The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-06-19
HUNG MAN ON HIS OWN !
ACCOUNT --PARDONED

The following copy of a pardon, is
sued by Governor-General Smith, of
the Philippines Islands, sheds light on
the conditions that have prevailed
there until very recently, and which
probably still prevail in some por-
tons of the group. The pardon, which
is dated May Z, states:
In the case of Santiago Monticello,
convicted of homicide by the Court Of
First Instance of Cebu and sentenced
on February Z, 1907, to imprisonment
for twelve years and one day, with the
accessories of the law, TO pay an in
demnity Of P1 600 and the costs OF the
proceedings, and by the Supreme Court
found guilty of assassination and SEN
fenced to life Imprisonment, to pay the
indemnity aforesaid, and the costs OF
the proceedings, it appears that he was
president of the municipality of Cat
mon and dedicated himself to the elimi-
nation of a band of assassins, robbers
and thugs which was engaged in COM
hitting most cruel murders and crimes
of all classes. The leader of this band
of outlaws was one Claudio Monsanto
who had long record of crime and
who had kept the municipality in a
state of absolute terror for consider
able period of time. This man was
finally captured and in his capture was
wounded. BY order of President Mon
tecillo, Monsanto was suspended from
a roof beam of the municipal building
by rope passing under his arms at
the shoulders. In this position he re-
manned for several hours. when he was
cut down and taken to the cemetery
where he was summarily executed with
cut due process of law. The next day
Monticello reported to the Provincial
Governor and the Senior Inspector and
also to the Judge of the Court of First
Instance that he had thought it better
to dispatch Monsanto at once and so
had directed that he be killed. ALI
this occurred in the month of Janu-
ary, 1904. a period of very abnormal
conditions in some parts of the Province
of Cebu, where, as result OF the IN
surrection against the United States,
armed bands continued to disturb the
public peace and but little protection
could be given to the peaceful inhabi-
tants Of many towns. All that was
done by Monticello in this ease seems
to have been done under the impress
sion that he was acting in the public
interests and that his course in this
behalf would be justified. Of course
he did wrong but what he did in that
case evidently received the approval ef
the lawabiding community IN which
he lived Nothing was done in this
matter until some years later when,
due to political dissensions, his enemies
raked up this charge against him, caus-
ed his arrest and his subsequent trial
There is no question but what the judg-
ment of the court is correct and that
there was no other recourse open than
that of finding Monticello guilty and
directing his punishment in accordance
with the law. The judge of the court
who tried this case recommends that
executive elemency be extended and the
Executive is Of the opinion that this
recommendation is well founded taking
into account the conditions Of public
order in some districts Of Cebu at the
time this crime was committed.
Therefore, by authority of the
President of the United States. and
upon the recommendation of the trla
Judge. the Provincial Board. the Senior
Inspector of Constabulary and the Con
vention of Municipal Presidents Of
Cebu held in September, 1908, / do
hereby grant a full and unconditional
pardon unto Santiago Monticello, con
victed and sentenced as aforesaid. ana
I de- hereby restore him 10 his full
civil and ro1itical rights
Santiago Monticello viii be released
| from confinement.
JAMES T. SMITH.
sGovernor-General.'