The Mankato free press., 1912-09-20
JOHN H.RAYMOND GIVEN
CHANCE TO make GOOD
From Mondays Daily.


John H. Raymond received sus-
pended sentence in court this morn
ing, he having pleaded guilty to the
charge of grand larceny in the sec
ond degree. A bond of $3.50 was
furnished by his mother, Mrs W. f.
Blaising of Minneapolis, and Ray
mond was put in charge of Rev.
James Parsons of Minneapolis, to
whom he must report at frequent in
tervals. On the first Tuesday in
February he is to report to the
court and at that time it will be
determined whether he will be re-
lieved from the charge or what
shall be done, depending upon his
conduct from now until February.
Comment BY the Court.
Judge Pfau in suspending the SEN
tence said: "In a case of this kind
it is of course easy for the court to
impose the sentence fixed by law
upon a plea of guilty. Our legisla-
ture has seen fit to add to the duty
of the court something further 1t
has been demonstrated that crimin-
ais are not bettered by having i'm
posed upon them a sentence of con-
finement in the penitentiary. A
large percentage of criminals so
punished continue in their criminal
life after their release from impris-
onment Imprisonment seems to
lessen their desire for life.
What Legislature Had in Mind.
"The legislature probably had this
in mind when the law was passed.
The county attorney has said that
punishment does not serve only as a
reforming influence, but as warn
ing to others. But believe that if
"a person serves a sentence he comes
out no better than he. was when he
went in. 1t has almost occurred to
me that any sentence might as we'll
be for life. aa.r -sa.
5a5"All these things must be consid-
cred. ] have no desire but to do
right. / cannot allow my sympathy
to guide my actions in this matter
i have read the law carefully and
believe it to be the ,wisest law on
criminal matters which the legisla-
ture has passed in years. The trend
of society if rather toward reforma-
tion by kindness than by punish
ment. You cannot compel a man
to be good against his will. | know
the danger of applying the law to
every case before the court, and
the county attorney has spoken
truly about that. Therefore, it
makes it hard to decide in these
cases what to do.
No Question About Offense.
There is no question that the
prisoner committed the offense he is
charged with. But. / believe an op-
portunity9 to reform himself will
have better, results athan to attempt
to reform him by Imprisonment. /
have come TO the conclusion to give
1.-THE defendant AN opportunity for
self-reformation. The defendant
must he given to understand that
suspension of sentence is not annul-
ling the sentence. . He must make
himself z, ,9good citiZen.Glf he is i'm
prisoned it takes the responsibility
from my hands and puts it in the
hands of; the beard of pardons, but
by suspending the sentence | will
still hold the responsibility.
~, i37 Says He Can Reform.
Ebt1 give. the defendant a suspend
ed sentence ana order that he shall
report to- this court lOf the first
Tuesday in, February, and at that
time it shall he determined what
further will be done. j will put him
in charge of Rev. James Parsons of
Minneapolis Ito whom he must re-
port at frequent intervals.
When asked by the judge wheth-
er he could reform Raymond replied
"YeS, sir, | know | can"
Yesterday afternoon Claude Board.
man, a member of "The Paid in
Fulr company, called on Raymond
at the Jail and conversed with him
at length. Mr.. Boardman and Mr..
Raymond were once members of the
same theatrical company. Mr.
Boardman expressed much surprise
when he learned of Raymond's pred
icament. "Jack was always on the
square," said Mr.. Board,nan, and |
cannot understand what lead him
to go wrong" f..fa,s
Mr.. Raymonds friends in Mankato
are pleased at the outcome of his
case and they predict that he will
take advantage of the opportunity to
make good"
Raymond stated to The Free Press
that he would again be employed
by ID. w. Chamberlain, in whose en-
ploy he was at the time of his ar
rest, and would probably be in Min
neapolis for about a month
Raymond was released from GUS
tody. this afternoon and departed for
Minneapolis in company with Rev.
James K. Parsons.