Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-02-27

and circumstances appearing on an
examination of the record before us,
and shown on the hearing of the ap-
plication, we have reached the con-
clusion,s first, as to the form Of the
proceedings, that this application for
pardon is at ~.e present time cogniz-
able by this board, and that it is per-
missible for US to consider and act
upon the same, and that 1t is within
the power of the executive to grant
the celmency asked by the application
upon our recommendation to that ef-
fect; and, second, as to the merits of
the application itself, that the prayer
of the petitione ris supported by valid
and substantial reasons. We, there
fore, recommend that such prayer be
granted. and that a pardon be now is
sued to the applicant Kate Edwards -
History of Case
Then follows a history Of the case,
embracing the rearing of the woman
in all of its squalid surroundings, her
marriage and method of living, the
low standard of morals prevailing
among the people she lived with her
intimacy with the negro Greason, the
husbands threats to "get rid of her
damned quick If she should have a
black baby, her nervous fear under
these conditions and the conception of
the plan to kill her husband which
she accomplished by killing him with
a hammer.
The arrest, trial and conviction are
given in detail, and the final appeal to
the board for her freedom, with the
reasons that have been frequently pub
lished in the past few months, that
she may have been convicted only
of murder in the second degree had
she told the truth at the time of her
trial; she was a woman debased by
brutal treatment and densey ig-
norantfi. not understanding the grav-
ity of her situation; she has served
over twelve years; her reformation is
complete and she is a different wom-
an in education, personal habits and
morals; the ends of justice have been
fully accomplished; the sentiment in
Berks county Is overwhelming for her
pardon; released from, prison there is
every reason to believe she will lead
an upright and useful life; her health
has failed and further confinement
will hasten her death.
"These reasons" says the board,
seem to cover the entire ground, and
we are satisfied of their force. With
out going into detail we venture the
additional reason--that we have on
file, letter from a certain responsible
fare of unfortunate and needy persons,
who promise to provide a home and
suitable work for and to exercise a
kind and watch care over the appli-
cant in case of her liberation and
also a letter from Mrs. Edwards her
self, wherein she voluntarily states
that in the event she is given her
freedom she will willingly and gladly
place herself under the care, and SUBJ
jject to the supervision, of proper per-
sons as may be designated by this
board. We feel confident that Mrs.
Edwards, If liberated from her prison
home, will be given every opportunity
and encouragement to continue in her
ways of reformation and to lead an
upright, respectable, useful. self-sus-
tanning life. Believing, therefore, that
1t will be for the best interest Of the
woman, and not at al injurious to the
interest of society, and in view of her
imprisonment of more than twelve
and half years, and of her improved
physical, mental and moral condition,
whereby she may earn her own living,
and having the assurance that her
restoration to liberty will have the
appreciation of the entire community.
not only In Berks county but through
out the whole Commonwealth, we rec
ommend that pardon be granted the
applicant, Kate Edwards
The recommendation is signed by
all of the members of the board.