The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1922-09-28
Petitions in Kenosha Ask
Governor to Review
His Sentence.
URGE LONG SERVICE
Friends Sign Petitions Asking
Release Believing He Has
Been Punished Enough.

Governor John J. Blaine is to be
asked to extend executive clemency
former Chief of Police Owen O'Hare.
Petitions asking the governor to re-
Jew the case of the former chief and
make provisions for his pardon or
omission to parole are now ready for
circulation in the city and the friends
If the former head of the police de-
partment are planning to present the
petition to the governor within
short time. The petition has had it's
)rigin among the close personal
friends Of the former chief and it is
understood that hundreds of men who
were closely acquainted with the
former chief in his years of service
in Kenosha will sign the petition ask
ing for executive clemency, These
men and women insist that Mr.. O'Hare
has paid the penalty for any mistakes
he made. They hold that the fact
that he has paid to the city every cent
claimed in charges against him should
be considered in his favor.
Would Let Governor Decide.
The petition leaves in the hands of
the governor the form of executive
clemency to be extended to the former
chief. He was sentenced to term of
two and a half years and would be
eligible to parole under the statutes
the middle of next summer. In the
petition his friends say:
eve, hereby request your excellency
to accord him executive clemency,
either by pardon or parole. The facts
arrest and conviction have left un-
shaken in our minds our confidence in
him, and we are ever mindful of the
good acts, deeds and services through
out period of nearly twenty-seven
years which he rendered the city of
Kenosha and its community"
Hope for Communication
The friends of the former chief are
hopeful that the governor will provide
for a Communication of his sentence
which will make him eligible for pa
role at the close of the present year.
+ 1t is known that the state board Of
control has made a close study of the
OHare case and it is said that the
members of the board, many of whom
knew the service which the former
chief rendered as an official, will not
oppose the granting of the parole. 1t
is known that members of the board
have taken an active interest in the
case since O'Hare was sentenced.
No announcement has been made as
to the attitude which the members of
the grand jury or officials of the court
connected with the trial of the former
chief will take in the matter A num-
Der Of the members of the grand jury
have, however, declared their willing
hess to sign a petition asking for
executive clemency for the former
chief.
Judge Belden is now at his summer
home in northern Wisconsin and he
has given no indication as to the at
titude he will take toward the extern
sion Of executive clemency. A life
long friendship has existed between
the judge and the former police head
and his decision in the matter will
undoubtedly be hard one to make.
That the former friends of the chief
retain their confidence in him is shown
by the fact that several of them have
announced that they will give employ
ment to him if he is released by the
governor or the state board of control