Show Clemen Clemency y Looms for Espionage I Offenders WASHINGTON March MarchAt 2 At At Attorney Attorney V V torney General Gregory ory has recommended mended to President Wilson commutation of ot the sentences es' es of or persons co convicted under the espionage age ae act a a. review of whoso whose cases by officials o ot of the department of ot justice has revealed rc that the evidence evi l dence lence of or t wilful I intent to violate live tIlO law lar was too circumstantial to warrant the carrying earrIn out of ot the full tun sentences fixed b by the trial juries Officials of oC the department of oC justice in making public tonight Mr Gregorys Gregory's letter to the President President dent tnt said sal commutation had been recommended r for Cor several eral hundred persons now held in prison but I Ithe the they were unable to even e estimate I Ith I th the number Names ames of the persons involved In were not riot given I en out Mr Gregory said in hi his letter to the President Pre that the reviewing re commission in the tIle department was c examining the records In the tho cases of or all th the tIu other convictions con under uner tho the espionage o law and that recommendations recommendations as an to these would be submitted later lator The President was 35 expected to act on the tho cases cashes no now before hl him l within a short time possibly before sailing nailing for France next Wednesday n Are S d Careful scrutiny and analysis of or oraU all aU cases cass now pending under the tho espionage act is now no being made malle Mr Gregory Gregon sai said In order that as asfar asfar astar far tar as 5 possible only those cases cases cases' shall be prosecuted which have substantial merit and arc clearly prima fa facie faie ic violations of C law With Ith regard to the records in inthe inthe the thc cases o of convicted persons thus thul far examined Mr 1011 Gregory said ho In most cases was satisfied that of 01 conviction substantial justice was done dono defendants b by the conduct con con- duct of or the trial the character of or the he evidence e and the sentence Im inn- Imposed posed lIe He sai said however that in somo- somo cases where the evidence of or wilful intent was indirect or circumstantial In character Injustice resulted result result- ed e to certain defendants because of oC the prevalent all-prevalent condition of ot intense patriotism an and aroused emotions on the part o of jurors Offenses Offence Not ot Political Referring t to r recent cont demands from Individuals and organizations that thata a general amnesty bo be granted all an persons convicted under nd r the tho act act- ro that that the tho tas end nd- Mr 1 1 rotc i the President dent that these thee p persons were In no sense sens j prisoners an and that ho Inc could not recommend an Indiscriminate Indiscriminate Indis Indis- criminate pardon for Cor them He lie said the they had not been convicted con con- of oC for Cor mere expressions opinions but for or a wilful violation violation viola viola- tion of or a law tho the sole aim of which was to prevent deliberate obstructions obstructions obstructions In the th prosecution I of or the tho war |