The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1909-12-15
suIld the viaduct.
a DIFFERENT WAY

An Interview with Judge Frank
Cease, who has been a citizen
of his state since territory's eaTli-
est period. opens new view Of the
pardon affairs which can not be dis.
pensed with other than by giving
some heed. Cease declares that a
pardon board which hea.s only the
application Of those desiring the re
lease Of a prisoner can not permit
the pardon body 10 fully investigate.
and that only the court record Will
permit board to do justice to any
case in point. Cease points cut that
This system might do injury IN a few
instances. but would be the means OF
preventing grave y ustioes in nine
out OF ten cases. Hence. according
gc his way Of looking az the situation,
a record inspection would make the
board Of pardons responsible for turn
ing loose consicis whose records tof
evil can be attested by the coufl
files Having been practieing at
torney. Judge Cease argues that IN
the majority OF eases the accused has
been allowed to overthrow his past
record, II bad, and secured the
courts protection against bringing
snch against him in the cause before
the court aforesaid Therefore the
one who has been convicted aud sen.
tenced 70 a term OF penal servituue
has advantage Of individual right and
the feco-d must. II II be biased be
favorable 10 him Consequently an
insDecllon of the record Of the court
will seldom be against the one seek
ING release from a sentence imposed
bs a jury or The Judge OF the court
in which he had his trial Judge
Cease further contends that man
Of na character and who has held
the esteem and confidence of his
neighbors II tried FOR a felony. will
always brings those estimates before
the Jury as he has right to do.
the yefore elimination OF such IN the
record may be safely AIKEN for grant.
ed as one reason ssg The pardon
board should exercise caution and be
extremely careful to the last degree.
without offering criticism TO eny
department OF state BIT actually
stating facts there can he no gain
sayirg that because q largo number
oI Oklahoma citizens are newcomers
and know little 81 conditions which
prevailed here IN the naHi Oklahoma
has had more 10 contend ngalnst in
The way of paroles that could be pos
sible in older states Ceases plan Is
not bad. II may not be well mapped
cut because The barriaee mentioned
1 after having been one selected to
fight parole. and there may be
many ways TO improve on his sugges.
lions. but II can be safely stated
that so fer as The record stands, he
offers the best suggestion that has
bec- advanced
The fact the board Of pardons had
recommended a man for parole end
heard those who insisted the pafoh
would be In conformity with justice
after hearing the other side. refusing
such parole. indicates and actually
proves tbefe should be some system
that would enable the board to got
with full knowledge of the case No
one wishes TO prevent the pardon q
one deserving. and proof that lenlene,
wOul1 add 10 citizenship and be Of
service 70 any Individual shonld
hiring a parole such action woulA en.
hance The vslue Of liberty and add to
the Righteousness Of that which is
right RHi because the state pardnn
board of Oklahoma Is composed 81
men already husv and having all ihes
can attend 10. aud beeause the legis
latiye enactments have been lame on
this tonic. eases are brought before
the board and paroles are or are
not recommended with only one side
10 the controversy heard by huss
hoard Judge Ceases idea would elm
mate much that Is bad and allow ihs
pardon board 10 act intelligently and
with responsibility He has started 4
Enc Of thought that should be contin
ned and which If followed 70 3 sane
conclusion. will do justice to al