On the day of thanks, a convicted killer was granted a pardon by Governor Hurley. John Tartar, sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of Mary Mahan in the Blue Hills reservation, was given a second chance despite opposition from Councilor Edward T Collins of Springfield. The pardon was granted with the advice and consent of the executive council, but not before a long and heated session.
The murder took place on October 8, 1928, in Suffolk Superior Court, where Tartar was convicted of shooting and killing Mary Mahan. The evidence at the trial showed that Tartar returned to the sand pit where he had left the woman to make sure she was dead. The gruesome nature of the crime made it a shocking case that left the community reeling.
But Tartar’s luck turned around when Governor Hurley intervened, granting him a pardon with parole conditions. This was not the first time Tartar had been considered for a pardon, however. During the administration of Governor James M Curley, an attempt was made to obtain a pardon for Tartar, but Curley refused to take the necessary action.
The pardon was not granted unanimously, however. Councilor Edward T Collins of Springfield was one of three councilors who voted against the pardon, along with Councilors Frank A Brooks of West Concord and Bayard Tuckerman Jr of Hamilton. But the majority of the council voted in favor of the pardon, with six members voting to grant Tartar a second chance.
Another convicted felon, John Sokoloski of Boston, was also granted a pardon under parole conditions. Sokoloski was sentenced to serve in 1928 for his crimes, but was given a reprieve by Governor Hurley’s pardon. The pardons were granted on November 23, just in time for Thanksgiving.
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Key Facts
- State: Massachusetts
- Category: Violent Crime
- Era: Historical
- Source: Library of Congress — Chronicling America ↗
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