Norwich bulletin., 1914-05-11
APPEALING FOR RELEASE
 FROM STATE PRISON. Forty eight Petitions Coming Before Board of Pardons In June.

Forty eight inmants of the Connec-
 ticut state prison at WetherSheld have
 petitioned the board of pardons for
 release, and these petitions will be
 considered by the board at its meeting
 June 8. Three of the most notable
 convicts to apply are Michael Cherest.
 who has been in prison since 1872, who
 has applied for the 12th time; Charles
 Gong, a Chinaman. who was sentenced
 from Hartford. for a life term. and
 Henry B. Chamberlain, who applies for
 the 13th time- Among those applying for release are as follows:
 Michael Cherest, 59 years of age;
 born in Massachusetts; convicted of
 murder in the second degree May Il.
 1872,. for a crime committed in the
 town of Windsor Locks. Cherest claims
 to have had offers of employment from
 two men with whom he is acquainted
 and believes he has already been suf-
 ficiently punished by his sentence,
 which has already extended AZ years. Charles Gong, alias Charley Lee
 Coon, alias Lee Yeon Coon, has ap- piled for release on 13 occasions and his requests have always been refused. Gong was born in China. and was sen
 fenced in Hartford Sept. g, 1891, on a second degree murder charge. Eastern Connecticut Cases. John P. Kennedy, 57 years of age.
 convicted at New London April 2, 1885, O1 S6cOnO uoBT0o IHuTueT. heIlHeuy
 has applied for release on six occa- sions.
 Addie Burns. 52 years of age, con
 victed at New London Jan. 2S, 1909, of
 carnaI abuse. Sentence, 12 to 20 years. Salvador Capodici. 24 years of age. says he is suffering with tuberculosis.
 He was convicted at Wil1imantic May
 19, 1908, of murder. second degree. Thomas C. Pappagallo, 25 years of age, convicted at Putnam March 13, 1913. of assault to rape. one to five years.
 Kate Cobb, 66 years of age, convict ed at New London Jan. IT, 1879, of murder, second degree. She says she wishes to spend her remaining days with her loved ones
 John Foster. 22 years of age, con- victed at New London May 6, 1913, of theft from person. Sentence, one to two years.
 illegally Confined, He Claims. Frank L. Roberts, alias Frank l.. Whipple, AT years old, convicted at New Haven Oct. Is, 1912, of the theft 1 of a horse at Orange. third offense. and sentenced from four to 30 years, says l that he is illegally confined in this in stitution. as the law under which he
 was sentenced states that all persons sentenced three times after 1901 shall be liable to 30 years imprisonment, and that his first commitment to this insti- tuition was during 1894.
 chamberIain's Plea. Henry B. Chamberlain, 4e years of age, applies for the 30th time for re- lease. He was convicted at New Haven of second degree murder July IS, 1887 and sentenced to life imprisonment | The reasons he gives for pardon are | that the greatest living authority on l crime, ex-Judge Levi N. Blydenburg says: You were very young at the | time and l believe you did not intend | to kill" This cannot otherwise than
 be thelverdict of every unbiased mind ! that knows the case.
 Furthermore, having undergone 21 consecutive years of Imprisonment for an unpremeddated crime, and having served IS months in excess of his con- i federate in crime, John F. Taylor, who received the same sentence for same degree of crime, he believes that the | board should grant him the same de- gree of clemency as shown Taylor.