New-York tribune., 1905-02-11
W. F. MILLER SET FREE.
GoUernor CommuteS Sentence OF
Franklin Syndicate Man.

Albany Feb. l0-Ciovernor Higgins to-day
oommuted the sentence OF William +. Miller, of
Brooklyn. con lcted of grand larceny in connec-
tion With the 500 per cent Franklin syndi
cate. He will be released from Clinton Prison
on Monday. Miller was sentenced on April 30.
1900 to serve ten years in Sing Sing Prison.
He entered that prison on June of that year,
and was transferred to Clinton Prison because
of Ill health.
The Communication was granted on the recon-
mendation of District Attorney Jerome of New
York. Governor Higgins said he had granted
the communication because of the information
which Miller gave the District Attorney of New
York in aid of subsequent convictions. and be-
cause he believed that Miller was reformed
man.
District Attorney Jerome had not received off,
cial word of Governor Higgins's action in Millers
yesterday when he left his office, but he said
to reporters who told him the news that he thought
the Governor had acted justly in the He
had urged the pardon of Miller strongly before
Governor Ode he said. believing that Miller had
earned consideration for his aid to the State in
giving evidence which caused the conviction of
Robert A Ammon 1t would have been impossible
to convict AmmOn without Miller's testimony Mr..
Jerome said. but Governor Odell had refused to
commute Miller's sentence. although it be-
ieved that the latter had consumption and did
not have long to live.
No promise OF release from prison made to
Miller when he asked to testify against Am
mon, but when Miller said he afraid to testify
in the Franklin Syndicate case. Test his evidence
should be used against him in trials :ndict-
ments which were still pending in Brooklyn. Mr..
Jerome conferred with District Attorney Clarke
of Kings who promised to have the remaining in
dictments against Miller dismissed II he testified
against Ammon, who was believed to nave been
The real head of the swindling syndicate On this
promise Miller testified against Ammon. and
told that he would receive additional consideration
as a witness for the State The remaining indict-
ments against Miller in Brooklyn dismissed,
and he viii have nothing to fear In the way of
future trials for the swindling operations OF the
syndicate after he returns to his home in Brooklyn.
District Attorney Clarke said yesterday that he
had agreed to the request that Miller receive a
communication OF sentence account Of the inval-
liable aid the prisoner had given to the State in the
pardon of Miller" he added II understand that
Miller's mother. father and wife stin living
lease L do know There other indict-
ments pending against him. nor against schles-
niger. who, by the way. is dead
The Kings County authorities are not inclined
to believe some do, that Miller before his fight
buried a large amount of money, which he viii be
able to get on his release Their idea is that the
stronger minds in the swinde gathered in all the
money when the crash came, leaving Miller to
stand the brunt of the prosecution.
Miller convicted of grand larceny as the head
of the notorious Franklin Syndicate, which offered
pay $40 per interest all moneys placed in
in ramshackle frame building. in Floyd-sti
Brooklyn, and in three months H.5@Oo0 poured
and other parts of the country. This money used
to be piled up in clothesbaskets and on the floor
carried out its promises by sending to depositors
a 10 per cent dividend on their investment each
week Those who got out before the crash made a
good thing out Of it, but thousands lost all their
savings.