SPECIAL MESSAGES. Pardons. THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS WERE MADE BY HIS DURING THE ANNUAL SESSION. [To the Senate and House of Representatives, January 7, 1889.] I have the honor to present herewith, in compliance with chapter 50 of the Resolves of 1860, a report of the pardons issued by the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, during the year of my administration just closed. The number of prisoners thus released is forty-nine, of whom twenty-seven were in the State Prison, seventeen in Houses of Correction, three in the Massachusetts Reformatory, and one each in the Reformatory Prison for Women and the State Farm. Sickness was the controlling reason for the discharge of eight, three of whom have died. OLIVER AMES. No. 1. MYRON MORRIS. Convicted of larceny, Municipal Court, Boston, Sept. 9, 1887. Sentenced to House of Correction for six months. Pardoned Jan. 25, 1888. It appeared from the testimony of the arresting officer that there was some doubt as to the guilt of the prisoner. The judge who sentenced him said that, "from my recol lection of the circumstances of the trial before me and from facts that have come to my knowledge since such trial, I recommend that a pardon be granted." Friends stood ready to send him to his home in Pittsburg, Pa., when released. No. 2. JAMES CARDIGAN. Convicted of assault with intent to rob, Superior Court, Hampshire County, Jan. 1, 1885. Sentenced to four years in State Prison. Pardoned Jan. 26, 1888. Cardigan was convicted, with two others, of this crime. Through the efforts of friends, his accor aplices had been transferred to the Reformatory at Pardons. Concord, and released on probation. It appeared that Cardigan was the least guilty of the three, and had sustained a better reputation for good character than either of the other two. The only evidence connecting him with the crime was furnished by one John Powers, who, by the testimony of the police and by numerous affidavits on file, seems to have been a thoroughly worthless, unreliable scamp. Cardigan had been a hard-working young fellow, and, until this charge was made against him, had not been arrested for any crime. His prison record had been good. He seemed earnest and sincere in his desire and determination to lead an honest, upright life. these reasons a pardon was granted. found. For All No. 3. JAMES MORAN. Convicted of murder, second degree, Supreme Judicial Court, Aug. 3, 1874, Hampden County. Sentenced to State Prison for life. Pardoned Feb. 15, 1888. The victim of the crime was an inoffensive old man, who was assaulted by Moran and two companions in the woods, where his dead body was afterwards Moran was very drunk, and his companions greatly under the influence of intoxicating drink. three were indicted for murder in the first degree. His companions were admitted as State's evidence, and testified that slight assault was made by the three on the old man, and that they all passed on; that Moran turned back and renewed the assault, and inflicted the injuries. which resulted in death. Moran, at the time and ever since, has affirmed entire ignorance of the assault, and of th e events immediately preceding and following it; and that he is, and has been, unable to say whether he is guilty or innocent of the crime charged. Without the slightest knowledge of what he had done, he had no defence to oppose to the evidence against him, and the government readily accepted his plea of guilty of murder in the second degree. The proof of his guilt rested entirely upon the assertion of his companions, who were nearly related, and naturally inclined to shield themselves and each other from the consequences of their own paricipation in the assault. There were doubts as to the eliability of these companions. Moran had a wife and our children in Ireland, to join whom he left this country hree days after he was released. The petition for his L SPECIAL MESSAGES. Pardons. THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL COMMUNICATIONS WERE MADE BY HIS DURING THE ANNUAL SESSION. [To the Senate and House of Representatives, January 7, 1889.] I have the honor to present herewith, in compliance with chapter 50 of the Resolves of 1860, a report of the pardons issued by the Governor, with the advice of the Executive Council, during the year of my administration just closed. The number of prisoners thus released is forty-nine, of whom twenty-seven were in the State Prison, seventeen in Houses of Correction, three in the Massachusetts Reformatory, and one each in the Reformatory Prison for Women and the State Farm. Sickness was the controlling reason for the discharge of eight, three of whom have died. OLIVER AMES. No. 1. MYRON MORRIS. Convicted of larceny, Municipal Court, Boston, Sept. 9, 1887. Sentenced to House of Correction for six months. Pardoned Jan. 25, 1888. It appeared from the testimony of the arresting officer that there was some doubt as to the guilt of the prisoner. The judge who sentenced him said that, from my recol lection of the circumstances of the trial before me and from facts that have come to my knowledge since such trial, I recommend that a pardon be granted." Friends stood ready to send him to his home in Pittsburg, Pa., when released. No. 2. JAMES CARDIGAN. Convicted of assault with intent to rob, Superior Court, Hampshire County, Jan. 1, 1885. Sentenced to four years in State Prison. Pardoned Jan. 26, 1888. Cardigan was convicted, with two others, of this crime. Through the efforts of friends, his accor plices had been transferred to the Reformatory at Pardons. Concord, and released on probation. It appeared that Cardigan was the least guilty of the three, and had sustained a better reputation for good character than either of the other two. The only evidence connecting him with the crime was furnished by one John Powers, who, by the testimony of the police and by numerous affidavits on file, seems to have been a thoroughly worthless, unreliable scamp. Cardigan had been a hard-working young fellow, and, until this charge was made against him, had not been arrested for any crime. His prison record had been good. He seemed earnest and sincere in his desire and determination to lead an honest, upright life. For these reasons a pardon was granted. All No. 3. JAMES MORAN. Convicted of murder, second degree, Supreme Judicial Court, Aug. 3, 1874, Hampden County. Sentenced to State Prison for life. Pardoned Feb. 15, 1888. The victim of the crime was an inoffensive old man, who was assaulted by Moran and two companions in the woods, where his dead body was afterwards found. Moran was very drunk, and his companions. greatly under the influence of intoxicating drink. three were indicted for murder in the first degree. His companions were admitted as State's evidence, and testified that a slight assault was made by the three on the old man, and that they all passed on; that Moran turned back and renewed the assault, and inflicted the injuries. which resulted in death. Moran, at the time and ever. since, has affirmed entire ignorance of the assault, and of th Le events immediately preceding and following it; and th at he is, and has been, unable to say whether he is guilty or innocent of the crime charged. Without the slightest knowledge of what he had done, he had no defence to oppose to the evidence against him, and the government readily accepted his plea of guilty of murder in the second degree. The proof of his guilt rested entirely upon the assertion of his companions, who were nearly related, and naturally inclined to shield themselves and each other from the consequences of their own paricipation in the assault. There were doubts as to the eliability of these companions. Moran had a wife and our children in Ireland, to join whom he left this country hree days after he was released. The petition for his Pardons. pardon was signed by high officials of the church, State, county and city, and was granted on consideration of the doubt raised as to his guilt, his good conduct in prison, the long time he had already been in prison (nearly fourteen years), and his proposed immediate departure for Ireland to live with his family. Convicted of larceny, No. 4. GEORGE SULLIVAN. Superior Court, Suffolk County, June 16, 1886. Sentenced to the House of Correction for two years. Pardoned Feb. 16, 1888. Sullivan had but six weeks longer to serve. He was seriously ill with heart disease. The prison physician certified that he probably would not recover, but that his chances of recovery would be better if removed to his home. No. 5. CARTER BROWNS. Convicted of breaking and entering, Superior Court, Suffolk County, Dec. 5, 1885. Sentenced to State Prison for eight years. Pardoned Feb. 21, 1888.. Pardon was recommended by Hon. Roland G. Usher, ex-warden of the State Prison, Hon. Rufus S. Frost and others, on the ground that the sentence was severe; that he was in failing health, and because his parents in Germany, who were not aware that he was in prison, were very aged and ill, and anxious for his return, that they might settle their property and bestow on him his portion. His deportment had been perfect while in prison. He sailed for Germany on the 25th of February. No. 6. CHARLES L. RIDER. Convicted of obtaining money under false pretences, Superior Court, Suffolk County, April 15, 1881. Sentenced to State Prison for ten years. Pardoned Feb. 22, 1888. The amount obtained was less than $300. At the trial Rider pleaded. guilty, and received what, in view of the circumstances, and in comparison with usual sentences, seems an unaccountably excessive sentence of ten years. This was his first offence; he had been in prison nearly seven years. The officer who arrested him strongly urged a pardon. Inasmuch, therefore, as nearly all the parties who were defrauded joined earnestly in the prayer for his pardon, it was granted. |