The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-07-31
CONvICTS GET
PAT ON HEAD
FROM BOARD
WickerSham Probe Charges
Bring Sharp Change in
Parole Session.
BULLYING IS MISSING
Each SuppIiCant Is Given
Respectful Hearing
at Prison.
BY STEVE RICHARDS
United Press STAFF Correspondent

STATE PRISON, MICHIGAN
CITY, Ind, July 91.-A friendly
greeting was given each convict
here today as he was ushered be-
fore a benighant parole board, and
questioned in kindly tones on his
petition for parole.
1t was a far different attitude
from that described in the recent
WickerSham report, in which Indi-
ana prison trustees were accused OF
bullying, abusive "showmanshlp'
tactics in dealing with prisoners who
seek leniency.
With the charities board sitting
in the background, each prisoner
was brought before the trustees,
treated with utmost respect, and his
case weighed with apparent care
and sympathetic consideration.
Board Well Informed
The board of paroles appeared
well informed on the history OF
each case. This likewise was at
variance with the Wickersham
charges that the destinies of i'm
prisoned men were settled by an
ill-informed group.
Those given their releases were
cautioned in quiet, respectful tones
to obey the parole laws.
Each move was explained care
fully to the charities board.
John Brown, head of the charities
board, remarked that this is the
first time our board has heard this
kind of a session in quite while"
He expressed the pleasure of the
board over its inspection tour of
the prison Thursday, and the atti-
tude OF the trustees in their two
day sessions.
Leslie Is Present
With Governor Harry G. Leslie and
members of the state charities board
in attendance, state prison trustees
Thursday recommended paroles for
eighteen convicts, combinations for
four, deportation for two, and con-
tinued consideration Of seven cases.
IL MoO Vic 1llOO 1llCCJ4llS Va blAC
board since the recent Wickersham
report, which contained caustic
criticism of Indiana pardon and pa
role methods.
Although leniency was shown q
considerably larger portion of ap-
plicants than usual, the board main
tanned its past attitude of denying
releaSeSfor prisoners with bad rec
ordS, and those having no guarantee
of employment
Members Of the charities board
took no part in the session, but Les
lie made frequent queries, and was
instrumental in obtaining favorable
action upon one application for pa
role which the board had denied.
Both Leslie and the charities board
members maintained that their visit
was in no way inspired by the
Wickersham report.
Several Get Paroles
Paroles recommended by the
board Thursday with court of con-
viction and date, include the fol-
lowing:
Edward Price. Lake. April 20. 1926. burg
larry, ten to twenty years.
John Mandick, Lake. July "a. 1925. bur-
glary. ten to twenty years.
Charles Morrison. Allen. Dec. a. 1924
robbery. ten to twenty-cae years.
Thomas Beard. Ripley. Dec g. $780,
liquor possession. one to five years.
Chester Palmer Carroll. Oct. 90, 1929
burglary, three to ten years.
William Pitts. Clark Dec 6, 1915 bur-
glary. twenty to thirty years
Howard WEIGH, Marion. Sept. 26, 1927
robbery five to twenty-one years.
James Hampton. Clark. Jan 4. 1927. auto
banditry. ten to twenty-five years.
John Scott, Park. Feb. %. 1881. grand
larceny, one to ten years.
Communications were recommend
ed:
George Keith. Elkhart. Oct. 10. 1880.
forgery. two to fourteen. committed to
one to fourteen years.
FLOYD Bufkins. Pike. Dec 4. 1913. muir
der. life, corlmuted to twenty years to
life.
William Reader. Floyd. Feb. 2. 1912. muir
Ger. life; committed to twenty years to
life.