Morning appeal. [volume] (Carson City, Nev.) 1877-1906, 1905-11-15
BOARD OF PARDohs.
Pleas Heard and the Case Goes Over
Until Today.


Yesterday the State Board Of Par
dons met In the Governors ONCE. It
was special meeting called for the
purpose OF considering the cases Ct
the four men awaiting execution at
the State penitentiary. The meeting
had been postponed several days
which really was an advantage to
those interested in the cause Of the
men. A full board was present and
the Governor as Chairman, called the
board to order. The first to take the
door for the condemned was Attorney
q. e. Roberts.
Mr.. Roberts opened his statement
by explaining that Sevner, one of the
condemned men had expected to be
present, but on the refusal to allow
such a president that the condemned
men had prepared statement, which
was offered and read to the Board.
The statement carefully reviews the
case from the moment of the arrest
of the men. The point of Identified
ton was probably the strongest in the,
plea. 1t set forth that when Welsh
identified him and the others that
he was in a semi-conscious condition
and that he had to be aroused from
a stupor. He and German were plac-
ed at the foot of the bed and the
dying man seeing no one else. pointed
them out as the men who had fired
the fatal shots and had robbed him.
He further states that the claim that
he (Sevner) and the others had pro-
cured pistols in Reno was never sub
stantiated, which could have been
done had it been the case. Sevener's
view of the case was very concise.
showing a great deal of study and a
man above the average intellect.
Mr.. Roberts made very strong
plea for the men, setting forth the
possibility of doubt, and quoted in
stances where identification was es-
tablished only to result in the con-
demning of an innocent man. His
plan of defense for the men was prin-
cipally on the lines of the possibility
of mistaken identity and circumstan-
tial evidence, which he claimed
should not result in the death of the
men. His closing argument was
vesy strong and his asking for a
Communication to life Imprisonment
was one of the best arguments in tn,
case
number of petitions from Jurors VITO
served on the case that found the
men guilty, asking that the sentence
be commuted and a life Imprisonment
be given instead One of the jurors
in the last trial offered to come i,
person and ask that this be done.
Attorney William Woodburn fol
lowed the District Attorney. Mr.
WOODBURY. was certainly in his bes
10TH. his COAN1HCluS SuluCHI ICii
tive to the conflicting testimony in re
gard to the position of the men OF
the train is point that is boun,
to work in favor of the men. HI
took the cause specially for Robert
and German, whom he shows by tn
testimony in the case was not on tn
car when the killing of Welsh too
place In his plea for clemency tn
fine argument and splendid trainin
of the attorney came into play.
Mr. WOODBURY. stated that in th
case of Roberts that it was simpl
out of the question to think of han:
ing such man. Roberts he SET
forth, is incompetent in every sens
of the word; that he is but chill
in thinking, and did he take part
the murder that it was at the biddil
of Others He further demonstrate
that ROBBERS was unarmed and neve
was in a position to help in the kill ]
of Welsh He made no attempt
clean his man entirely of the Grim
but contends that in the mental co
s dition that tho prisoner is in that
rs morally wrong to hang him.
Woodburn's play on Friday and /
explanation of the day and its mar
biblical meanings was neatly put. II
entire argument was forcible and whe
he finished the doubt of the case VIZ
on his side. At the conclusion h
stated that he came into the cas-
without compensation and solely #
the purpose of doing, what he b
lieved, to be duty to mankind ar
the public.
It was after the noon hour wht
Attorney Woodburn finished his a
peal and a recess was taken until