| Show THE PARDONING OF THE action of governor murray in extending executive clemency to a number of inmates of the penitentiary yesterday created considerable interest the step was not taken prematurely the reasons for it having been carefully and attentively considered an exceedingly large number of petitions for pardon of different convicts had been before him for a long time he was about to step out of office and he felt it to be but justice to his successor that he should dispose of those applications in some shape and not leave them as a species of unfinished business in bisp disposing oon of them he be discarded those that dil did not in his opinion present reasons of sufficient force to justify the interposition of the pardoning power and after a due consideration of all the points for and against acted upon the remainder the governor did not act precipitately and not without some apprehension lest he might make mistakes if he has committed any errors in his recent action they are entire unintentional besides the strength of the points presented in the applications those taking part in behalf of most of the applicants have been generally persons of more or less influence including judges district attorneys members of the bar IT S marshal and others probably the most interesting case of any of those on which the clemency of the territorial executive was exercised was that of john emerson many people eople have all along believed in his innocence innocence and others had grave doubts as to his guilt among those who became convinced of his innocence were bishop clawson and mr nicholson who arrived at that conclusion after a close examination of all the facts they with judge hoge and others made made strong efforts toward obtaining his release the effect on emerson when first notified of the action of the governor was indescribable the other seven had been notified in the atter afternoon noon in relation to their having been pardoned causing him to get tile the idea that his case had not been favorably acted upon in consequence he completely broke down later jhb two gentlemen named as having inter ceded in his behalf armied at the penitentiary emerson was brought out and the news of his pardon conveyed to him he tried to speak and af after ter a great effort said this to is the happiest day of my life his face began to work with the influence of powerful erf al emotion and the tears ran down his face like rain finally in broken accents he said gentlemen I 1 have been in this place nearly six and I 1 declare before god it am innocent I 1 am innocent I 1 know nothing about that crime for which I 1 was put here then he broke down altogether and sobbed and cried like a child mrs dow a sympathetic kind hearted lady was so overcome by the spectacle that she could not refrain from weeping and the few other spectators of the dramatic incident were also greatly affected it is a matter of great regret that some of those who were pardoned should have so far forgotten the kind act of the governor as to disgrace themselves by getting into a drunken row last night in a place of ill repute such conduct is disgusting and reprehensible it should be be remembered however that this incident should not be u used aed as reflecting upon the governor for the interposition of his clemency as the conduct of these men last night has no bearing upon the reasons for his action n it was based solely on facts and representations connected with the crimes for which they were held in durance dura uce |
