The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-05-19
PLEA OF MOTHER
IN SONS BEHALF
Eight Months Cut off Sentence
of Convict as a
Result.
BOARD OF PARD0NS MEETS
SEVERAL ARE FREED AND
OTHERS ARE PARoLED.

A mothers plea secured for Laurence
N. johnson of Knable, Kane county,
reduction of eight months in his peniten-
tlary sentence. In a touching letter TO
the governor. which was read to the
board of pardons at meeting yesterday
morning, the mother told of her sons life
history, how he had been sick and Grip
pie since an infant. and how the crime
with which he was charged was the only
misstep of his career. And l humbly
petition YOU" the letter concluded, that
If you deem 1t wise and proper after
thorough investigation you will free my
son so that he may come back to his
friends and neighbors and work amongst
them to support his two little children
whom he dearly loves"
Johnson was sentenced to eighteen
months in the penitentiary from Kane
county Sept. o, 1896. after pleading guilty
to a statutory charge. The story goes
that while he and his young wife were
living in a small home certain Florence
Bullock came to live with them. john
son was attracted by her and fell, and
after his wife had secured a divorce she
refused to marry him. While he was out
on bail pending sentence the mother says
he worked hard and gave his wife and
children all he earned. Recently his wife
married again and gave the children to
JOhnsOn's brother to care for. The moth
er's letter says that her sons mother-in-
law caused a great deal of trouble be-
tween him and his wife, and that his
momentary infatuation for the other wO-
man might in a measure be dSCribed to
the unpleasant conditions existing in the
home. A petition signed by over 100 of
the leading citizens of Kane county, also
asked that a pardon be granted. The
board decided to free johnson on July
1, eight months before his sentence ex-
pires.
George W. Tully the penitentiary chef
who is known and loved by all the pris-
oners for his ability to concoct toothsome
viands. was granted a reprieve to go into
effect March l. 1908. FULLY was sentenced
from Salt Lake county Oct. g. 1904, to
seven years in the penitentiary for rob
berry. Since he has been at the prison lie
has developed into a first-class cook. and
is said to be the hardest worker about
the place.
Fred Wood sentenced July Is, 1905. from
Salt Lake county for ten years for bur-
glary, was denied a pardon. and the same
fate was melted out to Robert r. Roberts
sentenced from this county Aug. &C. 1906
for three years for larceny.
Clifford r. Averett. sentenced April 10
1905. for three years for assault with q
dangerous weapon, by the district court
of Washington county. was given full
pardon. He has been out on parole since
Oct. 5. 1905.
Peter Hanson, who was convicted I'm
connection with the slot machine rob
berries at Sandy Feb II last. and SEN
was also pardOned.
Roy Morrison, sept up for ten years
from the Salt Lake county district court
on April Z. 1905, for burglary, will have to
remain behind prison bars while long
er. as will J. F. Piper, sent up from En-
cry county for three years for burglary.
Oct. e. 1905
A. A. Gerke, sentenced to six months
in the county jail for petit larceny by
Judge Diehl Dec. last. was denied a pa
role. but Grand w. Freshwater, sentenced
from Salt Lake county July ). 1906. for a
statutory offense, had better luck and
was granted a parole.
Brigham Lyons, sent up May 9, 1909,
from Sanpete county for ten years for
statutory offense, asked for a parole, but
his application was denied
c. NJ. Kifner. a cripple, sentenced for
eight years from Weber county in Sep
TENDER. 1905, for burglary apd attempt at
Jail breaking. was denied pardon.
Harry Montgomery was one of the lucky
ones. He was sent up from Grand coun-
ty in July. 1906 for five years for a stat
utory offense, but as the evidence did
not clearly establish his guilt, he was
pardoned
The Botha case was continued for nine
tV daNS-