The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-09-19
THE PARDON MILL EVIL
Governors Aycock and KiIchin
Used II Over Time

Frequent Pardons Encourage Crime
and Create Disrespect for Lawful
Authority-It Paralyzes the Arm of
II Law for Officials Naturally Feel
That 1t Isn't Worth While to Bring
Offenders into Court if the Court or
Il Higher Power Turns them Loose.
(Statesville Landmark.)
governor kitchin grants a second
pardon for Q. j. Arnett. of Sampson
county, who was under an eight-year
sentence Tor secret assault. The first
pardon was granted by Governor
Glenn on condition that Arnett re-
manned law-abiding and sober. Later
1T Was called to the attention of Gov
ernor kltchin that he was drinking
and dlSOrCerly On several occasions,
the Governor feeling constrained TO
revoke the pardon. Now, after two
months service in Jail under the or
der Of revocation, the second pardon
is granted, this time under stipula-
ton that he must remain sober and
OF good behavior and appear at each
criminal court in Sampson county for
five years and show to the satisfac-
ton of the judge that he is abiding
by the condition of the pardon. Ar
nett is a cripple and the overWhelm-
ing sentiment of the community is for
the pardon under the terms that the
Governor is eXacting.-Raleigh News
Item.
Governor Kitchin evidently pro-
ceeds on the Scriptural injunction
that the offender should be forgiven
many tlmeS-SeVenty times seven, If
need be. Whenever an offender can
get anybody to take an interest in his
case, for pay or otherwise, it is COM
rn - - w. - Dor1y .-
ers to a petition asking for a pardon.
The carelessness of. the general public
in signing petitions, regardless of the
merits of the case, is pr~overbial. Thus
the case comes before the Governor
and it appears that the general public
desires the thing ask ed for. The Gov
ernor naturally feels that the people
should know better than he the merits
of the case and should know what
they want, therefore the petition is
granted. This seems to be the case
with Governor Kitchin and it was the
case with Governor Aycock, who made
a record as a pardoning Governor
that will hardly be surpassed.
The Landmark holds. however. that
pardons and combinations should be
rarely granted because the reasons
given for leniency, in the great major
ity Of cases, rest on sentiment rather
han on the solid ground Of right and
I1USC1Co, ana the dOVcTIOI, WHO IS LIZ
court of last resort in such cases,
should not allow these appeals based
on sentiment to move him. The ma
jority of the people who sign petit
tons in such cases or make the ap-
peals do not realize the seriousness OF
the matter, al no thought Of re-
sponsibility for the action. and if
harm results they will c%riticise the
Governor for doing What they asked
him to do. Moreover the great ma
jority would. if the other side was pre-
scented to them seriously, about face
on the whole proposition.
The Governors sincerity Of purpose
is not questioned. and If there Is
doubt he can easily point to the pub
lie demand. If The Landmark be
lieved that no harm resulted from
these frequent pardons it would Offer
no criticism even when it believed
mistakes a been made. But it sin
cerelv believes that these requiem
pardons crime and create
disrespect for lawful authority. It is
a notable fact that whenever a Judge
noted for %leniency holds court the
following term will find a full crimina
docket. The criminal element. en-,
couraged by the light punishment in
ficted, or no punishment at all, is not
deferred: on the contrary, q Judge
noted for>severe punishments inspires
dread: those who would offend are of
ten deferred by fear; and in the tina
analysis. sweeping aside all the thee
ries about reforming the criminal by
appealing to his better nature i s z
fact which cannot be disputed, tina
the criminal element-the o'""f
naturally disposed TO commit crime
is restrained only through fear Of pun
ishment. Therefore, it follows, when
oNernor grants frecuent pardonS. tn
impression is made that if one shout.
be caught in the courts. which is al
WAYS a matter of doubt. there IS F:
good chance of escape through tn
Governor. and thus he who would VIC
late the law is encouraged to taNi
chances. When the courts fail =
punish officers of the law become dis
couraged in their efforts to bring Of
tenders to justice, and when tn