Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-05-25
wares RELEASE
STIRS SEYMOUR
EDITOR WRITES TO GOV. CAR
RoL AND ASKS WHAT IN
FLUENcES WERE USED

Seymour, May "a. = Much feeling
is manifested in this community over
the action of the state board and Gov
ernor Carroll in paroling Leroy Ware,
who was sent to the penitentiary for
wrecking the Farmers and Drovers
State bank of this place.
The following letter of the editor Of
the Leader to Governor Carroll and
editorial comment on the situation,
fairly reflects the state of local public
sentiment.
In his letter to Governor Carroll the
editor says:
Your Excellency. - The people of
Seymour learn with regret that the
state board Of parole has granted a
parole to Leroy Ware, defaulting cash
Ter of the bank at this place. Can you
or some member of the board enlight-
en- us people down here as to what in
fluences were brought to bear, to so
hypnotic the members of the board
that they should grant a parole, and
who was instrumental in doing it?
think the people Of Seymour have a
right to know all the circumstances
and an early answer will be appreciat-
ed"
He then comments as follows:
1--WE have not had time to receive a
reply to this yet, and the more people
come TO realize that Ware is out,
the more the wonder grows as to why
he is out. We hear all kinds of con
lectures, but none of them worthy OF
serious consideration, to our way OF
thinking. We are unable to believe
that any person or persons in Seymour
have influence enough to turn the
scales of justice the wrong way. We
| cannot see how any person who be
lieves in justice and right, and who
has the right use of his reasoning fac
ulties, would ask for or countenance
a reprieve under the circumstances
In the first place, it is morally wrong
The man committed a great crime
against society, against widows ant
orphans, and against the state O
Iowa; crime that no penal sentence
however severe, can atone, but, at the
same time that is the only means by
which society can protect itself from
thieves and outlaws in general Why
should the individuals who constitute
society, here or elsewhere, wish t.
throttle justice and trample under foo
all lawful means, weak as such mean!
may be, to restrain criminals and dis
courage criminality? We say we can
not believe that any one of mature
judgment and good sense in Seymour
asked for or encouraged his parole
We understand that the convict wrot,
to number of his friends, or forme
friends (for he had many friends be
fore the bank failed and his guilt wa
established) to help him if they could
but we also understood that he re
ceived discouraging replies to his az
peal.
"And yet, the word comes to Sey
mour, and it is true, that he is paroled
He might as well have been pardone
, outright, given chrome and told g
sin some more! The moral effec
would not have been worse. 1t all put
a premium on dishonesty and er
courages men in positions of trust t
betray their trust, knowing there
no legal barrier in the way of doing a
t they please, the main requirement b.
ing that they make a big haul Will
they are at it.
Some people say there will certain
ly be big developments in the ban
case vet and that the reason Ware
: paroled is that there must be other
| equally or more guilty than he.
l there is any truth in the theory ever
( honest man in Seymour will be gla
ato have the truth come out, let