The Penn's Grove record., 1916-07-21
RENTS Money End Of Penalty
He Received
TRIED TO ABDUcT NURSE
Interesting Case of SzlkeIy Held for
Murder Under Sentence for Thirty
Years-operation by Surgeon
Changes Beast to Man.
Especial Trenton Correspondence

cause of the action Of the Court of
Pardons in renting the $4,000 fine,
the non-payment of which has kept
him in the State Prison here for three
years, although his prison sentence
had expired. He was sentenced in
1897 to serve 20 years and to pay a
fine of $4,000 for an alleged attem1A
to abduct a white woman and for for
gerry. With the time off for good be-
havior his sentence expired in De-
cember, 1913, but he was forced to
remain in prison until the fine either
was paid or RENTED by the Court of
Pardons. This action has just been
taken by the. Court. Lingo's case
aroused great interest at the time.
He figured in several notable trials in
Camden county previous to the one
upon which he was found guilty. In
the others he always was successful
in being acquitted. Attorney General
Wescott vas a participant in several
of Lingo's trials, in one instance as
counsel and in another as Judge. Al
most every citizen in Merchantville
protested to the Pardon Court against
the release Of Lingo, but the Court,
however, RENTED the fine upon the
assurance that he would not return to
Merchantville, but would go to rela-
tives in western Pennsylvania.
On Promise of Marriage.
Another to gain his freedom by the
action of the Court was Sam Darigo,
also of Camden county, sentenced in
September, 1915, to serve from five
years to life for KIDNAPPING. He has
served less than a veal of his SEN
tence. Darigo kidnapped a young WON
an who was employed as a berry pick
er, took her to Atlantic City and re-
turned to Philadelphia where he was
arrested. He admitted the charge,
but stated that his intentions were
honorable. The Court granted him his
freedom upon the promise that he
would marry the girl, who also wants
to marry him.
Five Murderers Are Set Free.
In the 10S men who gained their
freedom were five murderers. They
were Fidele Parone, Atlantic county,
20 years, received in 1912; John Cayal-
di, Ocean county, 20 years, received
in 1905; Michael Bianchi, Passaic
county, foul and a half years to seven
years, received in 1912, and Jonas
Szikely, Warren county, 80 years. Of
these the cas- of Szikely is the most
interesting. He was sentenced for
having killed a man in a fight. After
his arrival at the prison ne was more
of a beast than a nan and was con-
sidered n of the most dangerous
convicts in the institution.
Operation Made Him Good.
DR.. Martin W. Reddan, the prison
surgeon, performed an operation on
Szikely's head a few years ago and
removed a piece of bone that was
pressing against the brain. Then
Szikely was transformed and became
the most popular man in prison. He
was as gentle and kind as a child and
by officers and convicts he was held
in the highest respect. The Court
of Pardons about two years ago or
dered a special committee to look into
his case and it was determined that
there was a possibility that the blow
which made him a murderer was de-
livered after the blow on the head
which lad evidently made him a
lunatic. Upon this question hinged
Szikely's responsibility whether or
not the other nan gave him the ter
rife blow which had brought the
bestial qualities which made him the
most feared man in the prison before
Szikely mad delivered the blow which
resulted in the other mans death.
The Court of Pardons considered ths
case for many sessions, with the re-
suit that the man went free.
Regarded as Dangerous Man.
Speaking of the pardon granted at
Trenton to Francis Lingo, colored,
convicted of abduction and twice az
quilted of murder, Prosecutor Kraft
in Camden said: Lingo is regarded
as a very dangerous man in this COM
munity. His release will be a severe
blow to justice and is contrary 20
the wishes OF the people of this
ty. Even today the of Mef-
ch~antville are in terror of this man"
Chief of Police Linderman, of Mer-
chantville, who arrested Lingo, gave
it as his opinion that the best place
for him was in prison.
Ask Information on Roads.
In an effort to get all the informa-
ton possible, the new State Commits
sion on Road Legislation has issued a
QUESTIONABLE to engineers, contractors,
manufacturers, boards of trade and
other civic associations and to indi-
viduals.
Answers are requested to such