Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 July 1919 — GOVERNOR GOODRICH’S PAROLE RECORD. [ARTICLE]

GOVERNOR GOODRICH’S PAROLE RECORD.

The Indianapolis News, which used to be strongly pro-Goodrich, has been unable to stand some of the stuff the Governor has pulled off and recently criticised his wholesale release of convicts severely. At the meeting of the Indiana Democratic Editorial Association at Ft. Wayne last Friday, Mr. Van Nuys, chairman of the Democratic state committee, called attention to this matter, in his address to

the editors, in which tie said: "Governor Goodrich, in two and one-half years, has released' more convicts from prison sentences than were released during the combined terms of Governors Marshall and Ralston,’ the speaker said. ‘The records in the secretary of state’s office show that he has released 670 convicts, but that record Is not complete for the reason that Governor Goodrich has inaugurated a system of ’temporary paroles,’ unknown to either law or reason, and of which no account is kept, and of which there is no way of checking up the personal and political favorites whom he has released under this unknown procedure. "We charge Governor i Goodrich with culpable laxity in the enforcement of the judgments of the courts of Indiana, and surely need cite no further evidence in support of the charge than the case of Lee M. Ransbottom, former auditor of Starke county, who was sentenced to serve from one to seven years in the Michigan City prison. He was convicted for having procured from a widow the sum of $5,000 for part of an issue of gravel road bonds that had been canceled and were worthless. Three months after his commitment he unexpectedly appeared at home, and an investigation revealed the fact that he had been released on a ‘temporary parole’ from Governor Goodrich. His reappearance was a com-

plete surprise to his friends and the court which had sentenced him.’’ •