New-York tribune., 1919-03-06
President Cuts
So Sentences
Under Spy Act
Three Death Penalties Inn.
posed by Courts Martial
Also Are ommute d
Other Cases Are Pending
Camp Grant Negroes Who
We're Convicted of Attack
TO Be Given New Trials

WASHINGTON, March 5.--Executive
clemency has been extended by Presi-
dent Wilson in ffty-three cases of
severe sentences imposed for violations
of the espionage act, in three ms
stances of death sentences imposed by
the military, and in the case of nine
teen negroes recently tried at Camp
Grant for criminal assault.
Of the convictions under the espion-
age act, fifty two were commuted and
one complete pardon granted. All mill
tary sentences were commuted to i'm
prisonment at Fort Leavenworth. \
new trial was ordered IN the case of
the negroes at Camp Grant
The Presidents action in the espion-
age cases is regarded as the direct
result of Attorney General Gregorys
letter, made public last week, in which
executive clemency in certain cases
was recommended. Among the 150
cases now undergoing examination by
the Department of Justice further re-
concentrations for clemency are ex-
pected.
In many espionage cases officials of
the Department OF Justice said pris-
oners had been victims of wartime
passion or prejudice, and had been
given out Of proportion to their of
fences. Officials explained, however,
they would take care not to recommend
clemcncy for persons against whom
there was strong evidence of disloyalty
and whose sentences were not ex-
treme.
Kraft Given Full Pardon
Frederick Kraft, of Newark, secre-
tary of the Socialist party in New
Jersey, was given the onyl full pardon.
He was convicted for utterances in a
speech in the public square at New
ark, but in the Socialist National Con-
Vention at st. Louis early in the war,
he was one of the pro-war leaders.
NO action was taken in the cases
of j. F. Rutherford and his seven as
sociates of the international Bible
Students Association convicted in
Brooklyn on charges growing out of
publication of "The Finished Mystery"
a Bible handbook, and now serving
sentences in the Atlanta Federal
prison.
Death Sentences COMMITTED
Communication Of three military death
sentences was announced day by the
War Department..
Private Frank j. Burke, conscicn-
tious obicctor at Fort Riley, was sem
fenced to be shot for "wifully dis
obcylng a command to assist in polio
ing around the parade grounds" Major
General Leonard Wood recommended
the penalty be twenty-five years i'm
prisonment. President Wilson reduced
the sentence to fifteen years.
Similar action was taken by the
President in the case Of Private Aaron
II. Smith, who was found guilty of dis
oobeying orders and uttering seditious
language at Camp Greenleaf, Ga The
was, II would rather be in a German
prison, under the military heel of Ger
many, than in the United States army.
German autocracy is better than
American autocracy. | will not work
for the United States army nor the
government"
Private Arshag Ashbahian was given
the death penalty for refusing the
command of his superior officer to pack
up his equipment and prepare for en-
barkation at Newport News, Va The
President committed the sentence to
ten years Imprisonment.
Secretary Baker announced that lew
trials of the colored soldiers tried at
Camp Grant, ILL.,, for criminal assault
had been ordered. OF the nineteen
negroes tried, five were acquitted,
thirteen declared guilty and one to be
insane. Eight of the soldiers were
sentenced to be hanged and five given
life terms for their crime, which oc-
Cured May IA last
In announcing the new trials Sc
rotary Baker said: "The Judge Ad-
vocate General found that. by reason
of the haste of the trial, fundamental
rights of the accused were ignored"