Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1907 — A GOOD MAN ON PAROLE BOARD [ARTICLE]

A GOOD MAN ON PAROLE BOARD

— —*-■ - The much discussed proposition of Tom McCoy’s parole from the penitentiary has created much interest all over the state, arid from various sources, near the time when the board met, caihe the announcement that he would be pa r oled at that session of the board. But, while it is very certain his request for parole was forcibly placed by his attorneys, it has not been favorably acted upon. The Republican learns from what seems a tborofy reliable source that BOrt 1 Koffel, the Knox druggist, who is a member of the board, is responsible for the fact that he was riot paroled. Mi*. Koffel’s position ontffe matter 'is very tenable one ? aria as' w# understand, it is his basis of deter - miriing when paroles should be granted, in all cases, it makes him A most valuable man on the board Controlling indeterminate prison Sentences. He states that he will not approve the parole nntil he is permittted to go over all the evidence by which was convicted and thus has ascertained whether there was. any doubt of

gnilt or any reason why the fall sentence shonltf not be imposed. Also that he Wants to satisfy ' him* keft' of the feeling of all the people w f ho were defntfded in the bbnk before he accepts the recommendation of persons who signed tlfe request for; parole. ! That criminals have in times past secured release because ot political prestige, the high source of the request or by a studied misrepresentation of the sentiment at the Ideality where the crime was com* mitted, there is no donbt. And that these early pardons are resensible, like the flimsy technicalities of law, by which criminals often escape, punishment altogether for other crimes there is no donbt ahd the fact ttyat the people often take thepnnisiiment of criminals into their own hands is al§o due to the fact that so many guilty go» unpunished or are pardoned Dy a sentimentally influenced board. The provision of pardon and parole is jnst to the prisoner, that release not be secured save oh very excellent grounds is justice to the public, and the board handling pafoles should bO made np of men IfSe' Bert Ffoffdl, who prdplosh to knoW all the facts abbht die conviction and how the people directly affected feel before he ad oepts the Shrewdly introduced evidence of a criminal’s Attorneys as ebrithining all the facts. If Tom McCoy is paroled the request for his parole should come from the men And women who lost their money in his bank. Mr. koffel is filling his offece as the lkw, Which is just in its aims, intends he should.