Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-04-18
PARDON BOARD FIRM
IN BERGGREEN CASE
Robber of Benefactor Appeals
in Vain for Release From
Prison
Harrisburg. April IS.

The state Board Of Pardons, which
frequently has adversely criticized the
sentences Of courts, yesterday in numer-
Gus instances held that, inasmuch as
jury and judge had heard all the
evidence in the case before IT, it would
he folly to upset the verdict and the
findings OF the court
Case after case involved foreigners.
Lieutenant Governor McClain remarked,
when counsel produced after-discovered
evidence, that this kind Of evidence from
foreigners, which apparently was easy
TO get was Of little credence
The first case was that Of Robert Jen-
kins, Lebanon County. convicted Of as.
sault with intent to kin and sentenced to
four years in the Eastern Penitentiary.
He died there ton days ago.
The case of Harold Berggreon. OF
/ Philadelphia for thirty years sailor.
who is charged with robbing. assaulting
and extorting money from his bonefac-
| tor, James Smith, was taken up just a
/ year after the case was first called to the
| attention of the board.
Fred !. Shoyer, City Treasurer OF
! Philadelphia, represented the man He
| said Smith. who hired Berggreen. a
| skilled mechanic, for SIS q month, was
not much Of benefactor.
Smith Il was said. agreed to the par
| don Of the man II he returns to Aus
J tralia, one Of the many places he calls
| home. Assistant District Attorney Fox,
Of Philadelphia, opposed the pardon, con-
tending that Berggreen committed his
] IT,, .,,II he In
refused a pardon,
The board refused the application for
a communication OF the death sentence Of
John q. Chris;ley, of Harrisburg, who
murdered his wife. This case was heard
month ago, but was just acted upon
last night
The following recommendations for
pardon were announced:
John King, Montgomery County. burslsry;
SPtrS! lanes Hafer Jr Union ountH TGionons bmr
slary; Harry Spencer, Beaver County; felo-
wanna M9nn couny bursry Gary Clark Pk
| adelphia, burglary: Charles w. Meels, Jr a..
Mack. Phis dciphiS robbery: Benjamin fBaSS,, Bsx
ter. Perry County. burglary.
James mT Adsms cOuny %T Tfssa
Frank Caruso. ,washington second degree
eas"y TT Soun msco5s snH soTE
jury 70 railroad and larceny; William Shar-
tIe: Bsrks County and william Barnes,
Harold RsrEEreen, Philadelphia, robbery, as
SSs 2H, mad TTy Is PhsdT PS.
delPhia. ,second degree murder; Sylvester A.
Walsh, Montgomery County, burglary.
Petitions FOR rehearinE refused;
James A. Brown. Philadelphia, aggravsted
assault and battery; Antonio Viola, I.acka.
wanna County, second degree murder.
The following cases were held under ad-
Vlsement:
Samuel Levin. MONTGOMERY County rcceiv.
Ing stolen goods; Harry c. RurmRn Mont.
Romery County, larceny: Curtis Vanderpool
Bradford County, burglary; Cora Dayton
Cumberland County malicious injury to rail.
road and larceny; Frank Lattari. Phlladel.
phia. first degree murder; Louis d Berar
dino, Philadelphia, assault with intent 70
kill
The case Of G. r. Ehersole. Bnrks County
forgery, stricken from the list and that
of Charles Rolantis, SChuylkill County. sec,
ond degree murder. continued. as was the
applica tion OF william Gordon, Philadel-
phia burglary.
A rehearinE was granted In the case ot
Ciacchino Contardi Allegheny County, vol
ala tighter