The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-01-13
His Pardon Record.

swelled the list 20 an even thousand. for
ne has said ne expects 10 issue as many
more.
His Pardon Record.
The number of cases in which eIecu-
tive ciemency mas been exercised by
Governor Blease includes.
VI hinei ----.. .-.--.' ~
u aiis!al Bht-i III
Assault ...-....- ............. 20
Housebreaking and larceny. ..e.... -
arson ---.-. .-..--.. .'...s>. ~
Forgery ..........-c,.
Criminal assault. -.-.-.-.......
Larceny
Highway rob bery- .....----,-.-.
Burglary
FichpOCh
A nd l4s other cases
The pardoning hand has not caressed
any one section TO the exclusion Of
others. Every section Of South Carolina
has been affected by a pardon and in
every county the verdict Of a Jury
mas been undone and the work Of the
Judge nuiiihcd. Tho reign Of mercy"
has or course. created vide stir and
The Governor numerous opponents
have not been backward IN criticizing
him for the free handed policy he has
insugurated toward criminals. Hailed
on the day or ms Inauguration as the
Governor Of his friends by MS own
statements m every county in South
Carolina. the issuance Of many par
dons has not caused the surprise that
il otherwise would provoke.
South Carolina has a pardon board.
Justatthis tine. however. il is an unnec-
essary institution This board was
created by the Constitution OF 1895
is power being limited 10 advertising
the Governor when called upon. Gov
ernors in the past have been largely
governed by this boards recOmmenda-
lions.
When Blease came into office he
announced that ne was the Governor
and that the pardon board should
abandon the idea that it's advice would
have weight with him The board
Sill exists. but no one hears OF il now.
The nine years Of the three imrnedi-
ate pred ecessOrs of Governor Blease
executive clenency. In his FIRST year
a. Governor. Biease granted no fewer
than I4I pardons. paroles and com muta-
tons Since then the number has gone
uD in wild strides. and the expiration of
two years shows sos pardons and paroles.
Criminals Released
The criminals 70 whom Biease point
ed out the way to liberty included 25l
homicides. 10 murderers, and I2l men
convicted Of granddaughter. Fourteen
prisoners convicted of arson-in this
State d capital offense and punisha BILE
by sentence Of life Imprisonment. the
alternative on recon n endation of the
jurv-and seven OF criminal assault
whicn carries the same punishment.
were freed. some on pardons and some
on paroies
Other prisoners freed had been CON
victed OF crimes ranging from highway
robbery 20 simple larceny and violation
OF the dispensary law Gllicit liquor sell
ing
one Of tho pardons which mas caused
the most discussion and censure in the
pres Of the State was that OF John
Black This man. a close personal and
political friend Of the Governor. was a
member OF the State Board of Control
Of tho old South Carolina State Dis
pcnssrv. now nonexistent. He was
charged with sharing in The corruption
which marked the regime OF the Great
Moral Institution fsthercd by United
States Senator b. r. Tillman.
lie was tried once III Richland
County. III WHICH Colunl bis Is. located.
on charge OF conspiracy % defraud
fhe State b. accepting rebates from
.iauor dealers on purchases OF liquor
Tor the use of the old dispensary- A
newspaper Was found IN the Juryroom
during the trial and the presiding Judge
ordered mistrIai- Subsequently.
Black was tried in Chester County on
another indictment alleging the same
offense. lie was convicted and was
sentenced 10 pay a heavy fine and 10
serve Two years IN the penitentiary.
Blease announcing that he saw no
Justice in Blacks conviction. mas
much a. the liquor dealers who gave
;he rebates had not been punished first
RENTED the fine and then granted
Black fall pardon.
Boast Made Good.
Another case indicating that Blesse
makes good his campaign boast that ne
stands by hrs friends was the pardon
% G. Wash Hunter. The prisoner.
PLANTER. had killed a cripple named
COPELAND e. Clinton. The case went
through the State courts. thc Supreme
Court Of South Carolina finally con
f-rnsng the verdict OF guilty Of man
slaughter. The United States Su-
rrerne Court refused TO intervene
Throushout tho Ions legal fight Bloase
had served a. attorney for Hunter.
When the prison yawned before the
convicted man Blcsse granted him a
pardon.
pardon peculiar in It's terms was
that OF r A. RiChcy. q prominent
planter Of Abbcviiic County. Richey.
i- was charged has wronzed q young
eiri who wac an inmate Of his home
The child vas under fourteen years Of
age ~ The tImc % the crime Richcy
w. convicted. and after = long fzht
~ the courts was sent 20 the pcnitcn-.
fiary. Ills sentence was ten years and
nc began serving - about one year ago.
Last month Ricase issued a parole
% Richcv upon the following conditions d.
THAT he appear before the Governor
November 3. 1918. 20 then do and receive
what ;hc Governor shall direct W v.
Eichey q vel known lawyer Nss
known IN south Carolina a. = strong
f~t.nd OF the Governor.
IT, December. 1875 George fIsety
shot and killed Milan Bennett. musical
director. and Abbott Dawson. leading
man. Of the Nothing But Money
theatrical company IN the then Pal
rnetto Hotel - Cafucy. Hasfy Wss
tried a. the February term % ~ corrt
an 1905. and was convicted Of murder.
With recommendation 20 the mercy %
shc court lie was sentenced 70 life
imprisonuent. His appeal failed and IN
re5 he entered Tire penitcntiary. In
faf5 C,oxeruor Bfoaee rardonrd him