The San Francisco call., 1908-09-25
GIVES A BURGLAR
BENEFIT OF DOUBT
Captain Petersen's Big Heart
Saves a Man From Life
Prison Term
George Carroll Has Already
Spent Thirty-twO Years in
San Quentin

OAKLAND. Sept. 2z-For several
days Captain Of Detectives Petersen
has been Nvavering between mercy
and inexora bic justice in determining &
the charge 10 be placed against George
Carroll, alias Henry Riley, a burglar
suspect, who has spent nearly two
thirds Of his life in prison. Today the
captain decided TO give the suspect a
chance 10 live a portion of the re-
mainder Of his Gays in freedom. and
substituted charge Of carrying con-
cealed weapons for the contemplated
charge OF burglary.
This decision practically releases
Carroll from a life sentence in the
penitentiary. for. by the terms Of the
pardon granted him three months ago
by acting Governor Porter, he is
doomed 10 Imprisonment which shall
terminate only with his death IL he is
ever again convicted Of felony. And
the ciHcumstaRtial evidence which the
police had gathered against him was
50 damaging that there was scarcely
doubt of his conviction IL he had
been brought TO trial for d burglary
recently committed in this city. The
Evidence was purely circumstantiai
and Captain Petersen decided not TO
sign the rest OF the mans free life
away while a shadow of doubt of his
guilt remained. SO withheld his sigma
ture from the burglary complaint and
booked Carroll on the minor charge,
which is only punishable with a term
IN the city prison.
Carroll. who is 81 years of age. was
arrested at the corner OF Park avenue
and East Eleventh street last week on
suspicion that he had robbed the home
OF Mrs. s. II. Lonsdale. 1927 Twelfth
avenue. A desk in Mrs LonsdaIe's s
home had been pried open with d
Jimmy and eight s5 gold pieces stolen
from il. When Carroll was searched
al the city prison in his pockets were
eight s. gold pieces and a Jimmy be-
seemed conclusive. but Carroll denied
absolutely that he had committed the
crime
1t looks black for me. captain" he
@ told Petersen But I waH't there.
The money IS mine"
He told of his record and the fate
that was in store for him If he was
convicted Of the charge. When but IS
years Sf age he was convicted OF bur-
glary in San Francisco and sentenced
70 an eight year term in San Quen-
=. By model behavior and credits
his actual time was reduced to five
years and four months. Three weeks
after his release he, in company with
James Robinson held up and robbed
seven men in a Market street resort
in san Francisco. Both were arrested
and sentenced to life imprisonment in
san Quentin Robinson served % years
and committed suicide by cutting his
throat In the meantime Carroll was
transferred 10 Folsom His behavior
was model throughout his imprison-
ment, and last May, on recommenda-
ton Of the prison officials, he was
pardoned on the strength of a petition
signed by the majority OF the superior
Judges IN San Francisco. He had
served IS years and II months of his
life term, making 30 years and three
months IN all spent in prison. One of
the conditions of mis- pardon was that
II he was ever convicted of another
felony he would be sent back to serve
out his life term, with no hope of an
other pardon.