The Forrest City times., 1914-07-03
Politics, Pulls and Pardons

unfortunate persons who fall under the penalties of the law, yet whose acts do not carry malicious degree oS criminal wontonness or the aggra- vation of deliberate intent, is a wise provision of the laws of Arkansas. Well meaning people sometimes dc things in thoughtless moment or the neat of violent passion. the conse- auences of which mean a term in the penitentiary or possibly the forfeiture of life on the gallows or in the cleo tric chair. according to the demands of the law. Not only that but inno- cent people have been visited with SC we're penalties of the law as victims of unexplainable circumstances or of perjury and had to answer for crimes committed by other hands It is to relieve such a miscarriage of justice that the governor is clothed with the pardoning and committing power.
 1t was never intended that wiltul or confessed criminals, who go about their acts in lawlessness coolly and delib erately, should be benefciaries of this sacred function of the governors of flee. except in possible instances Of where the assessment of penalties might appear unreasonable and exces aive for the offenses committed.
 Here is a question, worthy of the serious consideration of every man and woman in Arkansas:
 Is the power of executive clemency as freely and frequently exercised to- ward poor and obscure persons, con Victed of crimes, as toward those of prominence who are possessed with means and able to nore readily com nand official consideration and politi- cal pully
 Take two instances as examples and draw your own conclusion.
 One Korff wrecked the little bank at Everton in Boone county, of which he was cashier, last year, bringing dis. tress and privation doubtless to many children whose parents had lost their last dollar in the steal. Not only that ibut the business of the town was con fused and paralyzed. while honest men faced ruin and bankrupty, on account of the loss of their little ac- 4cumulations which they had entrusted to this man who had won their confi- -dence and then betrayed it.
 Korff was indicted and entered pleas Of guilty to II charges Of embezzle- ment in the circuit court at Harrison. The minimum penalty for either charge Is two years in the penitentary. Just how much of the hard-earned money belonging to the toiling people Of Boone and Marion counties, he got away with, is not recorded but it ran high up in the thousands of dollars. 9et on his eleven pleas of guilty, he was sentenced to a term Of only two years in the penitentiary. But that k not all. Within three months from the time he donned the stripes at the prison walls, he walked out free man. with pardon in his pocket. and boasung of what he had saved up from the operation. after paying the ON. penses of getting out, which he com plained to the penitentiary officials as being rather heavy. Petitions were not extensively circulated and signed in his behalf by people in the neigh borhood Of the institution which he had wrecked. In fact. some of tho peo pie who had suffered by his act, knew nothing of such movement unti after he had regained his liberty. How was such speedy restoration to iuert, accomplished? It must have beer secured through the influence of per sons high in official or political power and prominence who were in position to engage the special attention o Governor Hays and command his con cidence and lead him to believe through a Contorted presentation of the case. that justice demanded sucf an act at his hands. Surely no one who knows Governor Hays would be jieve that he would perform Ahis acr sad he not been led to believe that ht was bestowing mercy where 1t was de served. The result is the same. re Eardless of motives. The bank wreck CT is at large sporting the spells o the wreckage, leaving an outraged peo ole deprived of the hard learned prod ncts ot their toll, while many a poor wretch is serving time for offenses trivial in nature as compared witt korff's eleven cases of embezziement of poor peoples money. of which ht admitted his guilt.
 On the other hand; Arthur Tillman R beardless youth, Is now in the death cell at the penitentiary, awaiting the arrival of July the 18th when it is decreed that he must die on the gal lows at Bonneville for the murder oi Amanda Stevens, a young girl whose dead body was found in an abandones well near the Stevens and Tillman homes. Arthur and the murdered girl had been sweethearts. Young Tillman -N~>-~~~~>-->--~~-
 Good Things to Be Used.
 Good is no good but if 1t be spent