Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-10-22

Inc prisoner went up town to find his
employer and falling In that he went
to drug store, where he was known,
and drew check for S.. signing his
employers name to the check, and
presented 1t to a drug clerk and re-
Gceived s.. which he handed to the col
slector. Before the prisoner saw his
employer the next day the check was
presented to the bank and dishonored
and the prisoner arrested. He admit
ted signing his employers name with
out authority ard pleaded guilty TO
the charge, The court gave him the
minimum sentence and afterwards the
prosecuting attorney asked for his
pardon.
PAROLES AND 3PARDoNs.
In some cases prisoners were paroled
and later pardoned just before or after
their term had expired. Some were
tparoled and not pardoned. The law
forbids parole of Il prisoner until he
has served Il minimum term provided
by law for the crime for which he was
convicted. Paroles We're granted to
those only who served such n sentence
and when 1t WIS made to appear that
they were men Of previous good char
actor and q showing made that they
would lead good lives in the future. 1t
is generally known that every person
who commits crime 10 not necessar-
lily a vicious or bad man or q criminal
at heart There are many cases hav-
In; mitigating and eXtenuating cir
cumstunces. Everybody knows that. 1t
has been the policy of the board upon
application for clemency to ascertain
and determine those who are real
criminals and those who are not, and
paroles have been granted only TO the
litter and not the former cases. In
II >rIS nc -,
condition to the parole was required
( to turn his earnings over to his wife
or parents who were shown to be in
great need OF his support
OF the entire 81 who received Glenn
ency there were 90 whose sentences
We're commuted from n few days, in
some instances. to several years In
others. In II cases the sentences We're
shortened for the reason that those
imposed by the trial courts We're clear
~ excessive. In most of such cases the
lcn~ sentences were given because the
trial judge and the prosecuting Of
ficers were not fully informed as to
the actual facts and circumstances
constituting the alleged offense. or the
real character CT the accused. When
the actual facts were asccrtained and
the true character of both crime anu
the accused became known it became
self-evident that tho sentences i'm
posed in those cases were too long and
hence they were shortened so as TO
make the punishment commensurate
with the oftensc actually committed.
SENTENCES COMMITTED.
Four of the prisoners whose SEN
fences were committed for reasons
aforesaid are still confined in the state
prison because their sentences as fixed
hui, b. hoo l,ay aNnirpi One
sentence was committed upon request.
Of the officers of the national governs
ment for the purpose Of deporting the
convict upon the ground that he was
a criminal immigrant and subject to
deportation under the national laws.
Another convict, woman, was COIN
muted so that she might go to her
brother in Nebraska, the reason of. such
being that she was af-
flicted With an incurable disease which
might In its progress become Il mem
ace and q danger to the whole prison
community, and because her brother
desired to care for her in her helpless
condition. She is now with her brother
and is being cared for.
The sentences Of the remaining seven
we're committed for various reasons
some because they had rendered valu-
able aid and assistance to the warden
or guards at times when there was
Il strike or threatened break upon
the part Of the unruly prisoners, and
some were committed because of ex-
emplary conduct as prisoners. In the
latter class of cases communication was
gra f,tcd to stimulate other prisoners to
reform and to hold out to them the
hope of future clemency should their
conduct merit It.. In still other cases
the sentences wore committed because
the ends Of justice had been fully sub
served and the prisoners had fully
ntoned for the offenses committed by
them. The particular reasons why
clemency was extended In any case are
on file with the secretary OF state. and
the documentary evidence submitted to
the board is on file with the attorney
general Both the reasons aforesaid
and the evidence referred to may be
Inspected by any interested person. In
this connection 1t should not be over
looked that the newspapers published
the action of the board Of pardons Mt
the time that action was had in each
cage and itEnpparently did not occur to
those who are conducting the ncwspn-
pers and who had full knowledge of
the boards action, that the action TAX
en- in any particular case was not justi-
fled. or that 1t might be detrimental to
the best interests OF the people of tho
State of Utah.
RECOMMENDED BY JUDGES.
Further. OF the whole number whose
cases were favorably acted upon, 80
were recommended for clemency by the
trial judges or by the district nttor-
neys, or by both. In many instances
the county attorney and the county Of
ticials recommended clemency. to say
nothing of tho numerous petitions that
were submitted to the board by the
leading citizens of the communities
from whence the prisoners wore SEN
fenced. 5$ 5Fb
In seven cases there were serious
doubts OF the guilt of the prisoner, be-
cause the true facts We're not known
nj the time OF sentence. Four cases
we're nisdemcnnors5 only. and the miti-
eating circumstances were very strong.
In four others. the youth of the prisons
ers and their good character had a
large. re not controlling. influence
upon the board. Finally, In no case
where clemency has been extended, so
far as known, has the communities
safety and we'll being been exposed BY
reason OF the combinations or the par
dons granted.
AS a general rule. where n commu-
tation or pardoni!is granted the board
can influence the prisoner to enter some 4
useful employment, and In most In
stances this Is done. Where, however,
the, prisoner Is discharged because OF
l. al