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Show THOSE UNDER LIFE SENTENCE. We have received from the "life-sentenced prisoners of California" an "appeal "ap-peal "for clemency, Justice, and mercy." The clemency and mercy appeal is easy to understand, but It takes some' Inquiry In-quiry to ascertain the appeal for Justice. Jus-tice. This, it appears, Is based on the workings of the law which allows life-sentenced life-sentenced prisoners to go on parole after seven years of service, provided their record has been flawless during that lime. But thoso who enjoy the benefits of this law are required to meet certain expenses. They must deposit tw'enty-flvo tw'enty-flvo dollars in cash with the directors of the prison; must buy a good suit of clothing; must havo employment engaged, en-gaged, and cash to pay transportation to that place; and must pay for advertising adver-tising notice of intention to apply for parole. This takes a good sum of money, and those who are Btrongers in tho State, or who have no one on the outside to work for their interests, cannot raiso the cash, as there Is no way to earn anything In the prison. Tho argument and plea therefore Is that the Legislature shall make the chance alike and equal for nil, by namlng a certain number of years of service for life prisoners, after which all will be allowed to go on parole, and no favors shown. It may not have occurred to these gentry that another way of "making even" would be to repeal the parole law, and keep life prisoners In In fact for life. Tho advantage of turning looso upon the community a lot of desperadoes, whether on parol or not, is by no means evident. Another thing that will strike the outside out-side public with a curious surprise is that the life prisoners can hold mass meetings, have an organization, and get up resolutions, pleas, express their opinions, make nrguments to the public, pub-lic, and so on. From surface Indications, these life prisoners appear to be having a pretty good time; they evidently could not do much better by being at large, and tbe best thing for themselves, and certainly for the public, is that they should stay right where they are. |