Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 February 1909 — Demand McCoy’s Release. [ARTICLE]

Demand McCoy’s Release.

Suit will be Instituted at once In Michigan City to have Tom McCoy released from prison on' a writ of habeas corpus. The proceedings are to be brought under the decision rendered by Attorney-General Bingham to Governor Marshall. Attorney George B. Haywood not'fied his law partner Thursday to file the suit at once. Mr. Haywood said: “We are going to try this matter in the courts as soon as possible. Warden Reid of the prison, who is a state official, will be as anxious as anyone to have the question that has

arisen settled, and we hope that the Supreme Court will pass on it as soon as the case reaches that body.’’ It will be interesting to know whether the Supreme Court will sustain Governor Marshall or Warden filed. However that may be, the release or confinement of McCoy is in the hands of Governor Marshall and he haß already indicated his willingness, in fact, he directed McCoy’s, release against the recommendations of the pardon board; but Warden Reid refused to obey the orders on the ground that the Supreme Court bad ruled About ten years ago that the indeterm inate sentence repealed the effect of the good-behavior time allowance. While McCoy would miss only a few months imprisonment by being freed, the sentiment of the people here is that he will serve a short enough sentence for his disastrous crime if he serves the fwull three years. The case proves that a few people of Jasper county were decoyed to vote for Marshall last fall when they were warned not to vote for James E. Watson for governor as McCoy would be freed if he were elected, but to vote for Tom Marshall and the perpetrator of the crime which worked hardship jupon hundreds of people of this community would receive the full measure of his punishment. Sooner or later the prophecies of the false prophets must or must not come true, and when they don’t come true, the common etiquette for the false prophet is to make plenty of excuses. Such is the usual custom of those endowed with prescient minds.