Bickett Has a
Heart…Opens Some of the Prison Tombs and Extracts Bodies of Men and Women Who
Were Buried There When Children…Pardons 21 at One Time…Now Let the Heathen
Rage!
By W.T. Bost
Raleigh, Sept. 6—Twenty-one state convicts whose aggregate
sentences represent 446 years, plus two life terms, were discharged from the
state’s prison today under the second of Governor Bickett’s investigations into
cases in which “no human being has been interested.”
The first of these surveys resulted in the pardoning of men
and women, likewise babies, whose combined sentences totaled about 300 years.
If the initial investigation showed what a careless commonwealth has been North
Carolina, the second pretty nearly convicts of criminal indifference. Governor
Bickett releases some who are barely yet men, but prisoners who have spent more
years in the prison walls than they have lived without. In one instance a New
Hanover convict, John Perry, is released after having spent more than twice as
many years in prison than he has out. And Perry was went to the penitentiary
for life on a crime committed when he was 13 years old. The survey does not yet
disclose any life sentences imposed upon infants before they were weaned,
although others may be heard from.
In granting these pardons, Governor Bickett gets back to
first principles. “On June 13, 1917” Governor Bickett says, “I gave out the
following statement, ‘Soon after I came into office I was convinced that there
were men and women in the state prison who ought not be there; that their
relatives and friends, if they had any, had completely forgotten them, and,
being without money and without influence, they were kept in prison simply
because no human being had any interest in their release. As a result of the
conviction some weeks ago I directed the prison authorities to make a complete
survey of the prison, showing the following facts in regard to each and every
prisoner, to wit: The crime for which he was committed; the term of his
sentence; the time he has served; his behavior while a prisoner; his age and
his physical condition.’
“A further report of this survey is now before me. I have
made a most careful study of the same, and have personally conducted an investigation
in regard to the circumstances under which the crime for which each prisoner
mentioned below was convicted. As a result of the study of this survey, and of
the investigation made by me, pardons are grated to the 21 prisoners mentioned
below.”
All in Class A
Governor Bickett fortifies himself by pardoning all
prisoners who are now in class A. The segregation was made easier by the Act of
the 1917 general assembly, which came so near really to giving prison reform.
It did so much that it stands out as humanitarian. It almost abolished the
miserable pastime of beating the naked backs of defenseless convicts and
allowed them a chance to hope when they were put on an honor system in which
they work without guard and gun. Governor Bickett has been a tremendously busy
man, but he has found time and inclination to go minutely into the pardon
cases. He has studied them all.
The amazing thing in this investigation is the life
imprisonment of a brat who was convicted when 13 and is now just 40. Even this
fellow is on the honor roll, but so far as is known, this is the first
opportunity that Perry has had. Governor Bickett gives him and half a dozen
other children their liberty.
The first released is Josephus Williams, Martin County,
sentenced when he was 12 years old to 25 years for burning a store. He has
served 15 years, two longer than he had previous lived, has 909 days to his
credit and is given full pardon.
George Johnson, Nash, 30 years for burglary committed when
15, served 15 years and has 815 days.
Sweet Sixteen, Not
Quite Hanged
Melissa Clegg, Cumberland, when 16 years old, was convicted
of murder in the second degree and sent up for 20 years. She has served 15
years and has 1,033 days for good behavior.
Will German, Greene, criminal assault when 12 years old,
gets off after serving 11 years with 744 days to his credit. He was sentenced
to 15 years.
Elwell Overton, Pasquotank, evidently a most desperate
criminal, who when 11 years old, broke into a house and went up for 20 years,
is pardoned after 11 years. He has a credit of 464 days. Oh, that 11-year-old
beast!
John Perry, New Hanover, life sentence for burglary,
convicted when 13, served 27 years. Perfect record in prison.
James Baker, Gates County, murder in the second degree when
18 years old, served 9 ½ years of 25. Lost an eye in a Whitney explosion.
Caesar Collins, Edgecomb County, burglary in the second
degree, 30 years sentence, served 21. “On one occasion,” says the governor,
“when a guard was paralyzed by a stroke of lightning, this prisoner came to his
rescue and virtually took his place. I have made an investigation of the county
where the crime was committed, and the authorities say in their opinion that in
view of the good record and the long confinement of this prisoner, he has been
punished long enough.”
Van Fuller, Orange County, serving 30 years for arson, when
to prison 15 years ago. He is 70, has 953 days to his credit and no black
marks. “I can see no reason for keeping a man who is 70 years old 25 years
longer in confinement when he has obeyed every rule and regulation,” says the
Governor.
John Watts, Martin County, 20 years for manslaughter, served
15 ½ with 985 days to his credit.
Gabriel Thomas, Pamlico, 30 years for murder in the second
degree, served 21 1/2, has 1,241 days to his credit. He is 56 years old.
William Smarr, Cleveland, burglary, for life. He gets
conditional pardon after 19 years. His good record saves him.
Charles Barnes, Greene, 25 years for murder in the second
degree, served 18, and has 1,069 credit days. His pardon is conditional.
James Hawlins, New Hanover, 21 years for murder in the
second degree, has served 16 years and has 597 days to his credit.
Clem McCoy, Henderson County, 25 years for murder in the
second degree, served 16 years and has 597 days to his credit. He is 62 years old and the governor is
satisfied that “justice no longer requires his confinement.” Full pardon.
John Wallace, New Hanover, 30 years for murder in the second
degree, served 16 and has 971 days for good behavior. Conditional pardon.
George Turner, Orange, five years for larceny and 15 for
burglary. He has served 13 ½ years. Former Superintendent J.S. Mann recommends
the pardon on the prisoner’s good record. Conditional pardon.
Doubt as to Guilt
Governor Bickett finds doubt as to the guild of Jerry Cobb,
Pitt, who has served 11 years of 25 for murder in the second degree. He has 820
days. The Pitt authorities recommend the pardon, which is unconditional.
Fred Peed, Duplin, 15 years for murder in the second degree,
served 11 years and has 734 days of good behavior. The pardon is conditional.
John Gudger, Columbus County, 15 years for criminal assault,
has served 10. He is 54 years old. The universal agreement is that in all
aspects of the case the punishment has been sufficient. Full pardon, with 764
days in his favor is granted.
James Alexander, Rowan County, 20 years for murder in the
second degree, has served 16 years but has 1,016 days for good behavior and he
would have been discharged in December. He gets a full pardon.
Governor Craig’s “Christmas” gift to the prisoners did much
to ring Governor Bickett’s attention to the hopelessness of many prisoners who
had no relations to whom they could send the $10 donated by the State. The act
at the time caused unfavorable comment in some quarters but friendly
legislators readily voted the money back to the prison board.
All this has had the effect of directing attention to the
plight of many prisoners. It likewise suggests the hopelessness of a prisoner
so far as any reform within the prison management during former
administrations. The limitations of the officials who guard and work the
prisoners are recognized in this showing. There was no such thing as prison
grading.
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