Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1926-01-02
S2l PRISONERS
FREED BY MA
IN PAST YEAR
Total of 1875 Clemency
Proclamations Issued
to Establish Record
For State Pardons
(Bv Tho Associated Press.)


As TIN, Texas, Jan. 2.-Since her
inauguration January 20, 1925, Governor
Miriam A. Ferguson has issued on all
subjects l.1iO proclamations. OF these
1,315 were clemency proclamations, rec
ords in the secretary Of states office
show. Twenty were revocation of con-
ditiona! pardons. furloughs. or paroles.
Records show that S21 prisoners were
granted liberty by full or conditional
pardons or by parole
This is a record for Texas, if not for
the United States The woman COVER
nor's pardon policy has attracted ma
tion-wide attention and criticism in
the state. In the generous exercise Of
her clemency power, proclamations show
the governor has been influenced by ex-
treme youth and old age, and by friend
lessness and poverty. The terms mere
youth. unfortunate and penniless
convict" appear frequently in her proc
lamations.
A compilation by The Associated
Press. shows 224 full pardons, sol con-
ditional pardons, l57 restorations Of
citizenship, III furloughs, 96 paroles,
80 extensions of paroles, seven COM
mutations of death sentences to lite
imprisonment, four respites, AZ remis-
sions of fines and jail sentences, and Ia
proclamatfons not returned from the
pcnitentiary and unclassified. This in
cludes two conditional pardons, three
paroles. five furloughs and five exten-
sions Of furloughs granted at the close
of 1925, and on the eve of the death in
the electricch air at Huntsville Of Mel.
ton Carr, negro convicted of crlmlna.
assault.
Many granted clemency were convict
ed on more than one charge. Liquor
violators led all others; 36l persons
convicted of violating liquor laws were
granted either full or conditional par
dons. restoration of citizenship, fur
loughs, extensions Of furloughs, paroles
or remissions Of fines and Jail senten-
ccs. Those convicted Of murder were
second with PA. Among the slayer>
were approximately twenty-five women
The vioators granted full or condi-
tional pardons or restorations of cltl-
zenship fell into the following classes
Liquor 271, murder l45, assault to mur-
der 90, manslaughter 21, criminal as
sault IL, robbery with firearms AT, rob
berry BY assault 13. burglary l0l. theft
81, forgery or swindling 76, arson J
embezzlement ii. seduction ], running
gambling house A. kidnapping l. perjury
4, receiving and converting stolen prop
erty T. negligent homicide l, bleamy b
pandering 2 conversion by guardian
bribery /, driving automobile while m
toxicated 8. accomplce to murder j
misrepresentation Of public funds ], dis
posing of mortgaged property 2, incest
;. and offense not given 4.
While the governor has been ienIen'
in her pardon policy, she has been Wig
igant in efforts to enforce the law, as
shown by rewards offered for aPpre
henson Of violators. Her most notable
offer was of a reward of $500 for arrest
and conviction of any liquor violatol
worth as much as $4,000 in money OF
property. No claimant of this reward
has yet come forward She also has OF
fered the limit of rewards for capture
Of escaped convicts.