Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1949-01-22
NEW GOVERNOR PUTS PINE
BLUFF GROCERYMAN
BACK IN PRISON

Little Rock, Ark. Especially -
Governor Sid McMath hastily acted
yesterday, just one da yafter be-
coming governor, officially, in re-
voking the parole of w. T. Ale
ander, Pine Bluff groceryman and
business leader, and sending him
back to prison. 1t seems that Pro
scouting Attorney Carlson Harris
and Judge T. G. Parham of Pine
Bluff, court officials in the prose-
cution of this case, had protested
the actions of Gov. Ben T. Laney,
in pardoning Alexander, after he
had served only about 80 days of
a four year sentence, on receiving
stolen property.
1t will be remembered that Alex
ander was tried and convicted some
time in the late Summer or early
Fall, on the charge of receiving
stolen property, in Jefferson County
court, and the time of beginning
his sentence was deferred probably
two or three times, to give him
time to wind up his business af
fairs, and he finally began serving
his sentence on November oath,
and was pardoned by Gov. Ben Lam
ey on Dec. 22nd. This, DIRECTORS
say, was done, without consulting
the board of pardons, or prescott
ing officials concerned in the case
or prison officials.
The new Governor, in a state
ment Wednesday, just one day after
his Inauguration, said, that; "In all
matters pertaining to executive Gle
mency, I shll, in each instance,
have an investigation made by the
Board of Pardons, Paroles and Pro
bations; this investigation will in
clude, contct with Interested Prose
cutting Attorneys and court offici-
ais. 1t will also include, in each
instance, where person is incar-
cerated, the views Of the peniten-
tary officials, having supervision
over prisoners. My action will then
be used on these careful inquiries,
and the recommendations of the
aforementioned board"
Alexander is one of the outstand-
ing business men of Pine Bluff and
our entire state; having built up
and operated the only really Super
Market, owned and operated by one
of our groups, in the city of Pine
Bluff, or the entire state, for that
matter, He had large grocery and
market out On North Cedar Street
near A. M. & N. College, that was
a credit to his race and his ability,
as business man, having lrge
following nd an extensive trde, not
only from his own folks, but white,
as well. He had modern fixtures
and delivery service, and carried
complete stock of everything, valued
at many thousands of dollars! His
store compared favorably with that
Op6TdlGu ny dHyOu0, 16SiuiCoo VI
race.
Laney Answers Judges Chriticism
Governor Ben Laney declared that
his only reasons for granting a
Christmas furlough to w. T. Alex
ander, local grocer who was SEN
fenced to four years in the state
prison for receiving stolen goods,
was that those who were accused of
stealing the goods he received were
acquitted by the courts.
The explanation came in answer
to a criticism from Judge T. G.
Parham of this city, in the grant
ing of the 60-day furlough to
Alexander, shortly after he had
begun serving two two-year sent
ences on Nov. "a. Judge Parham
had protested along with prosecut-
ing attorney Carleton Harris, in
letter to the Governor, asking
that he revoke the furlough. Ny
information is that those who
were accused of stealing the goods
were acquitted by the court.