Smyrna times., 1924-06-11
STATE BOARD REFUSE PARDON
THURSDAY TO c. F. EASTMAN
WILMINGTON MAN SERVING
EIGHT YEARS GETS NO AID
Board Refuses to Act on His Case as
They Also Did to the Appeal of
Joseph Roach, of Wilmington

AHS OIdCS DOdTu OF HafdOnS IN reg |
ular monthly session at Dover, Thurs
day heard four applications, two of
which were for absolute pardons and
two for restoration of citizenship.
The cases were those of Charles F.
Eastman, serving eight years in the
New Castle county wOrkhouse for en-
bezzlement; Joseph Roach, an Italian,
serving a life sentence for the shoot
ing of Joseph DeNero, another Italian;
W. S. Cooke. white, application for
restoration of citizenship, and John
Grant, cOlored, restoration of citizen
ship. All members of the board were
present except Lieutenant Governor
Bush. The first case considered was
that of Charles F. Eastman, which
was denied. He was represented by |
Judge Pritchett, of Wilmington, who |
recited the history of the case as we'll |
as Eastman's past record as a citizen |
and church worker. He also stated |
that he had served 3 years and Z |
months of his sentence and had been |
a model prisoner in every respect; in |
fact had materially aided in the honor |
system at the workhouse and that it |
was the belief that further imprison-
ment would in no way relieve the stu
alton from a punishment standpoint.
Judge Prickett read letters from
Henry NJ. Candy, w. F. Smalley, Prof
Barkley, the latter teacher of ciWcs
in the Wilmington High School and
also teacher at the workhouse, all of
whom urged the pardon,on the ground
that the ends of justice would be fully
met for the offenSe committed. There
was also a letter from DR.. Charles A.
Richie and from Drs. Julian and Asa
Adair, telling of the physical condi-
tiOn of Mrs. Eastman, the wife. Pc
titions were also read from the Della
ware Canoe Club and from Jefferson
Lodge, l. o. o. F. of Wilmington;
Delaware Christian Endeavor Union,
the Wilmington Christian Endeavor
Society and other church societies of
Wilmington, all urging the pardon.
Letters were also read from Russell
H. Dunham of the Hercules Powder
Company where Eastman was en-
ployed, also from the Sessions and
Board of Trustees of First and Cen
tral Presbyterian Church, Whining
ton; from the Board of Trustees of
the New Castle County Workhouse;
from Warden Leach of the workhouse,
all urging the pardon of Eastman.
In addition Messrs. Hayes and
] Steling, of Wilmington, the former
: with the Diamond Ice and Coal Com
pany, and the latter superintendent
] of the Hilles & Jones Company, ap-
4 peared before the board and gave ex-
\ preston favoring the pardon from
|. the citizen standpoint.
| Prof. Barkley, also spoke in behalf
of Eastman and his work at the work
house. ]. A. Oliver, probation officer
also urged the pardon.
U Rev. Aquilla Webb, pastor of First
and Central Presbyterian Church
| briefly advocated the pardon.
| Deputy Attorney-General Wiley
| was asked if the encouragement.
Office had any reply to make, to which
he replied he had nothing to add t.
II what had already been said or pre-
sented by Judge Pnckett and thu
others.
The petition was denied.
The second case heard by the boar,
was that of John Grant of Seaford,
colored man who, when a boy of Is
was conviced and whipped for stealing
| a watch. He served six months i'm
| prisonment. He is now about 40 year
| of age and was given a most excel
lent character. The application wa
granted. Grant was represented b
Fl Daniel J. Layton of Georgetown. Tn
third case heard was that of JOsep
| Roach, an Itanlian, of Wilmington
| age 27 years, who is serving a lif
ii sentence in the worlkhouse after plead
/ ing guilty in 1920 to the shooting G
u Joseph DeNero who had shot and Kill
- ed the father of Roach in 1915, Roac
- shooting DeNero on the marsh Will
out target shooting. Superintendent
Black, Sergeant Vandegrift and office
Pierce told of the case and recon
mended the pardon. Letters WEI
also read from several who were fan
iliar with the circumstances of til
shooting and thought the offens
would be no more than manslaughte
J. A. Oliver also advocated the pal
don. The petition was denied. ROac
was represented by Attorney J.
Morris, Jr. Warden Leach also gay
Roach a good record at the wOrl
house.
The last case heard was that {
William S. Cooke, for restoration
citizenship, he having been convictC
in 1919 and sentenced to six month
imprisonment in the workhouse fl
larceny. The application was granite