The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1915-01-13
PARDONS GRANTED TO
PAR0LED CONv|CTS
Over One Thousand Affect
ed BY One Act.
WHOLESALE PARDON
RECORD BROKEN

Wh0*Wcrc PnrOled by Him During
Past Four Years "During Good BE.
HaviOr". Thirty-fiye New Ones Add
cd to List.
Columbia, January 9.-All convicts
paroled during good behavior" by
the present Chief Executive were
granted full pardons by blanket par
don issued by Governor Blease this
afternoon through proclamation filed
in the Office OF r.. NJ. McCown, Secre-
tary of State. 1t is estimated that ov-
er 1000 were affected by this action,
citizenship rights being restored to
fully that many by, Governor Blease
with one stroke Of the pen.
Since assuming office in January,
1911, the present Governor has exer-
cised clemency in 1, ,662 cases, over one
thousand Of which were paroles issued
during good behavior. This procla-
nation issued today gives all of these
unconditional pardons.
The following proclamation address
ed by the Governor to all Judges, sher-
ins, constables and other officers Of
justice in the State, bears this greet
ing:
Whereas, I, Coleman Livingston
Blease, the Governor of the State of
South Carolina, have heretofore grant
and authority vested in me by the
Constitution and laws Of the State of
South Carolina, have heretofore grant
ed certain paroles to certain persons,
at various and divers times during the
years one thousand, nine hundred and
eleven, one thousand, nine hundred
and twelve, one thousand, nine hun
dred and thirteen, and one thousand
and nine hundred and fourteen, upon
the condition during good behavior,
as Will be fully shown by reference
to the records in the office of the gov
ernor Of the State Of South Carolina
and in the office of the Secretary of
State the State Of South Carolina.
which said records will specifically
give and show the name, or names, of
the persons, or persons, so paroled,
the county In which he, she or they
were convicted, the term OF Court, the
presiding Judge thereof, the name or
names Of said person or persons, Of
what offence convicted and to what
term sentenced, in each and every in
duvidual case.
Now, know We, that for divers
good causes and considerations me
hereunto moving. have thought fit to
pardon and by these presents do grant
a pardon to each and every person or
persons so paroled by me during my
term Of Office as the Governor of the
State Of South Carolina uring the
years 1911, 1912, 1913, 1914.
This pardon Is intended to apply
and is granted only to such person or
persons whose parole or paroles con-
tanned the one condition: During good
BEHAVIOR and does not, nor is it in
tended to, grant full pardon to any
person or persons who have been pa
rolcd under any other condition or
conditions"
An unconditional pardon was grant
ed to w. II. Jones, the wealthy Union
farmer, who was paroled only few
weeks ago, after serving part of life
term for murder Of his wife. There
were some other conditions attached
to the parole OF Jones besides that of
good behavior, and 1t took a special
pardon to free him.
Later In the afternoon Governor
Blease sent across to the Secretary
Of State another list OF thirtytfive pa
roles and combinations, bringing the
total number OF cases in which he has
exercised clemcncy up to 1862. In
cluded In the list were John Steven
son, OF Fairfield, sentenced to two
years in September, 1912, on a convic-
tion for breach Of trust. The sentence
was commuted to six fonths. pa
role was issued to Riley Thompson, an
other Fairfield negro, who was serv-
ing four years for manslaughtcr.
John Henry Moore, Chester, March,
1907 murder, Life sentence reduced to
twenty years In February, 1914; pa
rolled.
Jim Floyd, Richlahd, May, 1914, lar