New Britain herald., 1923-08-02
Governor Sees Political Attack

SA1SernOr SECS t'OlitiCdl fALtttCh
Coboconk, Ontario. Aug. 2.-This is
all political bunk" said Goyernor
Donahey Of Ohio concerning two con-
victed murderers brought by him in
his party on a fishing trip to Cobo-
conk.
oFhis news was published to hurt
me. I have a signed pardon in my
desk at the executive mansion for
Earl Jennings, one of the murderers
and c. Zipriani Is employed as a
cook"
Governor Donahey was very indig-
nant at the publicity the matter had
received and stated that he was never
SO surprised in his life as when he
heard of the supposed controversy
over these men in his party.
Both men are TRUSTEES" he con-
tinued, land have been for over Ave
years. These boys are not real MUIR
derers. They were convicted of SEQ
ond degree murder, not first They
started to fight in a pool room and in
both cases two opponents were acct
dentally killed. They aren't like
thieves who have stolen and who
have resisted capture by force. I
would trust them as I do my son. I
am personally responsible for these
men and I know them"
did you have any trouble getting
across the border?" the governor was
asks.
mo, not Bit" he replied. II had
a pass from the Hon. 2. G. Drury, for
mer Premier of Ontario, and we are
here on his invitation"
Blaming the system of penal servi-
tude for the condition of many GRIM
mails, the governor continued:
Our system In the penitentiaries Is
to redeem men, men whom we know
to deserve it, and as result we have
500 men on our honor list sleeping
outside in tents with no guards. I
have also two other murderers at the
mansion, one a gardener
and the other a housekeeper. We
never have any trouble with these
men. We treat them as ourselves.
and in this way many such men have
risen from the depths"
Warden Thomas of Ohio Peniten-
larry, who accompanied the governor,
stated that last night the party held
L guessing contest for the people of
Coboconk to determine the two muir
ierers and try to pick them out of the
party. They picked the superintend-
INT of the machine shop, Homer
Price, and my own son, Don Thomas"
lie said.
The party is composed of Governor
Oonahey and his six sons; Warden
Preston Thomas and his son Don, and
he two convict servants, Earl Jen-
lings and c. zipriani. They are trav-
'ect to spend three weeks in the
'oboconk district, fishing and boating.
Ohio Attorney General Criticizes.
q Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 2.-Governor
|. V. Donahey of Ohio and his six
ons, accompanied by Warden Preston
J. Thomas and the latter's son, left
ere few days ago for a fishing trip
i the Province of Ontario, Canada.
hey took with them two prisoners of
ne Ohio penitentiary, Earl Jennings,
he governors chauffeur, and Con-
.antine Zipriani, the warden's cook,
1Sb All eiO SdpbSltlCS III WHICH IIleg
ad been acting while here.
Jennings was convicted of man.
augher for killing man in a fight.
ipriani's 'offense is of lesser degree.
9th have been TRUSTEES" in the
hio penitentiary and had special lib
tiles.
For one of them a pardon is al
lady signed and is held in the gov
'nor's desk. The governor instruct
his private secretary, Jacob A.
eckstroth, to give 1t to the man
lould anything happen to the gov
nor involving his sudden demise.
The difficulty raised about taking
lie convicts into Canada came as a
Irprise to state officials here, incIud-
g those in the governors office.
hey said much was being made out
little.
The Attorney General, Charles c.
-abbe, said he considered the gov
nor's act i'll advised. He added that
ere might be complications If the
isoners sought to get their freedom.
The governor Is said to have gone
Canada by invitation of the On
rio Premier. The party expected to
go NnI't two W. -