The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1908-12-03
IRA B, SMITH IS
PARDONED BY
GOV. DAVIDSON
HEALTH OF WELL KNOWN BUSI-
NESS MAN BROKEN AND I'M
PAIRED BY CONFINEMENT.
CITIZENS SIGN PETITION.
Judges of Circuit Court Join in Request
That Freedom Be Granted-Special
Messenger Brings News.
TO BE RELEASED BEFORE NIGHT.

TO BE RELEASED BEFORE NIGHT.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, Nov. d
Ira b. Smith, president of the defunct
Smith Thorndike & Brown Co, whole
sale grocers, sentenced to the house of
correction April 10, this year, for two
years on his plea of guilty to obtaining
property on false pretenses, was par
doned by Gov Davidson this forenoon.
The governor granted the pardon on
the petition of many influential citizens.
all of the judges of the circuit court,
supplemented by personal letters Of men
prominent in public and private life In
addition. his attorney, Guy j. Golf,
made an urgent plea about a month ago
asking for the release of his client, lie
claring he was afflicted with several all
mcntS. any one of which might terminate
fatally
Judge John G. Ludwig, who sentenced
Mr.. Smith, wrote n letter - the GOV
crnor on November ) saying from the
certificates Of the four doctors who "N-
amiued him he believed ,hr prisoners
condition was such ''thct under the cir
cumStances pardon will br wholly JUS
tiiiablc and will not tend To- pcrvort the
ends of justice sought 10y his commit
ment.' This letter, it is believed, carried
weight with the governor in inhr ruc!uF
his decision.
Gets News by Phone.
The pardon was telephourd 10 Inspect.
or w. H. Momsen. who at once notified
TIE prisoner he would be released before
night The governor said the pardon
would be sent to Mr. Momscu by special
mail delivery on the first train and rs
soon as it arrives the ouo-Imc intlucu-
tial citizen will gain his liberty.
The doctors who signed the certificates
Of Mr.. Smiths i'll health are Il. w Bocr-
ner, resident physician ut the house Of
correction; :. b. Sperry, Nelson NJ.
Black, J. NJ Beffel, \. +. llolhrook and
&. +. Seaman. They pronounce his con
dition as serious and of a nature the
course Of which is uncertain. Charles l..
Phster. David G.. Owen and others sent
personal letters to Gov. Davidson, ask
ing that Il pardon be granted.
Text of Petition
Following is the petition and the sign
ers sent to GOV. Davidson:
TO. His EScellGncy, The Governor Of Wis.
consn: We, the undersigned petitioners
y
of Milwaukee. comprising tho friends ana
ncighbors of Ira Il. Smith, respectfully rep
resent:
That Ira B smith, on the .,th day Of
April, lJuS, was sentenced To Imprisonment
for the period of two years. i'm the Mllwau-
kee county house Of correction, charged
with having by means of false representa-.
tons, obtained certain monies ana credits
for the benefit of the Smith, ThorudiNu X
Brown company, corporation Of which he,
the said Ira H. Smith, was president
believe, the said Ira b. Smith for the pur-
pose of satisfying the creditors Of SAID
Smith, Thorndike \ Brown company, ana
to make restitution to the best Of his
ability, not only turned over to the sald
corporation all of his property, cquiti"S,
goods and credits, amounting to thousands
of dollars, but further in spirit of cX-
piation and reparation, prevailed upon Utn.
crS TO contribute in his behalf to fund OF
thirty-tive thousand dollars tS35,oo0y to he
paid and which was paid to the creditors
of the said Smith, ThOrudikc x Brown com.
pany.
That for many years the said Ira b Smith
has led an upright and honorable life and
has conducted himself as n peaceful and
law-abidiuE citizen, and that no Charg"
other than the one above referred TO has
ever been made against him, and that has
good name, character honor and fame have
stood uuasSailcd until his arrest and com
mitment on the charge above mentioned.
Condition Is Serious.
That since his commitment to tho house
Of correction. as Your petitioners are in
formed and verify believe. the said Ira H.
Smith has contracted art,rlo sclcrosis and Is
suffering with acute iutcrstitial ncphrit.s
Ihat ms ComdltIonS Is Smrh MS TO requirr
@ nn " Lin 1i'u oh"f MS
rectian viii not "niiy rrtard his rcc"yrry
but may even prove fatal
That as your petitioners are Informed,
the said Ira B. Smith has applied or Is
about to apply for a pardon and your pc
it ith. may .nr EAU IRA -,
nardon and feeling thai the ends Of iustira
sought by his commitment have been fully
accomplished and satisfied, hereby endorse
said application ana Join In asking for
pardon IN MS behalf
, hraeior", SSS"r op"tI r plaS onar l"r
~, w i.a,o .; - - ,',a,,,t .''i ~, ~