Arizona republican., 1907-07-17
RECOMMEND OF
BOARD OF CONTROL
Acts FavorabIy on Two Applications
Fer Parole and One For Pardon.
Louis Miller to Pc Given a Chance
to Lead a Useful Life.

cation for a pardon and two applica-
lions for parole were favorably acted
upon and the papers will issue as soon
as signed by the governor which will
probably be today. Action on the case
of VIM. H. Sisson, mentioned in yes
terday's paper, was deferred until a
| transcript of the record of the trial
can be furnished the board. The board
also authorized the purchase OF 500
feet Of new three inch pipe to replace
the old worn out pipe utilized in the
waterwOrks plant at the asylum for
p, the insane. 1t also authorized the
purchase of a bookcase at an expense
not to exceed $780, for the office of
the superintendent of public instruc-
ton.
The pardon approved by the board is
in behalf of Carmeon Mendibles. who
was sent to the penitentiary from CO.
chise county nineteen years ago, for
murder He has served longer than
any other man in the pehitentiary and
has had good record all the time
He is now 50 years old. His pardon
was asked for by a great many citi-
zens of Cochise county. who knew him
before he committed the crime. and
who speak well of him except for this
single offense. 4 letter from Superin-
tendent Rynning also spoke favorably
of him as it did of the two other cases
under consideration. Mendibles before
going to the penitentiary was a bar
Der by trade
One of the applications for parole
was in behalf of William Connors, a
long term man who was in for muir
der committed in Yavapai county and
who has but few more years to
serve. He is now 40 years old.
The greatest interest here and in
Prescott. however. centers about the
other application for parole. in behalf
of Louis c. Miller. AS a boy he was
well known in Phoenix, and in Pres
colt as a young man. He is now 81
years old and has been in the PEN
itentiary ten years. or since June IS.
1897. He was convicted of murder in
the first degree Iand sentenced to life
Imprisonment. his sentence later being
commuted to twenty years. With
credits for good behavior this term
would be shortened to twelve years.
so he has under his sentence about
two more years to serve.
ne Va - Sos'N
| is that he never killed anybody. his
conviction being as an accomplice in
jail break during which another pris-
oner killed a man. The circumstances
as related from memory are that lit
tie over ten years ago Miller was ar
rested in Prescott for some offense
that was trivial as compared with the
charge later made against him. While
in the Prescott jail, either serving
Jail sentence or awaiting trial in the
district court. he Joined in the plan
of another prisoner awaiting trial for
train robbery in Mohave county. to
escape from Jail. They managed to
overpower the guards in some way
and arming themselves in the sheriffs
office started out the front door OF the
Prescott court house. From the corri-
dor they noticed that they were OBJ
served by young Prescott man nam
ed Lee Norris. and Miller's compan-
ion, merely on the theory that dead
men tell no tales. and not even in de-
Tense of his life as n fugitive from
justice, fired and killed him. The two
prisoners escaped and were at large
| for a day or two but were recaptured
in the mountains and Miller's COM
panion was later hanged in Prescott.
Miller was tried and sent to the PEN
| itentiary for life.
For the first two years he was not
good prisoner He felt that he had
been given greater punishment than he
deserved and being without friends or
influence he had little hope Of ever
getting out. except by making his es-
Il k,hn
and once or twice did escape for few
hours but was always brought back.
He was recalcitrant and was several
times punished severely for misbeha-
vior. Finally 1t occurred to him that
| the law was stronger than he and that
he only had once chance to get out
alive and that was 10 make himself
worthy so he undertook the rather I'M
inviting task OF trying to show the
world what was in him. from behind
prison doors. Since the first two years
Of his Incarceration he has been a
model prisoner, He took mp the study
OF civil engineering under the plans
of the International Correspondence
school. finally passed all Examinations
and has been given the credentials of
a full fledged and competent engineer.
During these years his case in some
way was brought TO the attention of
Mrs. Russell Sage OF New York. who
bought him a complete set OF engin-
eering instruments. valued at perhaps
$500. They are now his most valuable
asset and he has had some opportunity
to use them. even in his confinement,
for he has aided the prison manage
ment at various times in estimates
and in the planning of structures. the
work being both pleasant to him and
giving him an opportunity to show
what he could do
just how prison life CRATES on the
mind of one who seems to have been
really reformed by the thumbscrews
of the law and the hope that he might
yet make something out of life is best
Illustrated by his letter to ]. ]. Riggs
the citizen member of the board Of
control which yesterday decided to
grant his request for a parole. being
convinced that he would prove worthy
Of the confidence 1t reposed in him.
and that it might be the means OF
helping him to yet make creditable
measure of success out of his already
badly shattered career. Here is what
The wrote:
81 hope you will not think me i'm
fortunate in addressing you so soon