Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-06-04

So, when 1t was announced that Squire
| PRINTS house had been broken into and
over a thousand dollars in money taken,
and that the smoke-hOuseh had been broken
open the same night, and that the hams
and shoulders taken had been found
buried in the woods near Tony's house,
no one was surprised. Tony was arrested,
had preliminary examination, was bound
! over to court, could not procure bail, and
was sent to the county Jail. His trial
came off in due time, he was convicted
and sent to the penitentIary Tor nVe years.
People were agreed that he got what he
| deserved, but they were sorry for his
wife. She was left with six children, and
| # was too bad. Many of the good women
of the neighborhOOd could not find it in
their hearts to help her, as she persisted
| in asserting her husbands innocence. She
cIung TO the man with what these prac-
| ticaI women considered a nOnsensicaI
romantic affection, and they had no pa
thence with her. Others hOnOred her for
her faith in her husband and for her
affection, although they doubted not for
! q moment that Tony Hardscrabbie was
! guilty as charged. The wife and her
| bows and girls kept close to their home
! rrieying as for husband and father dead
! After a few weeks Mrs. Hardscrabble was
! seen abroad, then at the county seat, and
| then. wonder Of wOndersi this woman.
who had never been a mile from her home
| since her marriage, went to the State cap
ital. Few of the men would undertake
such a Journey TOny's wife received the
compliment of being plucky woman. In
! due time a notice appeared in the county
paper that an application would be made
! for the pardon of Tony Hardscrabble.
This the people deliberately and emphat-
ically froWned upon, and comparatively
few signed the petition, although it was
presented to every man in the neighbor-
hood by Mrs. II. herself.
Everybody was now talking about
/ Tony's wife. She was constantly going.
| There were hints that she or her LAWYER
had found new points Of evidence. Dur
| ing the year she went to the Governor
! twelve times with her plea for pardon, and
was met with refusal every time. And
| vet she persisted. She went outwashing,
went out in butchering time, worked even
| in the fields for money, and spent it in
| going to and from the State capital.
| PEOPLE reasoned with her and tried to
! convince her that there was no hope; that
! all this effort was worse than useless. She
rarely made any reply except to protest
! would never rest until she had proved
that he was not guilty and until she had
| secured his release. The old ladies pro-
nOunced her crazy, but their grandmoth-
| erly old eyes were tender as they said it,
| and they thought it was a shame that
such man as Tony Hardscrabble should
| have such a fine woman for a wife. And
while they praised the wife they abused
| the husband.
| Mrs. Hardscrabble had been to the Gov
| ernor's office eighteen times, carrying
| each time some new atom of evidence,
! some new suggestion from her lawyer,
| some fresh concession from the Judge or
| prosecuting attOrney, an additional name
! from the Jury before whom the case was
/ tried She haunted the Governors office
and the offices Of the prison authorities.
! She always had a personal interview, and
aroused sympathy even while her facts
were considered unimpOrtant. She went
| the nineteenth time with a sealed
-etter from the prosecuting attorney.
! She was received with the old smile at
| the Governors office, but waited patiently
| for her interview with the Governor him
self, who had almost declined to see her.
| Her letter produced astonishing results.
! The prosecutor withdrew the charge. The
/ real thief had been arrested, and had sub
mitted statements in regard to the theft
| that showed that Tony Hardscrabble had
not been concerned. The affidavits and
other documents were inclOsed with the
! formal recommendation for pardon by
| the Judge and prosecutor. They joined
/ heartily in praise of Mrs. Hardscrabble,
! and hoped the Governor, in view of the
persistent efforts of the woman, and in
view of the extraordinary circumstances
of the case would waive all formalities,
grant an immediate pardon, and allow
the woman to take her husband home
with her.
The proof of the mans innocence was
so plain, the statements were so clear, that
| the Governor hesitated not to join in the
| plan to surprise the woman who had so
worked for her husbands release. She
was asked to wait a moment in the audi
ence-roOm, and, sad and almost disheart-
ened, she waited while glad news flew in
the other room. When the Governor
came to her he held in his hand parch-
ment, and unbent to say:
Mrs. Hardscrabble, the documents
presented to-day establish your husbands
innocence. l thought you might like to
carry the pardon to him yourself. Here
it is, and | only hope he is worthy OF his
wife"
The good woman's face trembled like
her own baby's when about to cry. She
dropped on her knees, caught the Gov
ernor's hand and covered it with kisses,
as she had often in her loneliness, kissed
her baby. Then came an outpouring OF
thanks.
"YOur husband is innocent. [ do
my simple duty. No thanks are due to
me-"
" But l must thank some one"
Then, clutChing the pardon, she flew to
the penitentiary. In less than an hour
she was dragging her dazed and awe
stricken husband through the Capitol cor
ridOrs to the Governors office, to present
him to that officer
Tony was overwhelmed bv conflicting
and tremendous emotions. He was free.
His wife had done it. He knew that.
She had held the pardon under his eyes,
and he had taken her in his arms and had
given her the first genuine, full-meanlng
kiss of his life. He had always liked
her and had always been kind to her, as
he understood kindness. But he had
never known her. She pulled him along
as though he were boy. She, who had
never been a mile from home, knew the
Governor. This, to Tony, with his prison
experience before him, was tremendous
fact What would happen?
The Governor took him by the hand:
Now, my man, am glad this is as it IS.
And | am glad that you have such wife.
Try the world again, and let me hear