Governor Grants Pardon to Sailor
After serving time in the state penitentiary, a sailor convicted of robbery is released following a petition for innocence.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Patrice Kojay, the sailor who has been serving a sentence of five years for the alleged crime of robbing A. Anderson, was pardoned by Gov. Laughton yesterday. The history of the case was printed in these columns a short time ago. After a thorough investigation as to the claims set forth in the petition, it appeared that Kojay was probably innocent. W. W. Black, who was principally instrumental in securing this pardon, was congratulated in person by the governor. It is doubtful if Kojay, after his long stay in prison, was more delighted than his attorney.
“After a thorough investigation as to the claims set forth in the petition, it appeared that Kojay was probably innocent.”
This case highlights the fragility of justice in the late 19th century, where pardons were often the only recourse for those caught in a biased legal system. It serves as a reminder of the long-standing advocacy for criminal justice reform in the region.
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