In a chilling display of mercy, six murderers stood before the North Dakota pardon board, begging for their lives. On December 3, 1936, the board met to hear the pleas of these convicted killers, who faced the very real possibility of spending the rest of their days behind bars. Among them was Arnold Thiele, a man serving a 25-year term for second-degree murder in Burleigh County. But Thiele was not alone in his desperation. Five others, convicted of murder, also stood before the board, hoping to escape the harsh realities of life inside the North Dakota penitentiary.
The pardon board, led by John W. Benson of Bismarck, was tasked with deciding the fate of these convicted killers. Benson, a newcomer to the board, had been appointed to fill the unexpired term of M.M. Borman, who had resigned due to illness. Abércrombie, a previous member, had also stepped down, citing health reasons. The board was in for a long day, with 113 applications for clemency to consider.
As the board deliberated, the tension was palpable. Thiele’s fate, like that of the five others, hung in the balance. But in the end, mercy was a scarce commodity. Of the 30 cases considered, only one pardon was granted, and seven paroles were ordered. For the six murderers, it was a bitter pill to swallow. Their pleas for clemency had fallen on deaf ears, and they would have to face the consequences of their actions.
The North Dakota penitentiary, a fortress of steel and stone, loomed large over the proceedings. Its walls had witnessed countless pleas of mercy, but few had been successful. For the six murderers, the harsh realities of life behind bars would have to serve as a reminder of the consequences of their crimes. As the pardon board closed its doors, the fate of these convicted killers was sealed, a grim reminder of the unforgiving nature of justice.
The North Dakota penitentiary, a place where hope came hard to find, was a far cry from the bright lights and bustling streets of Bismarck. But for the six murderers, there would be no escape from the darkness that had consumed them. Their crimes would haunt them for the rest of their days, a constant reminder of the mercy they had been denied.
The pardon board’s decision was a stark reminder that justice can be harsh and unforgiving. For the six murderers, it was a lesson learned the hard way. As they faced the long days and nights of their sentence, they would have to confront the consequences of their actions. Mercy, it seemed, was a luxury they could not afford.
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Key Facts
- State: North Dakota
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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