Will County Crime Newspaper Stories
PARDONED CRIMINALS
Something Concerning the Exercise of Executive Clemency in Illinois.
A List of Pardons Issued to Prisoners Under Sentence for Manslaughter and Murder.
H. WESTPHAL; March 1873; Will County; manslaughter; one year; pardoned in May 1875.
Judge Josiah McRoberts, who sentenced this man says " There was no malicious intent, and I think it is a case
where the exercise of elective clemency would be proper. I think it an act of justice to pardon him" Fourteen
Attorneys of the Will County bar, the Sheriff and county officers, and leading citizens sign the petition, and
say that the prisoner was set upon by a crowd of persons at a German ball. He was knocked downand beaten. On escaping
again, and the crowd about overtaking him he cried; " Stop or I'll shoot." They didn't stop and he fired,
He should never have been convicted. [Inter-Ocean Springfield, January
17 1876, submitted by src. #3]
PARDONED CRIMINALS
Something Concerning the Exercise of Executive Clemency in Illinois.
A List of Pardons Issued to Prisoners Under Sentence for Manslaughter and Murder.
HENRY WHITE; March 1873; Will County; Manslaughter; one year; pardoned on May 1875. White killed a man named Ford
under the most grievous provocation. Ford declared to White that his wife was unchaste, and was constantly upbraiding
him with it, and claimed to himself the disgrace of being father in one of White's children. He persisted in these
insults until once in public at a store, as they passed near each other. Ford caught hastily at a gun standing
in the store, whereon White shot him dead. Nine of the jurors urged his pardon and the other three having left
the place. Letters from the county officers, from the lawyers, business men, and one from the late Senator Senter
pray for his pardon. He served three years. [Inter-Ocean Springfield,
January 17 1876, submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer ]
Joliet - John B. WALKER, Joliet town collector, returned $4000 to the county treasurer.
Statues limit the commission of the collector to $1,500. Amounts retained by former collectors amount to many thousand
dollars, it is said. "Ste. Marie Tribune", Jasper County, IL newspaper,
dated Friday, December 19, 1913 (sub. by K. Torp)
Joliet, Illinois April 17
Shot to Death In A House Of Ill Fame
Last night Henry Martin, a butcher
of this place, shot and very dangerously wounded, in a house of ill-fame, Porter
McBean. Both men were under the influence of liquor, and became angry
toward each other about a girl who was an inmate of the house. McBean was shot with a revolver, and it is thought
that he will die from the effects of the wounds.
[Indiana Journal April 18, 1879 - Submitted by Barb Ziegenmeyer]
Joseph ABELE and Peter NELSON, two convicts at Joliet, were recently sent to the insane
asylum at Elgin. ("The Newton Press", Jasper County, IL newspaper,
dated July 27, 1887 - K. Torp)
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