New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-02
JEROME ASKS DIX
TO PARDON MARIN
Man Is Now Serving 15-Year
Sentence at Sing Sing
for Forgery.
GOVERNOR DEFENDS SELF
Says Law Gives Him Full Power
in Appeals for Mercy
Has Not Examined
Papers Yet.

Has Not Examined
Papers Yet.
The rumor that former District Attor-
ney William Travers Jerome presented
papers in Albany last Wednesday re-
| questing a pardon for Frank c. Marin,
known as one of the most nervy and
deborah swindlers that ever operated In
| this country, and who is now serving
| ifteen-year sentence in Sing Sing, was
| fully confirmed last night by Governor
John A. Dix
The Governor was found in his apart
ments at the Waldorf, where he spent the
day yesterday preparatory to starting for
| Virginia, where he will attend the confer
ence of governors. lie said Mr.. Jerome
| paid him a personal call at the State
House, and turned over the petition for
| Marrin's pardon. Governor Dix declared
| he did not look at the papers and that
he had no personal knowledge of Marrin's
history, but that the whole matter, which
was now IN the hands OF his legal ad
wiser, would be taken up Immediately
upon his return TO Albany next Sunday
night.
u
doning policy has aroused I'm many quar-
, ters, coupled with the news tnat Marin.
whose career as a swindler can be read in
the police records OF cities in this country,
Europe and South America, might soon
| walk out OF Jail free man, caused con-
siderable stir i'm Brooklyn, where the sem
timent regarding the man is by no means
| favorable.
Sought Marin for Fifteen Years.
! For fifteen years Marin was sought
high and low because Of his activities as a
f0rrer while I'm charge OF the estate OF
Mrs Caroline Barry Marin, who had
been brought up and educated by the
! woman, gained her confidence 10 such an
extent that she turned over TO him for
investment property said to have amount
ed TO nearly 100000 Marin took the
property into his own hands, and by means
~ forged mortgages ana deed covered the
sum inlrusted to him. Finally he disap-
peared.
Mrs. Barry, an aged woman. died penni-
less, but after a search covering fifteen
years and the waging Of several legal bat
ties. attorneys for the estate managed 10
get back some $4,000 from Marin. This
was turned over to the heirs.
! While Governor DiX's attitude last night
! toward the Marin affair was decidedly
non-commlttal. he talked at considerable
length about the position in which his
duties as a pardoner had placed him. In
| effect. his statement was a reply TO the
persistent rumors that before he left office
| there would be a wholesale freeing OF
prisoners. in accordance with the host of
petitions which have been presented to
him for consideration.
THE recent agitation over the pardons
which 1 have granted" said Governor
Dix, rs not unexpected. Ever since /
took office I have contended that the ex-
ecutlve should not be compelled TO pass
! upon such matters, and that they should
he handled entirely by the parole board.
So far as this Marin case goes. have
no opinions OF any sort. Mr.. Jerome has
left the papers at my office, and ] shall
look them over when I return TO Albany:
but. whatever the merits or dement's OF
the application. this single case is entirely
beside the point.
1T IL well known that I am against
capital punishment Since I have been in
office | have made many changes in the
prison system in New York. and the one
we now have will compare fayorably with
that of any state or nation in the world.
There is still room for Improvement, but
/ have done as well as | could Under ad-
verse circumstances. Everywhere | have
met opposition. but the changes We have
managed 10 make are worth all the
trouble they cost
The laws of the State OF New York
give the Governor the sole control OF the
appeals for mercy. and there is no
statute which requires him TO reveal what
requests have been made When | came
into Office found more than five hundred
such appeals awaiting my decision. These
were turned over to me by Ex-Governor
Hughes, who paid little attention to such
matters. Inasmuch as these appeals must
be considered. since they are as much q
part OF the Governors duties as any other
function I have worked on them regu-
larly and have disposed OF as many as
possible. Despite this, however. there are
probably go now awaiting my consider
alton.
80 far as criticism Of my policy OF
] clcmtucy Is tduipl pay any
attention to 1t. The appeals come to me
I'm various forms. Some OF them are
signed by a score of petitioners, citizens
in business in this state, who believe that
the prisoners mentioned deserve short
ening OF their sentences.
"Other appeals come In with the sigma
lures OF the jurors who convicted the
prisoner, and often with those OF the
Judge and tn, prosecuting attorney in the
case. Along with the petition comes a
full presentation OF the records, and the
reasons for the appeal are clearly set
forth. What can l do? / have to give
judgment upon the merits of the appeal
as l see IT,
II shall have nothing to say about the
Marin case until return from the South
and have had time to look into the mat
ter fully. My decision, however, will be
based upon the evidence offered"
Mr.. Jerome talked freely about the case
| last night. lie said he had taken the APP
peal to Albany solely in the capacity OF
counsel for the petitioners.
1.-THE case is no different than any