Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-02
MANY PARDONS
|ON RULINGS BY.
SUPREME COURT
Attorney General Gregory An
nounces Executive Clemency
Will Be Exercised in Large
Number of Prosecutions
Where Suspension Of Sen
tence Has Been Held Illegal
CASES WILL RUN INTO
THOUSANDS, 1T is SAID

Washington, April ATTY. Gen.
Gregory announced Saturday night
that President Wilson would exercise
executive clemency in large number
of federal prosecutions where suspen-
sion of sentence has been nullified by
the supreme courts recent opinion
holding such suspensions illegal.
Clemency will be exercised, the at
torney general said. without applica-
lions being made, in those cases where
pleas of guilty were entered or YER
diets of guilty returned prior to June
Is. 1916, but no sentences pronounced
and in those cases where the sentence
imposed was less than the period be-
tween the date of imposition and June
Is, 1917.
The number who will receive pardons
or communications under the ruling
probably will run into the thousands
MANY of them have been at liberty for
long periods, and the President is I'M
derstood to feel that the new business
and personal relations they have been
permitted to build up because OF Glenn
ency by the courts should not DC
broken down. Under the supreme
court opinion all of them would nave
heen compelled but for the PRESIDENT
intervention to return to custody.
Gregory Issues Statement
Atty-Gen. Gregory issued this state
ment: o,.
1.-THE supreme court on Dec. 4. 1916
without any dissent, in the case OF eA-
parte United States, petitioner cine ALI
let's easel, decided that United states as
trict Judges had no power to suspend the
imposition of sentence or the execution
of sentence except for the purpose of dis
nos;ne of judicial questions. Only por-
ton of the district judges claimed the
right to exercise such power, ana lhe
Killets case was instituted by the gov
eminent for the purpose of settling th+
question and obtaining uniformity in the
administration of the criminal laws
..These results have been accomplished
the department of justice has been pro-
ducing from the United States district
attorneys lists of cases in which pro-
nouncement Of execution OF sentence mas
been suspended contrary to the rule ialo
down by the supreme court. There are
more than 5000 of these cases, and 1t mas
become necessary to adopt a general pol
lev in dealing with them. The cases are
being divided into three groups:
The Groups
.1-Those in which the sentence I'M
posed was less than the period between
the date Of imposition and June 10, III
(this being about the date on which the
mandate in the kilets case will be SEN
down from the supreme court.
"2-Cases in which pleas OF guilty
were entered or verdicts OF guilty re-
turned prior to June Is, 1916, and II
which no sentence was pronounced.
"3--Remaining cases.
"Fxcept in very unusual instances
the President will. without application
being made, close the cases falling
within the first and second groups by
the exercise of clemency.
1.-THE third group will probably con
sist Of a comparatively small number
of cases, which will be disposed OF OF
their merits, and a determination en-
forced or executive clemency recon-
mended. If nece ssary, a general respite
+ Of six months from June 15 1917, will
be issued to defendants in this groul
to secure adequate consideration Of thu
| facts.
"a circular Is being sent to the Unit
ed States district attorneys explaining
! the policy to be pursued and instruct
them to take no steps to secure the en-
forcement of sentences in cases fallin
in groups ! and Q, and to await tn
action Of the department before taking
any such steps as to cases falling Il
! group ~