The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-12
Rev. J. I. Terry, Serving Life Term For Murder, Practical
 ly Free Despite No Action
 By State Pardon Board EXTENSIONS OF LIBERTY GIVEN UPON EXPIRATION Investigation Of Reports To
 Montgomery From Outside Leads To Discovery Of How: Minister Escaping Penalty STATE CAPITAL, RCREACl
STATE CAPITAL BUREAU
 THE AGE-HERALD

Rev. J. T. Terry. Methodist minister of Grove Oak, sentenced to life inn prisonment for first degree murder from Franklin county in 1918 has been at liberty since July 30, 1923, on a parole granted by Governor William W. Brandon, it was learned for the first time today. Terry has secured his liberty through the medium of temporary" paroles, granted by the governor for from 30 to 60 days, and repeatedly extended, so that total of more than five months already has been granted to Rev. Terry, who still is at liberty. By the granting of temporary paroles in this manner, the case was not brought before the par don board for consideration. and no publicity was given to 1t. This was in accordance with the usual custom, as the press has in the past not been interested in temporary paroles, usu- ally granted for from ten days up to allow convicts to visit their rela = tfves in case of sickness, at holidays. or for other causes. Consequently, it was not urti,ss today. upGa !nvestiS gs tion of report from outside source, that it was learned the Rev. Terry had been on parole since midsummer of 1923.
 Letters Urge Clemency.
 number of letters were found in the record urging clemency for Rev Terry, among them one from Fred Stephens of Collinsyille. Speaking of Rev. Terry, MT. Stephens said: "He understands that he is to have six months parole, sixty days each time and his last sixty days will expire the seventh of December, and I am ask! ing that you ext end it so days long er." ISs his letter MT. stephens asked rtse $ so4erngr to grant a temporar5 parole to another convict and states; You will remember we discussed his son We could never get the board to pass fayorably on the case for us.'
 In concluding his letter to the gov ernor, Mir. Stephens stated: T assure you your friends in this county will appreciate your favorable action on each of the above cases"
 Dr. Frank W. Brandon, brother to the governor. and Methodist minis ter, and B. E. Glasgow, president O Athens College for Young Women, were among those whose letters in the file showed that they had writ ten the governor advocating a six months parole for Rev. Terry.
 J. M. Foster of Tuscaloosa, writing in behalf of Rev. Terry, stated that had some good cause for killing the man for whose murder he was charg- ed," etc.
 o O O
 Birmingham People Write.
 George Ross of Birmingham, also wrote on behalf of Brother Terry and expressed the belief that he should never have been sent up. R M. Archibald of Albertvile wrote recommending a full pardon in the case and there was also in the file letter from w. D. Graves of Alex ander City, who favored a permanent parole. Another letter was from Mrs. R. J. Foster of Birmingham, whC wrote to remind the governor that the parole granted Brother J. T. Ter ry' would soon expire and to ask for an extension.
 The file in the Terry case showed that he was granted a 30-day parole July 30. 1928, that August 21 he was granted another 40 days, October 21, 50 days and December 4, 50 days. which will thus allow him his liberty from the latter part of July to early in February.
 Rev. Terry was convicted Of first degree murder, and given a life sen tence, 1t being charged that he as sassinated Dr. T. NJ. Hughes while on a squirrel hunt. He began his sentence in August, 1918. The pardon board has never passed on the case