The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-05-08


 Jelks wrote the following endorsement on the papers 1;
 This man was convicted in the Per- ry County Circuit Court and sentenc- Cd to be hung He was reprieved to await the decision of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court affirmed the ease and set the 18th of May for his execution. The case going before the Board of Pardons. the Board Of Fardons recommended commutation of the sentence to life imprisonment.
 The trial judge writes me in pert as follows;
 Tt is my opinion that the negro should not be hung. His sentence, Tn my judgment, should be commuted.
 Tn addition to the above large number of the best white people or Perry County insist that he was not guilty of crime which ehould call TOT the sentence of the law will be severe enough under the circumstances fl said Jackson is required to serve the Dai- arce of his life in the penitentiary.
 Because of the accommodation of the Board of Pardons and the trial judge and many good citisens, have thought it right to commute the con- demned mans sentence to imprison- ment for life. It is 70 ordered. Porter Mstlsy's Case.
 Porter Motley, negro Of BULLOCK County, who was serving Iite sen tence under lease to r. H. Mecurdy's plantation In Lowrdes County. was pa- rolled conditioned on his future good conduct.
 Motiey was convicted at the fall term 1895 of the Bullock Circuit Court for being accessory to the murder of 1Io- mer steed, q negro wh3 was killed hy wash Long, negro. The killing oc- cured in Bullock County swamp where . party of negroes were ganb- ling.
 The circumstances and reasons for the parole are contained in the en- dorsemeHt of the Governor on the rec ord which was as follows:
 "The man was convicted for murder in the first degree at the fall term of the Bullock County Circuit Court of 1895. It was not intended or insisted that he ever did the actual killing. The most that was ever said against him was that he was present and that he got Homer Snead to so to the place where he was killed. He always de- nied that he had anything to do with the killing and very freely told all he was supposed to know.
 Wash Long. the man who really did the killing. two or three years ago was paroied under the impression that he was dying of tuberculosis. Thomas. another one of the convicted parties, died q few months after his conviction The trial solicitor recommends that this man be given hig liberty He is joined in this petition by ! good many of the best people in Bullock County. former neighbors of Motley. They all agree that he had a good character before the alleged commission of this offense. The Board of Pardon recom- mend clemency for him.
 Tt is ordered that he bs pareled, dependent on his future good conduct"
 Two Pardons Granted.
 Willie Moore, q negro boy, or Moetle County, who was serving term of four years and six months under conviction for burglary was granted san. upcondi- tional pardon by Governor Jeiks.
 The boy was convicted in the City Court of Mobile, January 1s, 1903, and his time will soon expire He Is leased to the Horseshoe Lumber Company, at River Falls.
 Alfred Smith, a well known negro mail carrier of Mobile, interested him. self in the case of Moore and was at the Capitol several times to see Gov ernor Jelks and the BoH:d of Pardon in his behalf
 The endorsement of Governor Jelks on tha recOr0 was ab lolt9yn.
 "rhis boy will have completed his sentence on July 19, 1905. The Board of Pardons recommend that he be par doned effective a day or two before the expiration of his sentence.
 .'The triel judge thinks that the law has now been suficiently vindicated and that by giving the young man two or three months of of his sentence probably the tendency would be to make a better citizen of him.
 Tt is ordered that a pardon issue to him"
 An unconditional pardon was g, ant ed by Governor Jslks to short Martin. a negro boy of Dale County. serving a sentence of two years for grand larce- nv. Martin was convicted at the spring term. 1905, of tIie Dale Circuit Court The Governors review of this case was as follows;
 'sThe trial judge and solicitor. the Board of Pardons and good number of the very best eitizens of Dale Coun ty recommend ciemency for this boy. who was at the time of the alleged commission of the offense nineteen years old. He has already served one year in the penitentiary on a two years sentence.
 "A pardn is ordered"