The San Francisco call., 1909-10-10
WHY HIS PAROLE
HAS BEEN REVOKED
Prison Directors DispIeased With
Conduct of ]. Wess Moore
While at Liberty
Complaints Frequent and Some
of Them of Serious Character
Regarding Life Termer

In response TO attacks that have
been made against the state board of
prison directors as result Of its re-
vocation at the last meeting of the
parole Of J. Wess Moore, State Parole
officer Karl r. Hanson yesterday made
a statement outlining the reasons which
led the board to take this course.
Hanson declared that the revocation
OF the parole had not been carried
out because Moore had been preaching
in Oakland, Jacksonville and other
cities. as was alleged by himself and
charged by certain newspapers. but
because his general conduct had been
OF such character as to make the step
advissb bic.
LIFE SENTENCE FOR MURDER
Moore was sentenced to san Quentin
from Trinity county, October 3. 1900,
Tor life on conviction of murder in the
first degree. The jury which convicted
him stood II for hanging and one for
life sentence, and Hanson declared
hat the crime was cold blooded one.
growing out Of a row over a so cent
dishpan. Moore's claim has always
been that he acted in self-defense.
Moore was paroled December l, 1908.
After the death Of Brainard Smith,
who was at that time the clerk at San
Quentin. there were found among
his effects several papers relating to
The Moore case which had not been
presented TO the prison directors at
the time the parole was granted.
Whether these papers were misplaced
or purposely withheld is unknown.
Among them, however, was a COM
Inunication from District Attorney d.
j. Hail Of Trinity county strongly op-
posing the granting Of the parole. and
Hanson asserts that had these papers
sheen presented to the board the parole
would never have been granted in the
first place.
REVOKED THE PAROLE
Acting upon recommended ton from
Hanson, the board or prison directors
revoked MOOre's parole at its last
meeting and he was arrested by Han
son in Santa Cruz Thursday and re-
turned 10 the prison Friday His case
viii come up before the board for
further investigation at its next meet
ing
Hanson stated yesterday that his
recommendation for revocation of
The parole was based on the old mans
actions since leaving the prison and on
The fact that he had borrowed money
indiscriminately, had refused any
steady active employment and had
threatened the life Of Edward Butler
Of Los Angeles. the chief witness agaist
Linn at the time OF his conviction.
when Moore was paroled,". said
Hanson, he secured a place with Colo
ned Alberger, an old Grand Army man.
but refused 10 work. and his patron
became disgusted with his actions in
2 few weeks Then ne was promised
home by Charles Montgomery, presi-
dent Of the California prison commits
sion, and he was given the duty of
collecting money for the home. Cap
tain Day OF the commission discovered
several cases Of fra raudulent collections
made at that time and there was
strong suspicion that Moore was the
guilty party. IN any event he left the
home after a short time, declaring his
belief that he would be better alone by
lecturing and selling a book which he
had written on prison reform.
LIVED BY HIS WITS
since leaving the home Moore has
lived . good deal by his wits. He
got 10 lecturing and preaching in Oak
land and then went TO Watsonviile and
later 10 Santa Cruz. He formed the
Society for the Friendless. which he
stan carries on. While in Oakland he
borrowed s17 OF Mrs. Newman. SIS Of
Mrs. Reese and $l75 of Mr.. French.
lie paid back some Of the latter, but
still owes about 5000. He also pro-
posed marriage to one woman in Oak
land. who is the principal Of a country
Ugh school, and I don't know TO how
many more
Edward Butler. who was the chief
witness against Moore, is afraid OF his
life and carries gun Moore threat
ened 10 get him., and Butler is so
afraid of him that he might be the
first to draw a gun. ] don't think that
Moore ever went armed, but there
would be trouble If he and Butler
should ever meet. In June Moore got
permission to go east, but didn't 20.
IN August and September ] wrote him
several letters asking him to come to
san Francisco, but he paid no atten-
ton TO them. Altogether he has been
source of constant trouble and has
not shown himself deserving of the
parole. That is a general outline Of
The reasons why the parole has been
revoked. The board holds no aniiuos-
ity toward him, but thinks II inadvis-
able 10 leave him at liberty any
longer"