The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1910-04-21
GOVERNOR FREES
ALLEGED FORGER
Has Young Wife, and a Baby
Whom He Has Never Seen.
4 Had Disagreement With
Employer and Was
Arrested.

RI C MOND, VA. - Special. -
J. Irvine East, aged twenty-five
years, an inmate Of the State peni-
tertiary, sent here from Roanoke
county more than two years ago, We'd
hesday left for his home on the even
Ing train a free man.
Governor Mann, after looking into
the case and examining mass of
records and letters, together with let
tiers from we'll known men in the
city and county of Roanoke, at first
decided 20 make the pardon condi-
tional, and later, when some addition
al evidence and facts were presented
to him, he ordered that East be given
a full pardon.
The young man was sent to the
prison on three charges OF forgery,
at the trial he entereing Il plea of
guilty, and the judge gave him two
years on each indictment.
Tomorrow morning for the first
time East will gaze into the face of
his baby SOn-born since he has been
in the prison. He will also have a
chance to see his wife, who for more
than two years-faithful and trust
and the baby by working in the city
of Roanoke. With East will go a
well known business man of Roa-
noke, who came here at the request
of prominent gentlemen and present
ed the case TO the Governor.
Forged Many Checks.
Young East, when arraigned for
trial, admitted on the stand that he
had been signing the name of G. p.
billiard, in the county. for some years
There had never been any Ques ION
regarding the matter. and the checks
had always been honored by billiard
The three checks on which he was
arrested and tried aggregated less
than $50. and after the young man
was in prison they were paid in full
by billiard.
East was employed on the farm
owned by Dillard. and his mother oc-
cupied premises on the farm. It Is
Understood mat she mas .Iaunta4leu
her home at the same place since her
son was made TO don felon's stripes.
IT developed during the hearing
when East told all about the signing
of the checks. that he had for wears
been doing the same thing and that
no question whatever was raised by
Mr.. billiard. all the checks being paid
without the least demur. East told
everything in connection with the
matter. and the judge could not do
otherwise than send him to the pris-
on on his admission that he had
signed the checks. using the name OF
billiard.
Victim of Circumstances.
II was because OF some disagree
ment between billiard and East that
the warrants were sworn out for his
arrest. and il was on the advice OF a
man in the county that he went on
the stand and entered a plea Of guilty.
not realizing that i'm doing SO he
would place himself in n position to
be sent TO the State prison for con-
structive forgery
Friends Of the young man. ac-
Quainting themselves with the facts in
the case. set TO work TO have the
stigma removed from his name. and
that of his wife and child. and also to
have him released from the peniten-
tiary. They went to work in earnest.
and while he has served a bit more
than two years. they are more con-
WINGED now than ever that he has
been made the victim of circum-
stances. lie had always borne
good reputation in the county. He
was man of little education. but he
was recognized as an honest and up
right youth in every way.
The record of the man i'm the
prison has been one for strict obedi-
ence to the regulations, not giving
the officers the least trouble. Con-
scious of his innocence of any wrong
he readily obeNed every order and
suffered the infamy of being in prison.
Today he goes forth a free man, the
action of the. Governor acquitting him
of any wrong that he may have been
even technically guilty. The judge
of the court endorsed and recon-
mended the young mans pardon.