Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1919-10-13
JUDGE WRIGHT
TALKS ON CASE
Answers Charge Made in
Fort Dodge Resolutions
That he was ''In-
human"
THE PAROLE SYSTEM
Tells of his Attitude in
Criminal Cases in his
Court.
THE PAROLE SYSTEM

Judge Il. NJ. Wright was sent to the
Fort Dodge Messenger, from which it
is clipped:
To the public: l have never made
it practice to notice things that are
said against me, but there is one thing
contained in the resolution passed on
last Sunday evening with respect to
which the public should know the
truth. In said resolution, it is said,
among other things:
HE (meaning Judge Wright)
personally was always delighted
i'll sending to the reform schools !
young men who lightly trespassed
upon the strict letter of the law.
Older boys and men, before this
man, encountered ruthlessness
that was inhuman. In his court a
mothers tears, fathers prayer,
sisters cry, lawyers plea, fell
upon stone Terrible, memorable,
rem0rseless was the Judge when
another mans son was on the
dock"
This resolution has been copied into
all the leading newspapers Of the state,
and the Des Moines Capital says in the
issue Of Oct. 8, influenced no doubt by
this resolution:
1T is related that not long ago
Judge Wright sentenced young
man to the penitentiary for ten
years for stealing chickens. This
may or may not be true, but all
agree in stating that the Judge has
been unfOrgiving In his sentences
Of young men. This (the emphasis
is my own makes the present case
stand out stronger than it would
otherwise"
Operation Of Parole Law.
Now, the highest sentence that can be
given chicken thief is two years in
the penitentiary, and under our
parole system, the judge is compelled
to give the maximum sentence, and it
is for the board of parole to reduce it.
The Judges hands are tied. Only Il
few years ago, sentenced man to
ten years in the penitentiary for ut
tering d forged check. He had forged
the check for $34 in order to get the
money, just before Christmas time, so
that he could visit a sick sister IN
Nebraska. A newspaper published
this, and, of course never mentioned
the parole law Of the state. After
passing sentence for ten years. which,
under the law, was compelled to do,
] wrote the board of parole. and
pleaded for mercy. Had the matter
been in my own hands, his sentence
would not have exceeded from three
to six months. Shortly after pro-
nouncing Judgment, l received let
ter from man In Minneapolis, an
. other from man in Chicago, and
another from lady in Grinnell. and
still another from lady in Nebraska,
telling me that they had read III the
newspapers that had sentenced a
man to ten years imprisonment fer
forging check for $34 in order to
raise money with which to visit sick
sister. The Minneapolis man said
that l was a brute, monster IN hu-
man form, and ought to be kicked out
of the position l dishOnored. The
Chicago man said that such judges as
/ ought to be strung up by the neck
until they were dead, and he would
like to do it, The lady residing in
Grinnell said that ! was cruel, and
had done what she would not have
done to her bitterest enemy, and ask
ed me how could hope to have hea-
ven's forgiveness. l paid no attcn-
ton to the letters from the men, but
wrote the lady at 'Grinnell a letter
CADldlulIIS AuuStlOhS W thS OVuAN
of parole. She sent me letter IN
reply, thanking me for giving her the
information l did.
Threat to Lynch.
Since the passage of the fiery reso-
luton Of last Sunday evening, have
received an anonymous letter contain
ing threat to lynch me. II the
writer believed what is set out i'll the
o1,,%; I,n S1iOhf
excuse for writing the letter, but none
: for his lack of courage in failing to
attach his signature thereto.
Mercy up to Board.
Now, as to my inhumanity and
fiendishness toward young men. a
young man, we will say, has stolen
twenty-five dollars, Under the law,
l am compelled to give him the maxi
mum sentence-tive years in the peni-
tertiary. The Communication and mercy
must come from the board Of parole,
hut the fact still remains that while
if 1 could have had my way, would
not have sent him to the penitentiary
for more than three or possibly six
months. Still l am compelled to send
him for five years, and then am to be
called ruthless and inhumun, having
no regard to mothers tears or a
fathers PRAYER or sisters cry"
Suggests Change to Chase.
Some years ago. law was passed
allowing the judge to parole for the
first offense persons between the ages
Of Ii and % years during their good
behavior, and to place them under a
guardian who should report their con-
duct monthly to the court. l have
laI