Orangeburg times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1872-1875, 1874-06-25

arrested, had preliminary examina.
tion. 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 peniten-
tiary for five years. People were agreed
that he got what he deserved, but they
were sorry for his wife. She was left
with six children, and it was too bad.
Many of the good women of the neigh
borhocd could not find il in their hearts
to help her, as she persisted in asserting
her husbands innocence. She cluIg to
tho man with what these practical wo-
men considered nonsensical, romantic
affection, and they had no patience with
her. Others honored her for her faith
in her husband and for her affection, al
though they doubted not for moment
that Tony Hardscrabble was guilty as
charged. The wife and her boys and
girls kept close to their home, grieving
ss for husband and father dead. After
few weeks, Mrs. Hardscrabble was
seen abroad, then at the county seat,
and then, wonder of wonders this
woman, who had never been mile from
her home since her marriage, went to
the state capital. Few of the men would
undertake such q journey. Tony's wife
received the compliment of being o
plucky woman. In due time notice
appeared in the county paper that an
application would be made for the par
don Of Tony Hardscrabble. This the
people deliberately and emphatically
frowned upon, and comparatively few
signed the petition, although it was
presented to every man in the neiehbor-
hood by Mrs. 81. herself.
Everybody was now talking about
Iony'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 yet she persisted. She went ont
washing, 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 OK.
cept to protest that her husband was in-
noeent and she would never rest until
she had proved that he was not guilty
and until .she.had secured his release.
The old ladies pronounced her crazy.
but their grandmotherly old eyes were
tender as they eaid it, and they thought
1T was shame that such man as Tony
Hardscrabblc should havo such fine
woman for wife. And while they
praised the wife they abused the hus.
band.
Mrs. Hardscrabble had been to the
governors Office eighteen times, carry
ing each time some new atom of evi-
dence, some new suggestion from her
lawyer, some fresh concession from the
Judge or prosecuting-attorney, an addi-
tional 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 sympa.
thy even while her facts we're considered
nnimportant. She went the nineteenth
time with sealed letter from the pros
ecuting attorney. She was received
with the old smile Mt the governors Of
fice, but waited patiently for her inter
view with the governor himself, 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 submitted statements in regard to
the theft that showed that Tony Hard
scrabble had not been concerned. The
affidavits and other documents wore in
closed with the formal recommendation
for pardon by the Judge and prosecutor.
They joined heartily in the praise of
Mrs. Hardscrabhle, and hoped the gov
ernor, in view of the persistent efforts
of the woman, and in view of the extra
ordinary 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 80 worked for her husbands re-
lease. She was asked to wait moment
in the audience-room, and, sad and al-
most disheartened, she waited while
glad news flew in the other room. When
the governor came to her he held in his
hand parchment, and unbent to say
Mrs. Hardscrabble, the documents
presented to-day establish your hus-
bands innocence. I thought you might
like to carry the pardon to him yourself.
Hers it is, and 1 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.
MS she had often in her loneliness kissed
her baby. Then came an outpouring. of
thanks.
Your husband is innocent. do nv
simple duty. No thanks are due to
me-"
But must thank some one."
Then, clutching the pardon, she flew
to the penitentiary. In less than an
hour che was dragging her dazed and
awestricken husband through the capitol