Possible Clues:

• Suspended sentence, with agent always holding one up
• Let off punishment
• Stay on death row
• Temporary relief as from death sentence
• Bow of trawler damaged pier - first mate left off the hook
• On people acting together, old magistrate pronounced reduced sentence
• Pardon (malefactor)
• Old magistrate imprisoning Prince I let off
• Give stay of execution to
• Pardon the way one may rip into the reeve