Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1915-07-19

~ returned. reaching here in custody
on November 10 of last year. The
trial occurred last winter Armstrong
was found guilty and sentenced by
Judge Ashford. on January of this
year, To two years Imprisonment, the
judge intimating that Armstrong was
. lucky in not getting heavier SEN
tence and drawing ettention to the
fact that he had q wife end child
In April the supreme court handed
down the notable decision on indie
terminate sentences" holding the in
determinate sentence l"w valid Judge
Ashford had previously questioned
this law and Armstrong was not SEN
fenced under it. 1t was around the
Armstrong case, by what now appears
as coincidence, that the legal dis
oussion and Interpretation conferred,
Armstrong having taken up the case
on bill OF exceptions And it was
in setting aside the Armstrong judg.
ment that the supreme court affirmed
the validity of the indeterminate SEN
tence law. j
Acting in accordance with the rul.
ing Of the supreme court, Judge Ash
ford on April 20 of this year re-sen>
fenced Armstrong to serve not less
than one year and nine months in
Oahu prison at hard labor In this
sentence he took into consideration
the fact that Armstrong had served
three months on the original two-year
sentence ..-.....:.
Such in brief is the history of the
Armstrong case. The former Moose
treasurer since April 20 has been serv-
ing the second sentence. His friends
and these engaged in prison aid work
are said to be behind the movement
for a pardon. Both Acting Governor
Thayer and Circuit Judge Ashford are
emphatic in their statement that the
movement for a pardon at this time
was Unwise and inopportune.
The acting governor said today that
several days ago he was approached
On behalf of Armstrong by friends of
the convicted man and his views
sounded. He said then and he repeat
ed this morning that he is against a
pardon s
Armstrong put the territory to a
large expense in bringing him from
San Francisco, something over $500
as shown by the legislatures appro-
Iriotion bill" said Mr.. Thayer this
morning. He fought extradition in
San Francisco, was returned and had
a fair trial here, and he received
moderate sentence Under the circum-
stances / am certainly against a par
den. believe it would be bad citizen
ship and bad morals to turn this man
loose when he's Just begun to serve
his sentence. We have enough trou-
BILE getting the embezzlers of this CON-
munity into jail without freeing them
right or
It was learned by the Star-Bulletin
today that Acting Governor Thayer
and Judge Ashford had some cores
pondence on the matter early this
month. The acting governor wrote
to Judge Ashford, because of the move.
ment for pardon, and in return the
judge wrote letter thoroughly dis.
cussing the Armstrong case both as
to its legal and public morals aspect.
In concluding this letter, the Judge
says:
In view of all the circumstances of
the case, as known to me, could not
conscientiously recommend Armstrong
as fit subject for executive elem.
ency"
I have not the slightest objection
to having my views in this case made |
public, sid Judge Ashford to the
Star Bulletin today Il have no reason
to change my opinion from that ex.
pressed In the letter to Acting Cover
nor "hayer.'
1t is expected that the petition for
? pardon will reach Governor Pink. /
nam tomorrow or next day.
umbus is said to have brought If tol