Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-06-08
GOVERNOR PARDONS
Is CONVICTS At
THE PRISON FARM
Visit to State Penal Institution
Convinces Chief Executive That
Many Prisoners Should Be Civ
en- Freedom.

Twenty-Five pardons, five of which car
ry with them restoration to citizenship.
were today granted by Governor Smith
to men and women, white and black all
of whom are at the state prison farm. in
Baldwin county. The action of the gov
erunr is the direct result of his recent
inspection of the penal institution, and
personal interviews with the inmates. II
is stated at the capitol that che gov
ernor is still investigating a number Of
cases in which his interest has been
aroused, and it is believed that addi-
, tional pardons will follow next week.
Never before in the history of the state
: government have so many pardons in
bunch been granted, anc the record es-
tablished today by Governor Smith will
probably stand for many years to come.
OF the twenty-five persons pardoned,
FIVE of them are white ana the balance
negroes In the cases of the white men
, full pardons, carrying citizenship, were
I issued, while the sentences of the ne
groes were committed to present service
only. The entire patch of pardons will
this afternoon be delivered TO the prison
commission, and the prisoners will be re-
leased tomorrow and Monday.
MANY INTERESTING CASES.
The list of pardons and combinations
instances the governor acted on his own
initiative, the prisoners never having
pressed their applications before the pris-
on commission. In vast majority of the
cases the beneficiary of the pardoning
power is harmless and helpless, usually
the result of an injury received in a coal
mine or saw mill under the old lease sys-
| tom; in others long service and hardships
have wrecked the health of the prisoner
| and an incurable disease has taken hold
of him or her, as the case may be.
| Here are the pardons granted by the
governor, with a synopsis of his remarks
upon each case:
R. M. Mitchell, white, Floyd county,
1908, murder, life imprisonment. While
this prisoner has only been in the peni-
| Tertiary little over L months, he has
become paralyzed from his waist down.
He is unable to move his limbs or walk
His kidneys are in bad condition and he
| has no control over his bowels. He is
/ helpless and harmless and his affliction
] is incurable. His punishment is worse
| than death. He has a wife and relatives
] who are willing to care for him in his
| helpless condition. The ends of justice
do not require that he should remain in
| his pitiable condition away from those
who can lessen his suffering and care
| for his wants.
James White white, Catoosa county,
1904, murder, life Imprisonment. Since
being in the penitentiary he has contract
| ed a severe case of tuberculosis and has
| been able to do no work for four years.
| He has now served more than five years
| with good conduct.
Tom Allen, white, Troupe county, 1906,
larceny four years in penitentiary. He
| has served more than half of his sem
| tence and now has rheumatism and
! Bright's disease, which incapacitate him
for work. He is now 81 years Of age
J. W. Hart, white, Chatham county,
burglary, three years in the penitentiary.
J He has served more than half of his
sentence. He is 81 years of age, very in
| firm and has diabetes. He has not done
days work since he has been in prison.
| Arrangements have been made to send
] him to friends in New York upon his re-
lease from prison. His conduct has been
| good.
| HEALTH WRECKED.
]. NJ. Wilson, white, 1901, Clinch county,
manslaughter, Is years in the penitentiary
| sentence, He is now SO years of age and
has served about years OF his sentence
| with good conduct. Since his service In
the penitentiary his health has entirely
broken down and he is now unable to
/ work. He has relatives who are willing
1 to take care of him.
John Jones. colored, Tatnall county, 1892.
| murder, sentence life Imprisonment. He
| was convicted of killing a negro man and
| has now served over 16 years of good con-
duct He is SO years old. Has rheuma-
tism and is entirely broken down and I'M
able to work, and his children will take
| care of him.
Charles shuler, colored, Lowndes coun-
! ty, 1877, burglary, sentence Is years in
| penitentiary. While serving his term
| 70. buzz he -
and was convicted in 1887 in Fulton coun-
ty of murder and sentenced for life i'm
| prisonment. He is now S. years of age
and has been in the penitentiary go years.
! During this time he has lost one eye and
/ part Of one hand. For many years his
! conduct has been good. He is practically
worn out from work and old age.
Butler Hatcher. colored, Floyd county,
1880, murder. sentence life Imprisonment.
! He was convicted Of killing a negro and
has been in the penitentiary for over %
years. He is old and broken down. And
is unable to do anything. He is afflicted
with kidney trouble and has been trusty
| for 10 years. He has several brothers
in Rome who are willing to take care of
him.
John Evans, colored Walker county, 1882,
murder, sentence life Imprisonment. Sent
up for killing a negro and has now served
% years with GOOD conduct. Is 63 years
of age and has been a trusty for a long
time. In view of his age, length of SER
vice and his continued good conduct, It is
thought that his punishment has been
| sufficient
STRONG PETITION.
Dan Smith, colored, Appling county.
1898, murder, life imprisonment. He killed
another negro. During his confinement
he has been operated upon for gall stones
and Is now practically helpless He is Sc
years of age and his conduct has been
good. His pardon is recommended by the
presiding judge, several members of the
trial jury and the grand jury and a num-
Der of citizens.
| Ginsey Mays, colored, Butts county.
1886, murder, life Imprisonment. She was
convicted of killing her husband when she
was only Is years of age. She claims that
he was whipping her and she shot him
She has served % years withs good con-
duct
| Hamp Johnson, Houston county, 1894
burglary, sentence for 20 years in peniten-
tiary. He has served nearly 10 years and
during that time has lost one of his legs
in a saw mill. His conduct has been good.
Vicey Laramore, colored, Worth county,
1885, arson, sentence, life Imprisonment
She was convicted of burning a negro
dwelling and has served 20 years with
good conduct She is badly afflicted with