The Washington herald., 1910-09-24

To save John R. Walsh from
death in prison, George T. Buck
ingham came to Washington last
night with a pardon petition for
President TAFT, signed by several
hundreds Of thousands OF sympa-
.thizers.
The former banker Of Chicago IS
seventy-three years old, and is suf-
ferlng from an incurable malady.
He IS in the Leavenworth Peniten-
tiary on a charge Of loaning himself
$26,00O,000 while president Of the
Chicago National Bank. He was
convicted December 3, 1909, and
a sentence OF FIVE years imposed.
APPEAL FROM CHILDREN.
The Walsh children. Of Chicago. pro-
NOTED the petition. - names IN which
occupy twenty bound volumes. Other
volumes are on the way and all viii be
presented 10 the President through the
Department Of Justice.
All Of the officers OF the Walsh banks"
who are living have given their sigma
lures 70 the petition, as well as hundreds
Of deposiIors.
According 10 his attorney Walsh's con
dition is pitifUL Wasted by disease. and
brooding day after day over the hufniu-
alton OF Imprisonment be mas been
given up by the prison doctors and the
specialists employed by the family
The piesare painted by Atttrney Buck
/ insham is OF an infrm. broken old man.
bowed down under disgracet and des-
perately praying for death.
Attorney Buckingham said last night:
Proud of Previous Career.
His career previous 70 the bank trou-
bles was notable. He was public spirited.
and OF great constructive genius. All
through the Middle West stand great
industrial financial, and transportation
organizations as monuments TO his
genius. None Of his money went into
speculation or self-indulg= nee All OF IL
went 10 the building Of railroads and
other industries. which give employment
10 thousands Of people, and add 70 the
development OF the country.
The charge on which he was convicted
does not involve actual moral turpituGe.
but only violation OF the technical rules
Of Jaw regulating bankiog HIS was a
case Of improvement banking loans, but
not OF dishonesty.
The application for pardon. based on
these considerations. Is intended 10 save
10 Mr.. Walsh and 70 his family the few
months of life which. under favorable
surroundings, may remain 70 him.
Agony and Humiliation.
Mr. Walsh has suffered untold agony
and humiliation. in the loss Of the wealth.
power. and position, which were once
his. In the loss Of his large personal for
tune. he has been penalized beyond the
fines eXacted for most human misdeeds.
His punishment in actual Incarceration
alone. is already enough 10 satisfy the
most rigorous requirements OF the law.
Under the department rules governing
such applications. we have filed il with
the Assistant Attorney General in charge
of pardons. whence il goes IN regular
course. eventually TO the President"
After a long career Walsh was in
dicted and placed on trial in the Northern
District Court Of Illinois. presided over
by Judge \. b. Anderson, of Indiana, in
October, 1907. He was found guilty and
an appeal was noted. The Circuit Court
of Appeals affirmed the sentence OF five
years, life sentence 20 him, and he was
delivered TO the United States marshal al
once.
The Technical Charge.
The technical charge against Walsh was
making excessive loans 10 railroads in
which either he or his bank was inter-
ested. The petition asking that his life
be spared says he believed he was doing
right, and that what he did was for the
benefit Of those who had money in his
bank.
Mrs. Mary L Walsh, his Wife, and
Richard W. and John ". Walsh, his sons,
are the first signers OF the petition.
Through their attorney they ask that
the Department of Justice order a report
from the prison authorities as to Walsh's
condition at present The rules Of Leaven-
worth prison prohibit giving out state
ments about the health OF a prisoner.
Among the signers are citizens Of many
States. but most OF them are from Ili-
nOis. Missouri, and Indiana In Chicago,
where Walsh lived sixty years Of his
life, signatures poured in by the thou
sand More than 30 per cent Of the sig
natures We're unsolicited.
The railroads in which Walsh invested
the funds of his bank are the Illinois
gan.