Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1903. THE CASE OF JOSEPH TAYLOR.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 85, 25 April 1903, Page 2

Nelson Evening Mail. SATURDAY, APRIL 25, 1903. THE CASE OF JOSEPH TAYLOR.

A PLEA FOR MERCY. A PETITION for the release of Joseph Taylor, now serving a sentence of two years imprisonment for misappropriation of the funds of the Puponga Coal Company, is being circulated, and when its wording in some important particulars is altered it might be very largely signed. After much thonghr and close investigation we. feel that it can be fairly urged that in this instance the mercy of the Crown may fairly temper its justice. The unfortunate man— unfortunate in spite of his faults — had a perfectly fair trial, with every consideration i shown to him. The prosecution ] did not unduly press home the ' charges, add his Honor the Judge ' did not inflict more than an adequate t

sentence, inasmuch a=? the maximum j is fourteen years. 'I hese facts must ! be borne in mind by the petitioners | in order that, in seeking mercy for \ Taylor, tliere should not be the least hint that there has been a miscarriage | of justice or. any resemblance to a | persecution or a specially hard case. \ If the agitation for release be based on the ground of mercy alone, and if it be pointed out that the majesty of the law has been satisfied by the period of eight months alrendy passed by Taylor in prison- under conditions of acute mental and even bodily suffering, then there is every reason to hope that the prayer of the petitioners will be favourably considered. ".***'* l

While Taylor bas been serving the present eight months of his 1 sentence complete arrangements have been made between his relations and j the Puponga Coal Company for an I adjustment of accounts, and the Company has bought out Taylor'3 interest for a substantial amount. The Company claim, however, and very rightly, "hat the baoks kept were those of the Company, and this the Judge also held must be assumed. The plea of the petition that Taylor's position was as much due to a muddlement of accounts as to misappropriation is therefore hardly the ground on which to seek a remission of sentence. But, taking all things into consideration, the punishment tbe unfortunate man has already borne may be fairly deemed to aye been sufficient to satisfy the Jaw.

Weleiirn that Taylor has naturally suffered acute mental agony during his imprisonment, as he must also have suffered during the weeks of suspense before his conviction. He is ako suffering in body from rheumatic fever, caused, it is said, by having caught cold while working in clay as a prisoner. He has now been eight months or so in gaol, and he had some months of anxiety and great mental strain prior to bis conviction. When it is also considered that he is not a confirmed offender, that there is no previous record against him, that according to his lighrs he tried to be a good citizen, and that , whatever may be thought of his manner and his methods, he was most industrious in his endeavour to develop the coal industry of the Collingwood district, it will be fairly assumed that in his case the law might fittingly temper justice with mercy. * * * *

The public may therefore feel perfectly justified in signing the peti- i tion for the release of Joseph Taylor, if the wording be altered and based ou the ground of mercy, eight months of his sentence of two years having been already served. By the time the case comes under consideration of the Department of Justice and it ig finally brought before the Government for the clemency of the Crown another month or more at least must elapse, go ere the final decision is made the better part of a, year of the two years of the sentence will have been served. In all the circumstances the period by then may be fairly deeir-ed to be sufficient, especially as the health of the pri&oner has given away, and he will come out of gaol a broken man. Moreover, Taylor has strong religious convictions, intense love of his family, and a sense of kinbhip that has impelled him to bring out to the colony and settle 1 around him his relatione from the Old Country, largely nt his own cost and by dint of herculean financial struggle. To such h man, to such a family, the conviction alone is a crushing punishment. Hence, while it must not be contended for a moment that that law has been too severe, or that the conviction and sentence were an over-carriage of justice, an appeal for mercy now that tho majesty of the law may be deemed to have been satisfied may be fairly and legitimately made. In short, the appeal should be solely on the ground of clemency to one who is a first offender, to one who offended in part at least unwittingly, to one who has sufftrcd and is suffering virtually as much as the law intended as punishment. On the grounds here set forth we recommend for signature a petition for the release of Joseph Taylor, and hope that the Crown in its clemency will see fit to grant the prayer of the petitioners. It may be mentioned in conclusion that among those who are moving in the matter is Mr Pay ward, who prosecuted Taylor on behalf of the Company as attorney, and he has appealed under the Company's seal to the Governor for clemency .