CONWELL

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at 06:39:50 :

The Marin Journal
Thursday, December 23, 1915
Page 2

Prisoner Pardoned Dies on Way Home

A pardon by Governor Johnson to Thomas Conwell, who had requested the privilege of being allowed to die at his old home in San Francisco, came too late last Saturday, and Conwell passed away as he was leaving San Quentin prison in an ambulance en route to Sausalito.

Conwell was serving his third prison term, this one for fifty years for burglary committed in San Francisco in 1910. He was a sufferer from tuberculosis, and had been under treatment of Dr. Stanley, prison physician for three years. He realized that death was impending, as did his relatives, and the mercy of the courts and the administration was invoked. Upon the recommendation of the Supreme Court, the Governor signed the pardon, which reached the prison Saturday morning.

Hurried preparations were made for the transfer, and the ambulance called at 3 o’clock. Conwell died on the way to Sausalito, but this was not known until the ferry was reached. Coroner Sawyer was notified immediately and arrangements made for the issuance of a removal permit. Conwell was to be taken to the residence of his brother, Charles, at 435 Vienna street, San Francisco.