Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-12-22
Sentence, Fixed by Board at
Two and One-half Years,
Will Expire Early in the
Month Of February.
MINIMUM TERM OF
COURTS SENTENCE
Secretary Of State Barker at
Session Of Board of Par
dons Moves Reconsidera-
ton and Gives Reasons
for His Action.

Fred M. Coleman, former deputy
state treasurer. serving term in the
state penitentiary for the embezzlement
of $4,000 state funds, will be liberat-
ed within the next 80 or 40 days, for at
meeting Of the board of pardons to-
day that body reversed its action of
yesterday, and, reconsidering the ap-
plication Of Coleman for a pardon,
fixed his sentence to expire at two
and half years. The board also
granted one pardon and then ad-
journed. 1t will be the last meeting
Of the year.
Secretary Of state George r. Barker
moved reconsideration OF the Cole
man case In doing so he stated he
felt Coleman was entitled to more
consideration than he had been given
in view Of his services to the state in
assisting in gathering evidence on
which to base the suit instituted
against the sureties on Aliens bond
and that it would be no more than
just to definitely fix his sentence so
that at its expiration he could have
his liberty. The attorney general and
secretary of state were both of the
opinion that the ends of justice would
be met after Coleman served two and
a half years. The attorney general
voted for Coleman's pardon the day
previous; Secretary of State Barker
voted against the application.
GOVERNOR VOTED AGAINST 1T.
The Coleman case did not come be-
fore the board today for reconsldera-
ton in the form of an application for
a pardon. 1t was recalled for the pur-
pose of fixing definite sentence which
Is within the power Of the board.
Governor Alexander voted against
fixing the sentence. Attorney General
Peterson and Secretary of State Bar
ker voted for definitely fixing 1t.
Warden John Shook, who was pres
ent at the board meeting, in a few
brief words. congratulated the board
on the action 1t had taken because he
believed, he said, Coleman was en-
titled to the lcniency shown.
The sentence fixed is the minimum
imposed by the district court for Ada
county. The maximum was 10 years.
Sentence was passed Dec. 26, 1914.
Good time which applies will shorten
the minimum so that Coleman will
leave the penitentiary some time In
February.
APPLIED THREE TIMES.
Coleman made three applications
for pardon, all of which were turned
down. His fourth was pending in le-
gal published form when the old
board considered and refused 1t yes
derday. The case attracted much at
tention. Allen was placed under arrest
before Coleman, who at that time was
In Portland. A warrant for his arrest
was sworn out, but he came to Boise
and placed himself in the hands of the
officers. At first a plea of not guilty
was entered by Coleman to the embez-
element charge. The theft took place
while he was deputy treasurer. Later
this plea was changed to guilty and
sentence was passed. Since his incar-
ceration Coleman has been keeping
books at the penitentiary.
The board also pardoned Joseph
Siciliano, sentenced from Bannock
county for second degree murder to
from IS years to life. He started serv-
ice of sentence Jan. IA, 1914. Siciliano
killed on of his eountrymen in a res
taurant at Pocatello. The attorney
general and secretary of state voted
for the ardon; the governor voted
against it.