Blood on the Capitol Steps: Clemency for Some, Justice for Others

On a sweltering July day in 1917, the Montgomery County Board of Pardon gathered at the Alabama Capitol to deliberate on the fates of several inmates. The board’s decisions would seal the destinies of men convicted of crimes ranging from grand larceny to murder. For George Holmes, a Montgomery County man convicted of grand larceny, the board recommended clemency. A glimmer of hope flickered to life in the dark recesses of the prison system. But for R.L. Sears, accused of assault to murder, the board’s verdict was a crushing blow. His future remained shrouded in uncertainty. The board’s official report detailed the deliberations: In the case of George Holmes, grand larceny in Montgomery County, clemency was recommended. The same mercy was offered to Eddie Hoyle, convicted of manslaughter in Coosa County. J.H. Moore, a burglar from Clay County, and Morris Reynolds, accused of manslaughter in Chilton County, also received the board’s recommendation for clemency. The list of those denied clemency was far longer. J.N. Albright, convicted of murder in Jefferson County, was met with a stern ‘no’ from the board. The same fate awaited George Alexander, accused of manslaughter in Jefferson County. Leonard Anderson, convicted of murder in Covington County, was also denied clemency, as were Tommie Brooks, Chambers County’s manslaughter accused, and Damon Cannon, Cullman County’s murder victim. Ben P. Cowls, convicted of murder in Madison County, and John Olles, a grand larceny offender from Pike County, were also rebuffed. The board’s decisions would have far-reaching consequences, shaping the lives of those involved in the complex web of crime and punishment.

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