Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1907-02-20
.FLANMAN GRANTED PARDON.
THE GOVERNOR SEES A NUM-
BER OF CALLERS.
Flaxmans Case Given Thorough Sitting
Other Public Matters Receive
Due Attention.

Governor Warfieid devoted this
morning TO the consideration of app
plications for executive elemency and
other public business. IL was the
first full morning devoted 10 this for
some weeks and an unusually large
number of persons were given audi
ence.
The Governor disposed of the case
of Simon Flaxman, which was first
brought To his attention shortly after
ne became Governor, by ordering that
a pardon be issued TO him In doing
this the Governor was largely influ-
enced by the persistent devotion of
Flaxman' mother, now Mrs. l.. NJ.
Fisher. and Mr.. Fisher, his step
father, both of whom are of advanced
age, but whorrepeatedly came TO An
napolis to intercede in Flaxman's
case.
Ii was also brought 10 The Cover
nor attention that Flaxman had
served faithfully in the Army during
the war with Spain. and had volun
teered for duty with smallpox and
yellow fever patients during the oe-
cupation of Cuba by the American
Army. This was stated this morning
py Capt. Lee NJ. Lipscomb, of Gath
-
pany II, of the Fourth United States
Volunteers, to which organization
Flaxman belonged. Captain Lipscomb
spoke well of Flaxman's general char
acter and services as a volunteer
soldier.
Flaxman's case is ono of the most
interesting which has ever been
brought TO the attention of the Cover
nor and through the efforts of his
mother and stepfather, and of Attorney
Isaac b. Weinberg, who was also be-
fore the Governor todav,a very strong
case has been presented to the Cover
nor. The late Detective Mark Hagen
always took great interest in the case
aud spoke To Governor Warfield several
times about it. lie had investigated
it and doubted that FlaXman was
guilty TO the degree for which he was
convicted.
Flaxman was convicted of larceny
by the Criminal Court of Baltimore
City in Septem ber, 1904, and sentenced
to serve five years in the Peniten
tiary. 1t was charged that he had
administered knockout drops to Rob
ert p. Johnson, a lodger in the house
owned by Flaxman's relatives on
Marsh Market Space, and had taken
the sum of 5000 from him. The only
direct testimony was given by wo-
man who was proved to be disso-
lutte character both before and after
the time of the occurrence. II was
always the belief of Detective Uagan
that the woman was the more guilty.
There was also some doubt as to
whether the man Johnson really had
the, sum of money that he claimed
faIs IA iat
The appeals of the old couple, par
ticularly the mother, had already
made an impression upon the Cover
nor, fortified as they were by the
unanimous recommendation Of the
members of the jury that sat in the
case that clemency should be eXer
cised, and a number of strong letters
from responsible persons and organi-
cations in Baltimore.
In the case of Louis Cook, young
man, convicted of larceny by the
Criminal Court of Baltimore City, in
September of 1908, and sentenced to
serve four years in the Penitentiary,
the Governor promised his mother,
Mrs. Kate Cook, and his sister, Mrs.
Fannie Fendall, that he would issue
n pardon restoring his citizenship if
he could be shown six months after
his release that the youth was con
ducting himself in manner which
would Indicate his desire to become
a worthy citizen. lie will be released
on April 1, next.
The case of Joseph Luery. convicted
by the Criminal Court of Baltimore
City in January, 1908, of stealing a
quantity of tobacco from the Mary
land Steamboat Company wharf and
sentenced to serve six years in the
Maryland Penitentiary, was again
brought to the Governors attention,
this time by the father of the youth.
The Governor told the father that
he had denfitely decided not to ex-
ercise clemency in this case.
The Governor was not -able to give
any greater encouragement to the sis
ter of Samuel Cohen, who was con-
victed of picking pockets during the
Montgomery county fair at Rock
willie, during the summer of 1908 and
sentenced TO serve five years in the
Penitentiary. The Governor cx-
pressed his sympathy for the young
woman. but told her that there was
nothing in the case that made it the
subject for clemency.