The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-11
". r. MILLER no BIZ SET FREE.
Gov HiEgins Commutes the Sentence Of
the $40 Per Cent. FinanCitr.


ALBANY, Feb. iO-Gov Higgins to-day
committed the sentence OF William f.
Miller Of $40 per cent. Fran kiln Syndicate
fame, and Miller will be free man az soon
as the papers reach the warden at Clinton
Prison where he ia now confined. hhller's
Communication is largely due to the fact that
he gave information to the authorities in
the Ammon trial. though Gov. Higgins says
that, in addition. he believes he is a reformed
man The application for Miller's release
had the Endorsement OF District Attorney
Jerome of New York and also Of District
Attorney John +. Clarke of Brooklyn,
although the latter had opposed any Glenn
ency being extended to him on the occasion
OF former application.
Miller is reported to be in poor health
He was sen fenced on April 80, 1900. to serve
a sentence Of ten years in Sing Sing. and
was taken to prison in the following June,
80 that he has served a period OF four years
and eight months He was transferred to
Clinton Prison on account OF poor health,
His crime was grand larceny. II IL the
expectation that will be enabled to walk
out OF prison on Monday.
The pardon of Miller recalls the long
controversy that was waged between Coy.
Odell and District Attorney jerome over
this case Just prior to Mr. Jerome's
application for a pardon for Miller Gov.
0dell had decided. az a result Of the request
Of certain influential friends TO pardon
Larry" Summe rfield's friend and business
associate. Weller. Recognizing the storm
of protest this action would create. Odell
sent u message by friend TO Mr.. jerome
TO the effect that he tOdelD was about
to do thing that would probably be the
most criticised act Of his administration
and he depended upon his good friend
District Attorney Jerome to stand with him.
In reply to this message Gov. Odell re-
ceived the following blunt reply:
-Anythi Benjamin b. Odell. Jr., de-
sres 10 ask of William Travers jerome
will be done. II possible. but no such request
can be honored when made by the Gov
ernor OF New York State TO the District |
Attorney OF New York County
Millers pardon was applied for a few
days later and was not granted. In the |
meantime Mr.. Jerome's attitude became |
known and it was generally understood |
that any attempt TO pardon Weller would |
be followed by his further indictment and
further conviction on new indictments.
so Weller and Miller stayed in Sing
Sing until Odell retired to Newburgh, when
Mr.. Jerome promptly appealed 10 Gov
Higgins. and to-day the pardon Of Miller
IVES granted.
Wisam F Miller was convicted OF grand
larceny IL connection with the Franklin
Syndicate. which promised its Investors
$40 per cent a year profits. He was SEN
fenced on April 80, 1900, to serve seven
years in Sing Sing Prison and was taken
there month later. subsequently. on
account of i'll health he was removed TO
Clinton Prison.
Miller, with Edward Schlesinger and
Louis Powers, organized the Franklin
syndicate in frame house in the Eastern
Dis, riot Of Brooklyn. They promised 10
per cent profits a week and profits left
with the syndcate would. according TO
he swindlers, earn like profit Thousands
If investors focked TO the syndicate or
ent their money by mail,
Although Miller got but few thousands.
I is said that the easy public invested over
II 200 900 When the crash came money
yas pouring in at the rate Of nenry 500 600
day. Miller fed to Canada and Sohlesin-
,er to Europe Schesinger hasn't been
'aught. Col Bob Ammon was later ar
ested and placed on trial charged with
yrend larceny II was alleged that he
lad received $50. 500 of the stolen money
filler was brought hero from prison to
eBtify and Ammon was con victed.