Joshua Gaskill Newbold

“ He is satisfied that Morphy has been sufficiently punished and the law vindicated, and unites in recommending pardon. Mr. D. N. Sprague, now district-attorney, says the murder always seemed to him an accident, and he has never been satisfied that Watt (the victim) would not have recovered under careful treatment. Hon. Albert Ellis, former representative, now sheriff of Louisa county, does not hesitate to say Morphy ought to be released; knows he could obtain the names of all the leading citizens of the county for his pardon. ”

“ The prisoner had a wife and four children, from eight to two years of age, dependent upon him. He had been a soldier in the First Cavalry. His offense was committed under great provocation, and probably in self-defense. He had previously borne a good character, and had behaved well in prison. His pardon was recommended by five of the jurors by whom he was found guilty, by Judge Baldwin, I. P. C. Wagner, Senator George F. Wright, Judge Reed, and other prominent citizens. ”

“ As he had only two months yet to remain in prison, it was believed he was sufficiently punished. The pardon was asked for by the sheriff, recorder, and auditor of the county, and Messrs. W. H. Robb, S. Penniwell, E. H. Curry, and one hundred and fifty four “other citizens of Decatur county,” at about the time his imprisonment began. When released, it was upon the recommendation and at the instance of the district-attorney, backed by a statement from Drs. Finley, McClelland, and Hildreth, of Leon, in regard to Miller’s physical condition. ”

“ Eighty-seven citizens of Wisconsin, including seven county officers of the county of St. Croix, petitioned for his pardon; and their petition was indorsed by the judge, district-attorney, clerk, and one of the jurors at the time of the trial, the present judge of the first juducial district, the speaker of the house of representatives, the sheriff of the county, the mayor of Burlington, E. D. Rand, Hon. John C. Powers, Hon. A. G. Adams, Hon. Lyman Cook, Gen. Jas. I. Gilbert, and eleven other citizens of Burlington. ”

“ The time he has been imprisoned on both convictions makes nearly or quite the maximum punishment allowed by law for the crime of which he was finally convicted, and more than such maximum less the diminution good conduct earns. ”

“ The prisoner’s mind had become affected, and there was danger of permanent loss of her reason. Her sentence would have expired in February, 1877, with full diminution. There were five young children needing her care. Hon. Chas. T. Granger, now circuit judge of the judicial district, was district-attorney at the time of the conviction, and prosecuted the prisoner. He recommended pardon. The present district-attorney approved her pardon. The petition for her pardon is signed by a large number of citizens in the neighborhood. ”

“ I think enough has been done, in the way of the punishment of the offenders and of example to others, and that the most important consideration now, is the future of the prisoners. If it is desirable they should have a chance to become good men and useful citizens, it seems to me they should not not be kept where they are. The health of one is said to be suffering, and the mind of the other threatened. For these reasons they are pardoned. The pardon is strongly recommended by Judge Tracy, who tried the case, by some of the jurors, by Judge Beck, of the supreme court, by Hon. ”

“ Crime, assault with intent to commit great bodily injury. Sentenced June, 1875, to six months in the county jail of Johnson county. Pardoned on petition signed by all the county officers, the district judge, the prosecuting witness, and a large number of good citizens ”

“ July 3. Committed June 19, 1875, for six years, for rape in Boone county. The immediate reason for this pardon was a statement by the surgeon of the prison that it was necessary in order to save Laub’s life. ”

“ They were Germans and could talk little English. They were set upon by boys in the street and pursued several blocks. The marshal, who was the person killed, rushed into the mob and appeared to the accused to be one of the crowd. ”

“ Committed to the Additional Penitentiary July 15, 1874, for three years for the crime of embezzlement of public money, in Jackson county. This is a contested case, petitions and remonstrances both being presented. The petitioners are much the more numerous. Of the jury that convicted Bryan, ten petition for his pardon. Hon. Lyman A. Ellis, district-attorney by whom he was prosecuted, recommends it, as does Hon. ”

“ John W. Green, E. S. Carl, Cashier Citizens’ National Bank of Davenport, Messrs. Dow, Gilman & Hancock, and Messrs. Koehler & Lange, whose names were forged by Egglesht, J. J. Richardson, of the Daily Democrat, Edward Russell, and Geo. H. Ballou, editors of the Gazette, with about sixty of the leading professional and business men of Davenport. Hon. ”

“ Hardin county, 1873. Penalty, $100 and costs; amount remitted, $50.
June 2, 1876. Mary J. Bowman. Polk county, 1876. Penalty, $200 and costs; all remitted.
July 3, 1876. Henry Mitchell. Polk county, 1876. Penalty, $30 and costs; all remitted.
July 3, 1876. A. J. & Eliza Alderman. Black Hawk county. Penalty, $500, each, and costs; amount remitted, $250 of each fine.
August 24, 1876. A. R. Houghton. Pottawattamie county. Penalty, $30 and costs; all remitted.
November 23, 1876. R. T. Harbison. Warren county, 1876. Penalty, $400 and costs; amount remitted, $300. ”