The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-13

Of English. he had been denied an in
terpreter. The president COMMITTED
the sentence to life Imprisonment.
In Schrifogle's case the officials Of
the department of justice found that
the evidence at the trial failed to es-
tablish beyond a reasonable doubt that
the killing was done deliberately, and
with generalization. The sentence was
changed to life Imprisonment by Presi-
dent Taft.
Mercy Factor in Two Cases.
Two other cases in which human
interest played a large part in the
pleadings made to the president were
those Of Carl NJ. Spencer Of Iowa con-
false entries in the books of a national
bank, and Charles r. Davis of Flori-
da. convicted Of illicit distilling. Spen-
Ger was sentenced to ten years in the
~penitentiary. and Davis to twelve
months in the p~enitentiary.
1t was discovered that Spencer had
taken money from the bank in which
penses Of surgical treatment for a
crippled son. The Communication was
recommended by the trial Judge who
sentenced him. His sentence was
committed to three years, with allow
ance for good behavior.
A pardon was asked for Davis on
the ground that his wife and four
children were homeless, and that the
ownership of their home was being
principal witnesses for the govern
ment. When the president was advis-
ed of these facts. he ordered the sen-
tencc shortened by several months.
Frees Man Cleveland Aided.
A unique case came before the
president in 1909. Alfred a.. Hartc.
gan had been convicted Of uttcrins
and passing a forged check in Alaska,
and was sentenced to serve two years
in the %penitentiary at Mcneil Island
Wash. G'hile he al at work upon q
concrete wall at the prison a piece
Of steel from a drill lodged in one OF
his eyes,, resulting In the loss Of thai
eye and injury to the other. When
he had served all but five months OF
his term his sentence was commuted
to expire Immediately.
Thomas Westmorland. convicted OF
murder in Texas. and sentenced to be
hanged, was one prisoner whose case
had first been passed upon by Presi'
dent Cleveland back in 1895. An ap.
| peal was taken from the sentence OF
death first imposed. but the higher
court affirmed the decision. His case
va taken before President Cleveland
who commuted the sentence to life
Imprisonment. In 1909 President Taft
further commuted the sentence t.
twenty-five years imprisonment, Will
allowances for good behavior.
Superstition in q Case.
The president was called upon to de-
! eide how far superstition can influence
, a person to do murder when the peti'
ton for clemcncy of Columbia George
a Umatilla Indian. was placed before
him. George was convicted of muir
dering an Indian woman in 1902. anc
sentenced 10 imprisonment for life
! The crime was committed In. Wash
ington state.
It was shown to the president thai
the crime resulted from a %superstiti'
Gus belief among the Umatilla Indians
The victim was a sort Of spirit doc
tor. who undertook the cure of q rela'
tive of George. The cure was unsuc'
cessful. and upon the death of the pa
tient, according to their ancient Gus
tom. George was entitled to kill the
to drink some whiskey containing
strychnine. George himself wal
, drunk at the time. On this showing
the president commuted h sentence
to ten years, with allowances for goot
behavior.
Freed an Indian Maiden.
Another case involving Indians wal
that Of Iizzie Cardish Of Wisconsin,. :
young sQuaw. When she was yer!
young h was taken from the tcpc'
of her parents 10 n school upon tn
Menominee Indian reservation. whcr'
she became Dissatisfied. and at tn
suggestion of ono OF the older girl
get fire to the building. She was gen