Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-13
GOVERNOR DEF|ES
! HER PARDON FOES
More CIemency Writs Grant
ed as "Ma" Ferguson
Brands Critics "HoWIers."
" the Associated Press.

~ the AstoCldleG iFtrs
AUSTIN, Tex. January 13.-Brand.
ing her critics "a crowd of howlers. u
and challenging them to prove any
Of her clemency acts were unjustified
Gov. Miriam A. Ferguson has in
creased her pardon and parole total
to the new State record of 3.205, while
criminal courts in two counties today
had postponed criminal dockets until
the expiration OF her term. January 10
Judge Whit R.'''d OF Harris County
01ouston) yester. Y conformed to the
action of Bexar County turists in dis.
continuing sentencing of all criminals
pending the woman governors retire
ment. Judges Of both districts acted
Or the requests Of district ATTORNEYS.
who declared men recently convicted
had been liberated
With counsel Of friends Of conyicts
besieging her Office with petitions for
clemency, Gov. Ferguson defied her
oritlCS and IN turn made accusations
Or irregularities in court procedure.
She then continued signing clemenCy
orders, the days summary showing
II full pardons and one conditional
pardon. This was slightly less than
the average m3inta ned for several
days.
Bigamist.Sla Freed.
One of the last full pardons signed
was for Emmett Nestal. who was con-
Victed of killing man at Dallas in
1917, but escaped from a hospital for
the insane and married two women.
one Of whom bore him six children.
Both women recently appeared to
plead that his life re spared follow
Ing his arrest in st. Louis few
months ago.
Replying to District Attorney c. NJ.
Chambers of Bexar County (San An
tonio). who charged her pardon policy
nade life and property unsafe" Gov.
Ferguson declared she had the in
Cprsement of county officials, and in
rnost cases all the jurors, before grant
1hg paroles or pardons.
She then invited Chambers and
Judge McCroy of BeXar County to ex
pain her allegation that Dan Morgan,
an escaped convict from Indiana, had
heen released on bond following his
arrest at San Antonio and had not
been heard of since. The bond has
never been paid. she charged.
II again hurl at this crowd of howl
efs a request to tell the people what
pardons | have issued that have not
been founded on justice and good
reasons" she said.
Below Husbands Record.
sRecords of the secretary Of state
show that although the governor has
exceeded the record formerly held by
her husband, James K. Ferguson,
prior to his impeachment in 1917, he
Issued more full pardons than his wife
has. Ferguson's total stood at 2,44o.
OF which LIZA were unconditional re-
leases. while his wife had approved
SS2 full pardons.
upwards of 1000 clemency papers
hRve been approved by Mrs. Fergu-
son since she was defeated by Attor-
ney General Dan Moody in run-off
primary August last. Recent surveys
Show that approximately 5000 per-
spns are confined IN State penal in
stitutions as compared to $500 when
Gov. Ferguson was inaugurated two |
years ago.
meanwhile friends of the Fergusons |
were rallying to attack. a bill intro. |
dpced when the State Legislature con. |
vened Tuesday for the repeal of the |
measure passed in 1924 granting am. |
nesty TO Ferguson following his i'm.
parchment.