Williams v. Brents

Hart, J.,

(after stating the facts). Onr Constitution provides that in all criminal cases, except in those of treason and impeachment, the Governor shall have power to grant reprieves, commutations of sentence, and pardons after conviction. Constitution of 1874, art. 6, §18.

In Ex parte Garland, 4 Wall. 333, Mr. Justice Field, who delivered the opinion of the court, said: “A pardon reaches both the punishment prescribed for the offense and the guilt of the offender;' and, when the pardon is full, it releases the punishment and blots out of existence the guilt, so that in the eye of law the…