STATEMENT OF PARDONS

COMMUTATIONS AND RESPITES

GRANTED BY

THEODORE ROOSEVELT GOVERNOR

DURING THE YEAR

1900

PARDONS

Carey Bates.

Sentenced January 31,

January 9, 1900. 1899; county, New York; crime, assault, second degree; term, five years; prison, Sing Sing.

The jury accompanied their verdict with a strong recommendation of mercy. From a careful examination of the evidence it would seem that they ought rather to have acquitted the prisoner, it being practically undisputed that he acted in defense of himself and his wife against a most brutal and inexcusable assault by a mob organized for the purpose of driving him and other negroes out of the neighborhood. All of the jurors join in the petition for his pardon and the district attorney recommends it.

January 17, 1900. John Sullivan. Sentenced June 29, 1897; county, New York; crime, burglary, third degree; term, four years and six months; prison, Sing Sing.

January 17, 1900. Max Hutsedt. Sentenced June 29, 1897; county, New York; burglary, third degree; term, four years six months; prison, Sing Sing.

The evidence against these prisoners was barely sufficient to render their conviction legal. The pardons are granted on account of the doubt as to their guilt.

February 13, 1900. Saul Jacobs. Sentenced February 9, 1898; county, New York; crime, grand larceny, first degree; term, eight years; prison, Sing Sing.

Jacobs' guilt is exceedingly doubtful. He was indicted with two others who were unquestionably guilty, one of whom has confessed, and stated that Jacobs had no connection whatever with the crime, a statement which is amply confirmed by all the circumstances of the case.

March 2, 1900. James Kelly. Sentenced December 6, 1899; county, Madison; crime, being a tramp; term, one hundred and thirty days; prison, Onondaga County Penitentiary.

Recommended by the committing magistrate and by a number of reputable citizens of Oneida county, where the prisoner and his parents reside. He is a young man of good character, not in any sense a tramp or vagrant, and was convicted under a misapprehension of the facts.

December 4, 1900. Frank Ryan. Sentenced September 10, 1900; county, Kings; crime, violating Liquor Tax Law; term, one hundred and thirty days, or fine of six hundred and fifty dollars; prison, Kings County Jail.

Ryan was convicted of trafficking in liquors without having obtained a tax certificate. He had applied for a certificate and paid the fee but commenced business before the certificate was actually issued. The judges, although entirely satisfied that he had no intention of violating the law, still felt bound to impose the prescribed penalty. They now unite with many citizens in a very earnest appeal for Ryan's pardon.

December 20, 1900. Harry E. Sherman. Sentenced August 24, 1900; county, New York; crime, attempting to commit burglary, second degree; maximum term, five years; prison, State Reformatory.