South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-21
GOVERNOR RALSTON AND THE CASE
OE ANTHONY Z. TRENTMAN

Gov. Ralston ~ UNFOLDING two members OF the
board Of pardons in granting parole Anthony
r. Trentman Of Fort Wayne has put such a premium
boozanity; committed such travesty upon JUS
tice and justified the orgies of the rich to such de-
gree. that henceforth for while. it will be hard to
whether or not man is to be safe 10 say
his when in the presence of a million
aire. the killing him counted excusable.
We been trying awful hard for the past couple
days smother indignation this action of the
governor but It viii down, especially since Trent
is paroled according to the governors
mainly because he has been persistent
intoxicating liquors. The governor says drink had
driven the insanity-which merely boOzanity,
seems when the victim isn't the brother-in-law
other relative some millionaire. Trentnan is him
self wealthy and the brother-n-law OF exSen stephen
r. Fleming. who is long influence politically and
the main part OF his fortune of the liquor
business The governors plea for the because he
was intoxicated when committed the-manslaughter
to which he was permitted TO plead guilty might be
applied probably third OF the the Michigan
City prison but doubt very much whether the gov
would apply it.
Indeed doubt much If. under the circum-
stances Trentman would been permitted to plead
guilty manslaughter. had he been a OF
wealth and a Fleming relative. As story goes he
quarreed with waiter at the Anthony hotel at Fort
Wayne over whether the peas served were whole peas
or split peas. That some ground for a quar-
rel regardless which side YOU happen be taking
some ground for murder. Had Trentman had a re-
his sleeve and had he flashed II and shot that
waiter the spot suppose the governor would be
holding the killing justhable aid perhaps he ordering
a pension paid the Fort Wayne But Trentman
did 10 way. on the contrary e went a
anteroom and secured revolver-thus having time TO
-preneditate' in advance his crme-before he did
his shooting.
Gov. Ralston. being a lawyer. knows full we'll that
rule OF evidence the beginning OF criminal iuris
prudence. would admit OF conviction for manslaughter
under such circumstances and that plea guilty
lesser crime than murder in the first degree as per-
mftted bv the Allen county prosecutor the trial
court prostitution of the law travesty upon
Justice itself lesser means and surround
ed 10y lesser influence. would had oppor-
tunity OF partial escape. The opportunity think be
tween the time Of the actual and the the
killing has always wiped the plea Of hot-booded-
ness and iutoxication has before man
from thnling-frorn premeditating his cussedness.-
where lapse OF time like that OF going anteroom
after gun made thinking possible
The board of pardons-two members OF it-and Gov.
Ralston have indeed established a new precedent in
this While stiu that OF indig-
nation upon tie governors face ne stamped his foot
told the petitioners behalf John Chirka
and George Rasaca that u mo use" that they
must I'm the electric chair makes wonder
what his would have been had they been men
OF wealth. had they had Stephen b. F1emings
the Of their Rasaca intoxicated too.
when he committed that crime at Vincennes Chirka
y ad religious frenzy inhdeIity OF
his wife insanity which half OF Indiana Harbor had
the approach stood ready vOuch for with