Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-31
rs SLAYERS FREE
ON DENEEN ORDER
Governor Commutes Sentences
of Murderers as One of
His Last Acts.
SOME RELEASED AT ONCE
Sixteen Of Favored Ones Sent Up From
Cook County-Roberts on
List.

Chicago, Jan. 31-Within the next
six months 26 murderers-15 SEN
fenced from Cook county-wiu be re
leased from the Joliet penitentiary.
AS one Of his last acts before ieay-
ing Office, Governor Deneen yesterday
commuted their sentences to expire
during that period. His decision
was made upon the recommendation
Of the pardon board.
A 9th prisoner also received
some clemency at the governors
hands. Michael Moriarity was SEN
fenced to life Imprisonment for killing
| Patrolman Schlanger in Chicago in
| 1900.
GEORGE GILL ROBERTS FREED.
The most widely known man to be
erts, who will be released at once by
| the communication of his 20 year term
| to nine years. He was committed
| in 1903 for the death of John V. Kopf.
former county commissioner, whom he
stabbed with a pOcketknife in Thtr-
teenth ward polling place. He was
a member of the Frank c. Farnum
faction, which has sought his release
for some time. Errors in Instructions
and Roberts previous reputation we're
given as the reasons for the board S
recommendation in his case.
A large majority Of the entire num-
Der of cOnvicts whose punishment was
lightened was sent to Joliet from
Cook county.
COOK COUNTY SLAYERS BENEFIT.
The Cook county murderers whose
freedom is granted by the governor
follow:
George Gill Roberts. sentence &c
years-Commuted to nine years.
John Cont, life sentence-COm
muted to 40 years.
Michael MOriarity, life sentence
COMMITTED to 80 years.
Louis White, life sentence-Com
muted to % years.
James A. Caldwell, life sentence
Commuted to IS wears.
Albert Whitesides, sentence so year,
I-Commuted to % years.
Frank Ainsworth, life sentence
COMMITTED to 3S years.
Mic Marzen, sentence 80 years
COMMITTED to q years.
Daniel Peters, life seutence-COm
muted to q years.
George Stone, sentence 80 years
Commuted to IS years
John Hainy. sentence 25 years
COMMITTED to Is years.
Rudolph Hoppe, sentence IS years
-Commuted to 10 year,.
Patrick McGee, sentence IS year
-Commuted to Il years.
Benjamin Miller, life sentence
Commuted to II years.
Charles A. Ethridge, sentence a
years-Commuted to expire Feb.
1913.
Albert Humphrey, indeterminate-
: Communted to expire Feb. l, 1913.
J. FROM OUTSIDE COOK COUNTY.
l. The slayers from outside of Coo
9 county, affected by the governor
clemency, are:
Sanford Pruitt, Hardin county
sentence 25 years-Commuted to l
= years.
, Fred Perkins, Johnson county; sci
tence 30 years-commuted to IA years
Jesse Koser, Carroll county; lif
g commuted to Il years.
d Thomas Bundy, LaSalle county
d sentence 80 years-commuted to l
+ years.
d Robert Mum, Montgomery county
sentence 20 years -commuted
i eight years.
} Joseph Ellius, LaSalle county; hi
t sentence-commuted to "a years.
It Noah Foster, Christian county; Iii
s sentence-commuted to 80 year
e Was convicted in 1905 and by goo
, behavior secures his liberty at one
Charles a. Henzel, Bureau county
life sentenCe-commute to 20 year
He is now so years old.
II Tucker Ballard, Knox county; Ill
D. sentence-commuted to 50 years.
u Gustave Menkhausen, st. Clair cou
ls ty; life sentence-commuted TO
~ years.
3 ROBERTS RELEASED.
=, =, The first of % murderers pardon'
- b. Governor Deneen yesterday ";
- released from Joliet penitentiary
+, day. He is George Gill Roberts, sc
fenced at Chicago in 1907 for 20 yea
for the murder Of former coun
commissioner during an election ric
~, Before nightfall five others will be Ii
- Grated. The remaining prisoners y
N be released at intervals during d
next six months. Roberts was smu
- gIed away from prison in an autom
bile. Roberts was extremely excite
at the unexpected gift Of his liberty
SENATE COMMITTEE FOR