Death Row inmate is prevented from aiding another Row inmate
Death Row inmate is prevented from aiding another Row inmate
| ------ Original Message -----
From: Sherry Swiney To: PATRICK Crusade Cc: ~~Carla Crowder - Reporter Sent: Friday, July 16, 2004 8:35 PM Subject: [patrickcrusade] Fw: Article from Alabama's DOC Carla Crowder write another great article!
Article from Alabama's DOC Death Row inmate is prevented from aiding another Row inmate Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Willie Dorrell Minor and James Barney Hubbard have little in common, except that both reside on Alabama's Death Row. Hubbard is white and 74 years old. If he's executed as scheduled Aug. 5, he'll be the oldest U.S. prisoner put to death since the death penalty resumed in 1976. Hubbard has been on Death Row nearly as long as Minor has been alive. But last month, Minor, who is 31 and black, tried to help Hubbard. He wrote a clemency petition, in hopes of having other prisoners sign the request for mercy. He planned to forward it to Gov. Bob Riley. Authorities at Donaldson Prison intercepted copies in the mail, saying the small stack was a security violation. Minor's efforts to help have stalled there. "First time I've ever had that happen, and I've been involved in this a long time," said George Jones, a Leeds man who's active in the Alabama Committee to Abolish the Death Penalty. From his cell, Minor mailed a copy of the petition to Jones and asked him to make copies for almost everyone on Donaldson's Death Row. Jones said he made about 18 copies and mailed them back to Minor. The prisoner never got them. "The letter had absolutely nothing in it that was a problem for security," Jones said. The letter reads, in part: "Mr. Hubbard has been ill for several years suffering from prostate cancer, colon cancer and ulcers to name some of his health problems. Given the condition of this elderly and sick man I respectfully submit that the pending execution of Mr. Hubbard is offensive to every civilized Alabamian." It goes on, "This is not an issue of the death penalty per se, but rather of justice, mercy and morality. ... I urge you to grant clemency to Mr. Hubbard." The letter ends, "Gov. Riley, thank you for your mercy and consideration concerning this very important matter." Brian Corbett, spokesman for the Department of Corrections, said the package was confiscated because it was not pre-approved and because inmate petitions threaten prison security. "An inmate petition is an organization of inmates against the administration or the overall Department of Corrections. So they're frowned upon for that reason," Corbett said. Hubbard was convicted of killing a 62-year-old woman who befriended him and helped him gain release from prison in 1976. He had a previous conviction for second-degree murder. Hubbard has contended that Lillian Montgomery shot herself, and an appeals court overturned his first conviction. He was convicted again when prosecutors introduced evidence that she could not have shot herself. Hubbard's execution is scheduled Aug. 5, and he has recently been moved to Holman Prison, where lethal injections are conducted. At Holman, Hubbard has begun attending meetings of Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty, an inmate-run group at the prison. Inmates there are working on advocacy efforts on his behalf, but have not formalized any plans yet. "We want to do what he wants," said Esther Brown, of Lanett, executive secretary of the group. So far, appeals have delayed Hubbard's death for 27 years, and more appeals will certainly be filed, Brown said. "There's always going to be an appeal," she said. Hubbard's attorney, Alan Rose of Boston, declined comment. John Matson, deputy press secretary for Riley, said the governor has not received a clemency request on behalf of Hubbard. |
|
|
