Evening star., 1937-06-11
JORDON ESCAPES
DEATH; SENTENCE
CUT TO LIFE Term
President Acts to Save Man
Convicted of Mrs. JayneS'
Death.
REPORTERS DISCOVERY
CAUSED CASE REOPENlNG
Discrepancy in Description Al
Given by Police Cited-Slated
to Die Monday.


torney General Cummings, today com.
muted to life Imprisonment the death
sentence imposed on Thomas Jordon,
36-year-old busboy, for the hold-up
Staying In 1891 of Mrs. Lizzie Jaynes,
restaurant cashier.
Jordon. due to die in the electric
chair at the District Jail next Monday
morning. expressed his delight when
notified Of the Presidents action.
Mr.. Roosevelt agreed with his Attor.
ney General that new evidence, tend.
ing to throw doubt on Jordon's identi-
flcation As the murdered, entitled tho
oft-reprieved prisoner to Communication.
Reporter Found Discrepancy.
A police incidental. discovered by
Philip H. Love, a Star reporter, led
to reopening Of the case by the Justice
Department. The incidental quoted
Mrs. Jaynes as describing her two as
sailants as men feet tall, whereas
Jordon is feet 6l4 inches in height.
The original police report also said
the man who fred the fatal shot had
gray eyes and fair hair. Jordon's eyes
and hair are black.
Cummings report, consisting Of 81
pages OF typewriter copy, was COM
pleted just before noon today and was
rushed to the white House by special
messenger. The report was laid i'm
mediately before the President, who
read it without delay and approved it
formally.
The President issued no public
statement beyond the bare announce.
ment of the Communication. He was
thoroughly familiar with the back
ground OF the case, having given It
considerable study prior to . de-
cision several weeks ago to deny
clemency to Jordon. A few days
later Love found the police Incl.
dental that prompted reconsidera-
tion Of the case.
New Evidence Barred.
Executive action was the only ave.
nue OF escape open to Jordon, Is
court laws precluded use Of the new
evidence as q basis for an appeal to
the courts for . new trial Under
existing laws, new evidence must be
produced within 90 days Of passing Of
sentence.
Harry T. Whelan, attorney for Jor.
don. has asked Cummings to recon-.
mend legislation to permit introduc.
tion OF such evidence in capital cases
At any time up to execution time.
The Attorney General Is giving serious
consideration to this suggestion.
John M. Holzworth. whom Jordon
recently repudiated as associate at.
torney, was waiting at the Justice
Department for the expected an
nouncement. Despite Jordon's renun-
citation, Holzworth has continued to
interest himself In the case, charging
local authorities with suppressing eyi-
dence.
Replies to Husband.
A few minutes before he received
word Of the Communication Jordon had
completed statement in reply to
William B. Jaynes, 70, OF 1915 New
Hampshire avenue, husband Of the
Garden T shoppe cashier for whose
murder Jordon was convicted.
"Jaynes is convinced I am the
man." Jordon said. There were
about 200 men and boys picked up all
over town in connection with this
case. I was convicted on purely cir
cumstantial evidence thai does not
conform with facts since revealed in
this case.
Il want to be given another oppor.
tunity through legal channels to es-
tablish my innocence and win my free.
dom-an opportunity which the evi-
dence shows I am due-or else face
death in the electric chair for q crime
I did not commit. ..
Mr.. Jaynes said he would bust
things wide open If were granted
clemehcy. Why does he wait until this
late date to say that? If he has In
formation in this case he should go
with it to the Department OF Justice
instead Of the Police Department,
which now has no further authority.
Discusses Description.
Il am not afraid OF anything COM
ing out that will hurt me as long as it
is the truth. If Mr.. Jaynes or any one
else has any evidence it should be
disclosed.
Mr.. Jaynes is quoted as saying the
correct description of the man who
shot his wife was received later by
police. Where Is this correct descrip-
ton? There was no description at
all until the original was discovered
recently, and that proves my in
nocence"
Jordon denies he ever asked Jaynes
to visit him at police headquarters.
That meeting between us was ar
ranged by Detective Sergt. Bob Bar.
rett at his own suggestion" Jordon
concluded
Before the Communication was an
nounced, Jaynes had expressed bitter.
ness at the prospect Of clemency for
the condemned man.
Jaynes voiced vigorous opposition to
any move for Communication during .
long talk yesterday with Capt Ira 4.
Keck, assistant chief Of detectives.
Capt. Keck said Jaynes Is con.
vinced Jordon was the man whose
shot killed his wife.
why should Jordon get reprieves?"
Jaynes was quoted as saying "Hs
didn't show my wife any mercy"
Jordon had been reprieved six times.
Capt. Keck said Jaynes told him he
Is against any compromise" In Jor.
don's case. because .le believes he =
either guilty or not guilty.
Mr.. Jaynes said he thinks Jordon
should be either executed or freed en-
csely" Keck said.
JPnes has been a freo,,ent viSitor
to pdeoe headquarters since the con-
UctioA q Jordon. He has opposed
consist& Ply any leniency toward the
e0nvie'e man.