The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-09-30
I)y[RAOR COMPUTES
GAMBLERS SENTENCES
unt1rn4inc Relieved From Jail Pun
ishnaemt and Morgan's Term IL
Made Thirty Days.
GOVERNOR MAKES STATEMENT


After having had the cases under
advisement for more than week,
Governor Stuart yesterday afternoon
cOmmuted sentences Of Samuel Bal
lantine and J. J. Morgan. 18th Of
whom were convicted in Roanoke of
gambling and sentenced to four
months In jail and fined $50 each.
In the case Of Ballantine the jail SEN
tence was RENTED and Morgan's SEN
tones waH reduced to thirty days
Both were required TO pay the fines
and costs. The Governor also grant,
~ two conditional pardons ana re-
fused seven.
n announcing his decision in the
cases OF the Roanoke gamblers, Gov
ornor Stuart issued the following
statement:
Because Of the strong representa-
t1ons OF honored and highly respected
: 9101ene Of Roanoke both for and
against pardon Of these men. I have
e1ven their respective cases every at
tention, having gone closely over the
sntirc court record. have also con-
suited the trial Judge and the prose-
cutting attorney. The Judge informed
me BY letter that the evidence was
not convincing to his mind that these
mon were interested In the roulette
wheel. and that he frankly stated at
the Time that II he had been on, the
jury he would not have found a YER
dict against Baliantine. although he
did not feel justified In setting aside
the verdict OF the Jury. My own ex-
animation OF the record has led me
70 the came state Of mind toward
these cases a. that expressed by
Judge King.
Il recognize, however. that we are
now In what might be regarded a
crisis in some portions Of the State
In law enforcement. and that the
most vigorous efforts will be neces-
sary to stamp out gambling and other
Vices. and that stern measures OF pun
1shment win have to be adopted by
trial courts and upheld by the execu-
tive. Under ordinary conditions 1
should have felt almost constrained
to pardon both OF these men. / GER
tainly would have felt that the cause
Of Justice might not have suffered in
Roanoke II the jail sentences Of both
had been removed. / feel. however,
that there In sufficient difference be-
tween the cases to justify me in ex-
tending q greater degree OF clemency
70 one than to the other, and believing
Il TO be my duty to uphold jail SEN
fences wherever ] can md sufYlcient
ground for 1t. both for the purpose
Of punishment of offenders and as n
deterrent to others, / have commuted
the jail sentence Of Morgan to thirty
days and have relieved Ballantine al
together OF jail sentence. requiring
each Of them te- y-the- $3.50 dua
hxed by the jury and all costs.
II am Of opinion that this action IL
fully justified by the records In the
cases and the information relative
thereto which / have been able TO OBJ
tain"
Other CAscs Passed On.
Other pardon cases before the Gov
ernor and their disposition were:
John Clark. convicted July. 1915.
in the Circuit Court OF Norfolk Coun-
~ OF car-breaking and sentenced to
serve two years In the pcnitentiary
On the night Of August % several
long-term prisoners tried to escape
from county Jail by saving way out
Clark WAS one OF the eight. and could
have escaped, but instead gave alarm.
and all were kept In. COMMITTED to
NIX months in Jail in recognition of
this service and on recommendation
Of Judge G. w. Coleman.
Paris Mcconnell. convicted Febru-
ary. 1919. in Scott Circuit Court OF
murder and given eighteen years. Re-
fused.
Willie Gray. convicted in pn-ire
Court. Richmond. August s, 1918. of
petit larceny and sentenced to eight
months In Jail. Refused
Andrew Woolingham. convicted
December, 1907. In I.oudoun Of MUIR
der and sentenced to eleven years.
Was paroled October ~. 1918. to w.
3. Embrey. Fredericksburg. Now
granted conditional pardon at request
OF employer.
(. william Reid. convicted January.
1908, Prince Edward County: mali
cious assault. ave years; attempted
murder. five years; total, ten years,
Refused
washington Fields. convicted Jam
vary, 1909. Norfolk city; housebreak-
ing: two cases: total, twenty years.
Refused.
Wade Lybrook, convicted May,
1914. Tazewell: grand larceny: I'VE
years. Refused.
Henry Clay. alias George Ross, con-
victed February. 1914. Richmond;
grand larceny three years. Refused
Morris Simon. convicted July ~.
1915. In Norfolk Police Court; lar
csny; six months In jail. Refused.