenced him to two years in the pen- itentiary and would have given him only one year if it could have been done under the law The solicitor says: After thorough investigation of the facts before the case was sub mitted to the jury by way of compro- mise and thinking 1t adequate pun- ishment, I offered to the counsel for the defendant to take plea of guilty of assault and battery with a weapon with a fine of s50.' Therefore, let pa- role issue, condition upon good con- duct"
 william Dock Thomasv-This appli- cant for executive clemency was con- victed of assault with intent to mur- der in October. 1908, and sentenced to the penitentiary for three years. The trial judge, solicitor and the board of pdToohs ICOOniHhSHu pdTuOH- ln6 judge says: I stated at the time of the sentence or immediately after wards, when all the facts and circum- stances were fresh in my mind that, after he had served a year, I would recommend his pardon The judge all so says: Evidence on the trial was conflicting as to who was at fault in bringing on the difficulty and also as to the issue of seN-defepse. The de- fendant and his witnesses testifying that the person alleged to have been assaulted was coming onto the defen- dant with an axe. That defendant being a one-legged man could not req sonably rntreat without increasing peril. Let parole issue, condition upon good conduct
 william F. Clay-This is an appli- cation for restoration to citizenship. He was convicted for illicit distilling in the United States Court in 1899. A large number of citizens and the board of pardons recommend his restoration. Therefore, let his civil and political disabilities be removed