ACW Posted December 19, 2009 Share Posted December 19, 2009 http://www.slate.com/id/2238938/ Barbour took some heat in 2006 when he refused to issue a posthumous pardon to Clyde Kennard, a civil rights worker framed for stealing chicken feed in 1960—a false accusation that prevented him from integrating Mississippi Southern College. The school, now the University of Southern Mississippi, has a building named for Kennard, and Barbour had acknowledged his innocence. But there was no precedent for a posthumous pardon in Mississippi, even though there are plenty of examples elsewhere. A Barbour spokesman put it bluntly and broadly, "The governor hasn't pardoned anyone, be it alive or deceased. The governor isn't going to issue a pardon here."And then he started to. Over the last two years, as reported by the Jackson Free Press, Barbour has pardoned, granted clemency to, or suspended the sentences of at least five convicted murderers, four of whom killed their wives or girlfriends. Those four are: Bobby Hays Clark, who in 1996 shot his ex-girlfriend in the neck and beat her boyfriend with a broom handle. Clark, who had a previous aggravated assault conviction, was sentenced to 38 years. Barbour pardoned him last year without notifying the family of Clark's victim. Michael David Graham, who in 1989 shot his ex-wife point-blank with a shotgun while she waited at a traffic light. Barbour suspended Graham's life sentence, and he was released. Clarence Jones, who stabbed his ex-girlfriend 22 times in 1992. She had previously filed multiple assault and trespassing charges against him. He was sentenced to life in prison. Barbour pardoned him last year. Paul Joseph Warnock, who in 1989 shot his girlfriend in the back of the head as she slept. He was sentenced to life in prison in 1993. Barbour pardoned him last year. Barbour also pardoned William James Kimble, convicted and sentenced to life for robbing and murdering an elderly man in 1991. None of these men were pardoned because of concerns that they didn't receive a fair trial or could be innocent. Instead, all five were enrolled in a prison trusty program that had them doing odd jobs around the Mississippi governor's mansion. Responding to backlash when Barbour suspended Graham's sentence, a spokesman for Barbour told the Free Press, "Historically, Governors have reviewed cases like that of Michael Graham, whose conduct as a prisoner earned him the right to work as a trusty at the Governor's Mansion, where he has performed well and proven to be a diligent workman. The Governor is giving him a chance through an indefinite suspension of his sentence to start a new life away from Pascagoula and Jackson County, pending his future good behavior." Unbelievable. He pardons the killers and doesn't give a damn about the ones who were possibly wrongly convicted :doh: :finger: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACW Posted December 22, 2009 Author Share Posted December 22, 2009 Bump. Anyone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiebear Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 If only everyone could work as a slave around the Governors mansions.. Maybe out in the fields of the said Gov Mansions.. then one day they could get a repeal.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Why am I thinking of "When you was slaves, you sang like birds!"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Predicto Posted December 22, 2009 Share Posted December 22, 2009 Ok, that really is kind of weird. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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