The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1905-05-15
GOVERNOR MEAD'S ACTION IN
RELEASING YOUNG MEN ARE
EXPLAINED
Pardon Was Granted on
Statements of Dr.. BIaIock and
Jesse Mills


Ella Mundt, and who was pardoned
from the penitentiary few days ago,
has been the cause of Governor Mead
being severely censured by Spokane
papers for granting the young man his
release. From Olympia comes a de-
Tense of the action of the governor,
the Olympian which might be regard
ed as the organ of the state admins
tration, saying:
Month after month the convict at
the penitentiary has been gradually
dying. Not since he reached the pen
itentiary has he left the hospital His
left lung is shrunken, several of his
ribs, fractured by a bullet, are knitting
together in such a way as to press in
his side. At best the doctor who at
tended the man says he will not live
three months.
The mans position was pitiable in
every way and won the sympathy of
the officials. His heart-broken mother
was pleading that her boy be permitted
to come home to die. Jesse Mills, pres
ident of the state board of control,
wrote to Governor Mead that to grant
the man a pardon would be an act of
humanity at least
Governor Mead granted the pardon,
but in effect he granted it on condi-
ton that the prisoner die. 1t is a par
don to allow the man to die at home
outside the penitentiary, to have his
last hours watched over by relatives
rather than to have the state pay for
such nurses.
Spokane newspapers where the man
was convicted, nave attacked the gov
ernor assuming that the report of the
mans serious physical condition is
false. If that is true, it may be posi-
lively predicted that the governor
would revoke the pardon. But the
governor saw the man with his own
eyes and has confidence that Mr.. Mills
nor DR.. Yancey Blalock are not un-
truthful.
What the Pardon Says.
The pardon speaks for itself and is
as follows:
state of Washington, executive de-
partment, Olympia.-To all to whom
these presents shall come, greeting:
Whereas, on the 4th day of June,
1908, Edward Spencer was sentenced
by the judge of the superior court of
the state of Washington, in and for the
county of Spokane, to Imprisonment in
the penitentiary for the term of IL
years for the crime of murder in the
second degree; and
Whereas, it has been represented
to me by DR.. Yancy c. Blalock, phys1-
clan at the said penitentiary, that the
said Edward Spencer is an invalid, is
failing in health and cannot live; which
statement is endorsed by Hon. Jesse 7.
Mills. chairman of the state board of
control, who also recommends the
granting of executive clemency to the
said Edward Spencer;
Now, therefore, 1, Albert E. Mead,
governor of the state of Washington,
by virtue of the authority in me vested,
do hereby pardon the said Edward
Spencer on the condition and under
standing that he be placed Immediate
ly under the care and surveillance of
DR.. Yancy C. Blalock, who shall re-
port Immediately to the governor any
violation of the conditions on which
this pardon is granted; and on the fur
Their condition that the relatives of the
said Edward Spencer provide for and
support him so long as he shall live,
and that failure on their part to do so,
or on the part of the said Edward
Spencer to remain with them and I'M
DER the surveillance Oh the Sdlu LII
Yancy G.. Blalock shall cause the rev.
ocation of this pardon and the recon-
mitment of the said Edward Spencer
TO the penitentiary to serve out the re-
mainder of his term according to the
sentence imposed on him by the court
hereinbefore mentioned.
And l hereby authorize the superin-
tendent of the penitentiary to liberate
the said Edward Spencer forthwith, on
the conditions named herein.
In witness whereof, have hereunto