The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-02-25
JeIks' Record on Pardons.

JeikS' hecofd on PardonS.
 There having been much talk from time to time about the number of pardons granted by the governors of the state, the correspondent of this paper made an investigation of the reeords with the fol- lowing results Jelks. an average of a month; Johnston. IS; and Sanford. II.
 The total for Governor Johnston In forty-eight months was S60; William J. Stamford, six months, s5 William D. Jelks, ffty-four months, 454. The record of Governor Jelxs embraces eleven months In the office by Lieutenant Gov ernor R. M. Cunningham. It is regarded that the record Is good for all of them. There are many sent to the penitentlary who are not guilty of as great crimes as are charged to them and it becomes the duty of the governor from time to time to let men out who have, the court officers say, been promised clemency aft CT certain times.
 The pardon records show that not one in twenty-five who ask 1t are allowed re- lease It is also a fact that few are pardoned outright, most of them being paroled so that if they become trouble some they can be taken up again.
 Difficult to Get Books.
 There are some counties in the state where no Repositories have been set up for school books and In such counties the teachers have had a lot of trouble getting supplies from time to time. State Superintendent l. W. Hill said today that in such cases the teachers have the right to buy from the state Repositories either here or in Birmingham and that all charges of carriage shall be paid to the point of destination It Is the duty of the book men, according to their contract, with the state, to see that the books are put into the counties, and when they are not they must supply the teachers without extra cost to the teachers and pupils who must be supplied.
 The two state Repositories are in Bir- mingham and Montgomery and should have at least three sub-stations in each county. It is stipulated in the contract that such must be done. There has been trouble, however, and in some counties 1t has not been possible to get business houses to handle them. This has made 1t inconvenient and puts the teachers to expense that they ought not to have to bear
 Frank Adams Sentence Commuted.
 The governor has interyened and saved the life of Frank Adams, a negro, who had killed another negro in the mines. The case has attracted a great deal of attention and Adams was at last sen fenced to be hung on March 13, next. Both negroes were convicts in the mines and it was shown that the other one made living very hard for Adams, and at last so far provoked and frightened him that he struck him a fatal blow with a pick. The end was immediately. Adams was taken out and sent to jail, where he re- mained until his trial and conviction.
 The county officers ask that the sen- tence be commuted to life Imprisonment, both Judge D. A. Greene and Solicitor Hefin joining in the request They believe that the negro should be punished, but not so severely and the governor agrees with them and changes the sentence to life in the mines. Such action was rec commended by the board of pardons and other good citizens.
 Tyson Announces Candidacy.
 Judge John R. Tyson, associate justice of the supreme court, announced today his candidacy for the nomination for chief justice of the supreme court He will oppose S. D. Weakley of Birming- ham, appointed this week by the gover- nor, who has already announced. Judge Tyson was heavily endorsed for the place given Judge WealSley.
 In giving his announcement to the pub lie Judge Tyson said
 T wish to express to my friends throughout the state my most profound appreciation and thanks for their gen erous support recently shown in their endorsement of me for appointment to the office of chief justice, made vacant by the death of my personal friend, the distinguished jurist, Hon. Thomas N. Me- Clellan.
 That support, coming as 1t did, not only from the bench and bar, but from many of the people, not lawyers, from every section of the state, was most gratifying to me.
 T can but assume that this endorse ment of me was prompted not by mere personal friendship for me, but by their estimation of the services rendered by me as a judicial officer: for 1t Is in that capacity l am best known to the people of the state having served them as cir cult judge for six years and as associate justice of their supreme court for nearly eight years
 Grateful for the support rendered me, and in response to numerous requests from different parts of the state to be- come a candidate for the nomination by the democratic people for chief justice l have determined to do so; and take this method of announcing my candidacy for the nomination for that exalted office by the democratic party of the state"
 Sent to Retired List.
 The governor has placed on the retired list at their own request Mai R. s. Teague of Montgomery, who has filled the position as judge advocate and com missary on General Clark's staff for sev- eral years; Capt. Dudley C. Williamson. who was sometime captain of the Mont gomery Grays and later on the staff of Colonel Graves as adjutant of the Second regiment; Capt. E. J. McCrossin, former- ly commanding Troop D, Birmingham.