The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1931-06-15
N. D. PARDON BOARD
MEETS TO CONSIDER
PRISONERS APPEALS
1874 Pleas for Mercy Brought
Before State Body at Semi
Annual Meeting

Crime and criminals held the at.
tention of the state pardon board
Monday as members began considera-
ton Of 1874 pleas for mercy at their
semi-annual session.
Outstanding on the calendar were
the cases Of four me serving life
terms for first-degree murder.
Men who have figured In some OF
the most sensational crimes In the
states history appeared before the
board to set forth their pleas.
Two men In prison for double MUIR
ders were to be heard by the board,
One Is Joe Milo, So, sentenced in Bot
tineau county to hang in November,
1914, but later committed to prison
when the legislature abolished capital
punishment as he awaited execution,
Milo pleaded guilty to killing two fell
l~ow-employes with the aid Of an &C.
complete who was sentenced to life
Imprisonment.
Sylvester Snyder, SO, is serving a
30-year sentence for second degree
murder. He was convicted Of killing
n man and pleaded guilty to the
charge Of Staying another. receiving
a sentence of 30 years for each crime.
The sentences, however, were made
concurrent.
Claude Peoples. AZ, negro, serving
since 1916 for killing another negro
at a party In Minot; Sam Kallel, SO.
Leydon, N. D., sentenced in 1922 for
killing a young girl; and Raymond
E. Potter. convicted in 1929 for the
murder Of Oliver Webb at Bismarck
are the others whose applications are
before the board.
Members Of the board, OF which
Governor George F. Shafer is chair
man, planned to continue their DELHI
erations until late in the evening. II
the calendar is not completed then,
they will reconvene Tuesday. Besides
the governor. the membership of the
board consists of Attorney General
James Morris: Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court A. M. Christianson:
John l.. Hulteng, mayor Of Grand
Forks: and J. E. Davis, Bismarck.
successor to DR.. D. T. Robertson, for
merly Of Fargo and now out Of the
state. Frank Bryant, the governors
secretary. is secretary of the board.
Samuel Meadows. serving a four
year sentence for second : degree
manslaughter, was given his freedom
by the board.
At the morning session 10 cases
were considered. clemency being
shown to two of the prisoners.
Meadows pleaded guilty in Penn
bina county and va sentenced June
Is, 1929. The charge grew out of a
party he had attended. A woman
guest left the house and froze to
death outside.
Scott Cameron, Bismarck attorney,
representing Meadows. told the board
his client pleaded guilty to the charge
with the understanding he would be
released from prison within a year
This was done, he said, because the
next term Of court was six months
away. and Meadows, unable to fur
niSh bond, decided to start his prison
sentence instead of waiting for trial.
Orrin johnson, 81, sentenced from
Cass county Dec. 26, 1929, to a 2la-
year term for third degree burglary,
was given a parole effective as soon
as he could present an employers
assuring him employment.
His aged mother came from Mime
to make a plea for her son. She
told the board she had arranged for
his employment on a farm as soon
as he is released.
Action on an application by Mrs.
Tillie Shoard. Fargo. serving a five
year term for receiving stolen prop
erty. was deferred by the board. She
was sentenced April %, 1929, follow
ing her conviction in Cass county.
Mrs. Shoard asked to be permitted
to leave for Wisconsin to care for
her aged and i'll father.