Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1908-07-09
Smith Asks for Pardon.

Smith Asks for Pardon.
Das Moines.-A case which excites
genuine human interest is booked to
come before the board of parole. 1t is
the application of S. F. Smith for a
pardon. He is the son of Samuel
Francis Smith, d. D., who wrote
America, and was one of the most
prominent and influential residents
Of Davenport for many years.
He was counted wealthy and pros
Cerous. He was conspicuous In
church work and for time publish
ID a newspaper, the old Davenport
Republican, which S. ID. Cook founded.
He was more or less exclusive, which
did not endear him to the common
people. but among those who had
wealth he was popular and much es-
teemed. He resided in a magnificent
home and lived extensively. He was
mayor of his city and held other
places of honor, and on account of
mis- position he was fixed upon as the
trustee of number of large estates
1t was for embezzlement of pos
libly 100000 of the funds from these
estates that he was sent to the peni-
Tertiary. He did not defend himself.
IN the latter part of October, 1904,
the gates of Anamosa closed behind
him and so swiftly do events pass
that he had all but been forgotten
when he applied for the pardon con-
corning which the state board will
hold hearing.
He is an old man and enfeebled.
At the time of his incarceration he
already was aged and on account of
his years he was made an assistant
librarian in the prison. Conscience
and humiliation have whitened his
lair and dimmed his eye, and his
step, it is said, falters. He was SEN
fenced to eleven years, which would
mean about eight in actual service.
He has served nearly four. He is ask
ing that justice in his case be temper
ed with mercy and pleads that the
punishment he has endured suffices.
Prisoners Wages to Families.
A bill providing for reforms in the
penal code of Iowa is being contem-
plated by the legislators of the state.
The care of wives and children, which
falls in many instances on the county
and city where they reside, is one of
the important factors in the adjust
ment of the laws governing the states
nric0 cfat A
bill is now under consideration among
some members of the legislature
which provides that the wages of the
prisoner, after he has paid for his
keep in the prison, shall be turned
over to the state, not as a profit to
the state as is now the case, but to
be in turn forwarded to the wife
and family of the man imprisoned.
If the prisoner has no family, then
this sum shall be permitted to &C
cumulate to be nestegg for the
prisoner Immediately upon his re-
lease.
The question of prison labor has
been a much mooted one in the past
legislatures. The employment of the
men to make the clothing, the shoes,
to work the state quarries and to do
other work about the prisons has not
been sufficient to keep them busy. To
do contract work in prisons meets,
naturally, with objections from the
trades unions. What little time the
men now have after the days allot-
ment Of work. is done is spent in
labors for which they receive pin"
money. This sometimes is sent to the
families of the men and often is ac-
cumulated for their purpose after
having served their terms.