The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-10-11
PRISON DOORS WILL OPEN
soon FOR JOHN R, WALSH
Atty. Gen. Wickersham APP
proves Boards Recommen-
dalton For Parole.

WASHINGTON. Oct 10. Al
Trough oficial announcement was
withheld. Il became known today thai
Attorney General wickersham has ap
proved the recommendation OF the
board OF parole that John r. Walsh
the Chicago bank wrecker. be parolec
from the Leavenworth particularly
In refusing TO make public an
nouncement OF his decision the az
tornsy-general 70 merely following tbs
unbroken precedent Of the depart
ment TO maintain secrecy about such
matters. This rule was originally es
labliehed for the protection OF pris
: oriers whose efforts to reform would
be hampered by publication OF their
crimes and imprisonment.
Walsh made his formal application
when the board Of parole OF the de
partment OF Justice made its annual
visit to Leavenworth last week. The
hoard acted favorably on the appli
cation and its recommendation waz
presented to Attorney General Wick
eisham yesterday by Superintendent
Ladow.
The actual date OF walsh's release
l,e AL other details, Is withheld by
the department OF justice and the
dkte on which the aged banker will
obtain his liberty will only be known
when he IL released at Leavenworth.
Walsh's parole. with the usual re-
strictions, requiring him to make reg
ular report TO the prison officials
follows an unsuccessful attompt TO
obtain q pardon from President Taft
On May "a last, the president refus-
cd. saying;
TT would defeat the object OF the
Law and present demoralizing diff.
ference between the punishment met
ed out OF the ordinary criminal whose
circumstances have naturally led him
into crime and one whose position In
society should have made for him the
strongest restraint against violation
Of the law.
Waish's plea to the parole board
was the same az to the president
that hts violations OF the laws were
technical and did not involve moral
turpitude and secured him no finan-
cial benefit: that all the depositors
werc paid through the sacrifice of his
private fortune. that he was attempt.
ing 10 build up Industries OF benefit
30 the country: that he Is an old man,
net likely 70 live long. and one who
has borne good reputation and liv-
ed a life OF simplicity and not OF self.
indulgence
Walsh was convicted of misapplica.
ton Of the funds OF the Chicago Ma.
tsonal bank Of which he was presi.
dent. He was sentenced to impr,s-
CAment for ave years. and began sery-
ipg his sentence January 10, 1910. He
owned q large interest In three banks
1.-THE Chicago National. the Equitable
Trust Co. and the Home Savings
hank, and used them TO furnish money
for the development of several rail.
roads. limestone Quarries. coal mines
and other enterprises The banks
failed because of the use OF their mon
ey In the Walsh enterprises and the
other banks OF Chicago. in order to
ayoid panic. took over their holdings
aid Waish's properties and paid the
depositors In full
II H. understood that Walsh's rela.
tives have arranged to take care OF
Rim and to take him to some quiet
place in Illinois where he will spend
the rest OF his days, reporting from
time to time through the United States
district attorney I'm the district where
he intends to reside.