◆ SpookStack

than hdae edie! te es ted ea ert er E ppl a aml AC ade aida Ea te EN ma EES Gat ee ‘way, Wathen &.... , \ ' (EDGAR HOOv: + Mr! Fawerde...:./ 2, | SPOrCSH Bashington, B. C. . ee : July 1, 1933 a RECORMED] gy esoe oe SP PEPARTNENT.O JUL 5 - 1933 geptxep MEMORANDUM FOR THE DIRECTOR F JUSTICE . In connection with your request noted on memorandum ~ dated June 29, 1933, referring to the commutation of sentence of | Roy Sherrill from 25 to 10 years, kindly be advised that Mr. Barry, of the Pardon Attorney's office, permitted the writer to examine .-; the file of that office on Roy“Sherrill, from which it appears rn that Sherrill was convicted after a plea of guilty on a charge of ~~ holding up a Kansas City & Denison train at Koct Siding, near. Paola, Kansas, 10. 1918.- There were five tandits participating .. in tne hold-up, consisting of Dale Jones, Fran Lewis, Roscoe - ena Lancaster, Thomesfinight, and Roy D. ‘Sherrill; “Jones and Lancaster - were killed resfsting arrest, Lewis died in jail awaiting triely -. and Knight and Shertili-pleaded guilty to the charge and were each z sentenced to serve a term of 25 years, the minimm, 0-8 : Sos ‘Sherrill filed application for commutation of sentence . e3 rrom 25 to 10 years, wiich was granted April 21, 1920, He escaped . June 22, 1921 end was returned to the penitentiary June 2, 1923. °2°. The commutation of sentence was recommended by Post. Office Inspectors J. M. Donaldson and J. %. Adamson, the United . °" States Attorney who handled the case, Fred Robertson, and the nite Qstates District Judge who sentenced Sherrill, John C. Pollock. .. ¢ COPIES DESTROYED . iar | he recomnendetions were made because Sherrill made a ‘complete — etenent, admitting tne facts of the ‘hold-up and impliceting the | condefendants. ‘The United Stetes Attorney and the Post Office =. ..2 spectors steted that but for Sherrill's edmissions, Knight could 9. not have been convicted, and thet because of Knight's. knowledge that: |. Sherrill had mde a complete statement, he also entered a plea of ny » guilty. It was stated also that Sherrill did all he could to assist. - | in the location of the other bendits, who were shot and killed. .. vere _-—- Sherrill's father, Reverend J. L. Sherrill, a ministe: e Beptist Church, did considerable corresponding with Congres e Everett Sanders of Indiane end also with Senator Watson, during ‘the time that Sherrill's apzlication was pending. After Sherrill" ‘escape and return to the penitentiery his fether wrote numerous Bese . ‘letters to Congressman Sanders in an effort to heve his son's good ~~.