The broad ax., 1918-06-22
GOVERNOR LowDEN REPRIEvEs
JOHN cLoUREs FOR SIXTY DAYS.

John Cloures, a Colored convict in the
Illinois State Penitentiary who killed
his cellmate in the spring, was sentenced
to be hanged on last Friday but was re-
proved by Governor Lowden Thursday
afternoon, under circumstances which
commend Governor Lowden to the ap-
probation to all people who love justice
and who believe it should be admins
tered without regard to class, color or
condition. Cloures was q life convict
for q murder when he killed his cellmate
and the jury which tried his case
thought the last murder was one that
deserved the death penalty, SO they con-
demned him to die. Cloures was q poor
man, unable to hire a lawyS, so the
Court appointed Mr.. Daniel Fields,
well known lawyer of Joliet, to defend
him. At the. end of the trial of eleven
days, Cloures was convicted and his law
yer immediately set about raising funds
to take the case to the Supreme Court.
Among the persons whom he consult
ed for help was Mrs. Ida Wells Barnett,
who was also asked by Cloures to visit
him in Joliet. She consented to help in
the matter after the conference with
the condemned man.
Mr.. Fields succeeded in presenting his
matter to the Supreme Court, but it was
not reached until last Thursday at
which time the Supreme Court denied
the appeal and made no order whatever
in reference to the execution, 90 that
Cloures was without any relief what
ever from the Supreme Court. His law
yer was disappointed, Of course, by the
Judgment Of the Supreme Court, and
having only q few hours left before the
execution, fastened to Governor Low
den to make fight for q reprieve.
When he made his mission known to
the Governor, the lawyer was surprised
when the Governor told him that he had
already reprieved Coures for q term Of
sixty days. The lawyer thought that
the Governor was mistaken in the name
Of the man because he had not made
any application for reprieve for his
client, but relied entirely on help from
the Supreme Court. he was informed
by the Governor, however, that appli-
cation had been made by Mrs. Ida B.
Wells Barnett, whose letter asking for
reprieve had been considered by the
Board and a reprieve was the result. So
it happened that before his lawyer left
the Supreme Court to 60 to the Cover
nor to ask for a reprieve, the Governor
had already granted the reprieve to the
man.
This example Of the conduct Of ex-
eeutive affairs at Springfield is in the
highest degree encouraging to the pub
Lie because it is frequently said that
wealth or standing, or influence of some
kind is needed to secure executive elem
eney, but this case proves the contrary.
A proverty stricken Colored man, q life
convict for one murder and death PEN
atty imposed for another murder, with
out any friends to intereede for him,
and no influence Of any kind, to be ex-
erted in his behalf, Is reprieved by the
Governor upon a plea of private citi-
zen, who simply states the case to the
Pardon Board and asks for justice in his
behalf. The Board and the Governor
consider the letter and grant the plea.
It is very clear from this case that Color
line injustice, and discrimination is
finding no place in the present admins
tration Of affairs in Springfield.