Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 171, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 July 1913 — RALSTON PAROLES SLATER OF WOMAN [ARTICLE]

RALSTON PAROLES SLATER OF WOMAN

Dr. Gray Had Met Victim on Street in Bloomfield and Attacked Her With Knife. Indianapolis, July 18.—Governor Ralston today granted a parole to Dr. E. Gray, of Bloomfield, who has been serving a life sentence for the murder of a woman. Dr. Gray was convicted in 1899. His crime was one of the most brutal in the criminal history of the state. He met the woman on the street in Bloomfield and attacked her with a surgeon’s knife, stabbing her four times. Two members of the board of pardons recommended the parole, but Chairman A. D. Thomas, after agreeing with the majority, changed his mind and informed the governor :he did not believe Dr. Gray Should be granted clemency. . » In the parole order Governor Ralston sets out the reasons for his action at length. He points out that at the time of the crime Dr. Gray was addicted to the excessive use of intoxicating liquors and drugs. Letters and petitions from citizens and court officials of Greene county stated that Dr. Gray was thought to be mentally unbalanced and irresponsible when the crime was committed. As to this point medical experts have disagreed. Gray had been cured of the liquor and drug, habit Ten of the jurors who convicted him and the prison authorities also petitioned for his release. The prisoner’s father. Dr. J. M. Grfty, a highly respected citizen of Bloomfield, has also been untiring In behalf of his son. Dr. Gray is now fifty-two years old. His wife, who was living at the time of the crime, has died. Before contracting the drug and liquor habits he was a physician and surgeon of ability. In his younger days he served the government among the Indians in the west and he made the request that in the event of his parole be be permitted to go west, where he is unknown. The board of pardons recommended that this request be denied, and Governor Ralston followed Its suggestion.