The Washington times., 1918-12-29
40 GET CHRISTMAS
PARDON ON PAROLE

SING SING, n. 7, Dec. 2e.--Gov'
ernor whitman, and the members Of
the State board Of prison parole play
ed the role of Santa Claus this. week
in pardoning and committing the SEN
tences OF two-score prisoners OF Sing
Sing prison. Included in the list OF re-
cipients OF the clemency of the chief
executive and the parole board are a
score of prisoners whose crimes at
tracted nationwide attention within
the last few years.
Foremost among those paroled Is
Herbert Reeves, disbarred Brooklyn
lawyer, who fifteen months ago re-
ceived a sentence of five years for
stealing $3.50. 600 from the Model
building and Loan Association, in the
Bronx When he reached the prison
to begin his sentence he was assigned
to the hospital as bookkeeper. while
his family leased q residence about
mile away. Reeves was known to the
other prisoners as Sweet-Tooth
Reeves" because he seldom ate prison
fare and had delicious pastry brought
to him three times q day.
Word reached Joseph and Antonio
Lasalle, serving sentences for murder
in connection with the political feud
between Michael A Rofrano, one-tine
deputy street cleaning commissioner,
and Thomas r. Foley Tammany lead
er of the First assembly district, that
Governor whitman had commuted
their sentences. Joseph Lasalle was
sent to. Sing Sing for the killing Of
Jimmy" Minot, friend of ''BiE Mike"
Gaimairi, lieutenant OF Mr.. Foley.
COmmute Terms Of BandIts- 4
After the murder of Minot, Gaimairi
was shot to death one morning, and
Rofrano later was indicted on a charge
Of murder. During his trial Lasalle
was brought down to New York city
from Sing Sing as the chief witness
against him. but Rofrano was acquit-
ted Antonio LasaIle also was. con-
victed in connection with the death of
Minot
Philip White and James C1innin, en-
ployes of the Aaurer Paint Works,
Brooklyn, who were sentenced to
Sing Sing for seven and a half
years, also were told that the gov
ernor had commuted their sentences.
They pleaded guilty before Judge As
pinwall. in Brooklyn, to having been
the leaders in a hoId-up in the paint
works. during which the pay roll OF
the firm, amounting to $4,000. was
stolen from the cashier. 1t developed
after their arrest that White was the
leader of a band OF hold-up men who
had terroriZed manufacturing plants
throughout Brooklyn by holding up
and robbing them OF their |
pay rolls.
Robert and George McVetty, leaders
OF the Gopher" band on the middle |
west side ,rvha
sentences were commuted by the gov
ernor. For months they led a band Of |
who iadiscriminateIy
shot employees and robbed manufac- |
turing plants end small business con-
Germs in that part Of the city.
Parole Death House Barber.
Henry Dorsch. known to the eleven |
hundred convicts as the Death House |
Barber." was among those released by |
the parole board. Dorsch was a life |
prisoner, sentenced more than nine
teen years ago for murder in this city. |
Under the recently changed prison |
law he became eligible for release.
Dorsch, ever since he entered the |
prison. has shaved all the men await
ng death in the electric chair. Among
hose he shaved during that period
we're Albert T. Patrick. Roland Z.
Ind Police Lieutenant Charles Beckeg,1
he hrst two OF whom went free.
When he first was assigned to shave
he condemned men he used a regular
'azor. and this made II necessary fo1 1
wo prison keepers to hold the hands 4
" the condemned men to the sides OF /
he barber chair while they were be-
ng shaved. lest they suddenly seize H
he razor and commit suicide. Dorsch II
'dopted the safety razor in recent II
ears, and he serenely shaved his GUS 4
omers while the death house keepers H
onked on from q bench near by. n
Robert Moore, an osteopath, who n
vas sent to Sing Sing several years
LEo for robbing the home of Robert II
". Goelet, was another convict whose Il
was COMPUTED by the gov u
.rnor. Another Is Joseph F. r. h n
Nunznann. sentenced to Ave years II
rom Brooklyn less than a year and a
lalf ago for robbinE the IlIinois Surety
company OF more than S20o,0OO.
The cases OF all those whose SEN
ences were comn1uted by the GOV
'rnor VIII come up before the parole
'oard At its next meeting. in January.
Fhen they will be. releRFed