Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 December 1869 — Pardoning the Innocent-Four Years in Jaft for No Crime. [ARTICLE]

Pardoning the Innocent-Four Years in Jaft for No Crime.

——W. - • - 7 The customary Thanksgiving injulgence allowed to the convicts of the Massachusetts State Prison was attended last Thursday by an-impressive and., suggestive scene. Ak the clbW-Ot-taome exercises that were facia, thtf wfirdvh of the Prison, Mr. Haynes, annfaunced’tltat twprinen had been pardoned and were at that. moment to xeceive their discharge. At this remark there was a total silence—a stillness almost painW. Bn; none .but the knew upon whom, the mantle of freedom wa* to tall. Mr. Haynes hesitated*bouple of seconds and then Uta rname of- John Long and John Hayes, ’When the excitement fada subside®, nb W«it on to say that footgears ago-tljpscjjogiitf men (one 21 and the other 23 -vArs of age), were convicted of high Way and that they were dentenced do gwenty-five and twenty years’ bard labor in the prison, the heaviest" sentence fellMg ton Long. 1 Now, after having isegyed -tow. years of their time, the fact has been established beyond a doubt that they are tahoeent of the drime charged upon them. they were “pardoned”—pardoned for having borne the suffering of four yedrs orwrongfhl imprisonment and kbe most went aWsy to-their homeb to < recover as best they may frpmthedeadly blight put upon their lives. The thought- offtn irreparable wrong like Vhwi iS'Jtwrtfale, and while it .must Ml ways hoof ppssitoe occurrence, since human justice eppno* be infkllftne, there wifold deem to6&*>4all for the provision of »WW indli « . acknowledgment from Society of its cruel mistake than isUldlV impWttfaie misnamed “pardoning fifr Jj^yictwk— Biff—A horticuJtural aclieolfe to be started i* the neighborhood of Boston. There is to be a farm of twenty itertir; ftte to be used for the cultiwUion rtf f tto'VW, fruits, to be devoted Ito pastonagjg a. towelling house, a barn, and p plaatjtojitae, for fency flowers and early vegetables. it is intended to instruct, the pupitedn All kinds of housework.