The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1907-10-17
FEW Err PARDONS.
Mistaken Idea as to Number Granted by
Present (iOyernOr.

Present GOVeFnOr.
With the close Of yesterday, Gov. M.
r. Patterson has been in Office 996
days. In this time he has pardoned
129 persons. Contrary to many state
ments which have been made and
printed, to the effect that he is pardon
ing "all the bootleggers and pistol
toters in the state as fast as convicted"
and that "the Brushy Mountain prison
may have to close down because of lack
of Convicts to operate the mines--all Of
them having been or about to be pard-
oned"-the records in the Office Of the
secretary Of state show that the COVER
nor has been far less active in the use
of the pardoning power than either of
his last two predecessors. In fact, the
records show that Gov. Patterson has
not only pardoned a great many less
convicts than either Gov. James b.
Frazier or Gov. John l. Cox, but has
actually pardoned less number of
"bootleggers" and "pistol toters."
Out of curiosity to know just how
much truth and justice there was in the
assertions among the governors en-
emies that he had been running the
pardon mill overtime, Tennessean
reporter yesterday made a complication
from the records at the capitol Of al
pardons that had been granted by Gov,
Patterson since he became the chic
executive of Tennessee. The following
facts developed:
| Gov. Patterson, in his 296 days a
the helm Of state has pardoned 1879 per
sons. OF this number, 81 were released
from the main prison on Aug. 8. Sew
enteen Of these were boys whose age
: ranged from 10 to 16 years, 10 wer
consumptive and were old men VIII
had been in prison for number o
years and who were friendless and ha,
no influential friends to present thei
cause to the governor. Gov. Patter
r sons bitterest enemies had no criticism
for the extension Of clemency in thes
cases. On the other hand, the act wa
. commended by both friend and TO
alike. In this number there was not
single "bootlegger" or "pistol toter.
OF the remaining 50, 81 were "pistC
toters" and 81 ''bootleggers."
Il In the last 296 days Of his admins
Q trAtion as governor-th same lengt
OF time in which Gov. Patterson pare
oned 129-Gov. John I. Cox pardone
4 210 persons, two Of which were paroles
Forty-one of these were ''bootleggers
and 10 were "pistol toters."
o In the last 1913 days Of his incumbeI
g cy, Gov. James b Frazier pardone
!. 1893 persons, of whom 81 were "pist'
toters," and "a "bootleggers."
From this it appears that Gov. Pa
> terson has granted 81 less pardons tina
Gov. Cox granted in the same lengt
OF time, and Ga less than Gov. Frazit
= granted in the same period. He hi
Il pardoned IA less number of the terrib
q 'bootleggers" than Gov. Cox pardon
= ed, and z less than Gov. Frazier pare
oned. he pardoned the same numb,
= of pistol toters" as Gov. Frazier pare
Q oned, but 10 more than were release
IS by Gov. Cox.
d It is evident, therefore, that Go
Patterson has made use of the pardon
ing power far less than either of h
two predecessors, and his critics, WI
have been attacking him for "turnin
o everybody out OF the penitentiary" wi
. now probably jump on him for b
seeming heartlessness. Nashville Tel
. nessean.