Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1875-01-02
GOV. BROWNS HAPPY NEW
YEAR.,
Twelve COnYicts Liberated from the
Peniteatiary Yesterday,

Peniteltiary Yesterday,
And the Terms OF Confinement OF
Three Others COMMITTED for Merf.
toriOus COndueL
According 70 long observed executive
| custom, Governor Brown YESTERDAY cele-
brated the New Year, by pardoning a num-
Der OF penitentiary conyiets, and commit
! ings the terms of others. The object Of so
/ doing is to increase the reformstory eff
cheney Of the prison, by holding out an in
| ducement which will stimulate the prison.
ers to obedience, industry and good con-
duct. The propriety Of extending Execu-
tive elemency during the Christmas holt
days or on New Years day, is easily dis
ccrned-this being prominently the sea-
son Of good will and generosity.
Gov. Brown, in company with Mai.
| Wilkes, his private secretary, Treasurer
| Morrow and Comptroller Burch. repaired
to the penitentiary yesterday morning to
| deliver the pardOns. A number Of others
were also present &c witness the ceremony.
I At ten o'clock the tell was rung as a sig
nal for all the cOnvicts within the enclosure
numbering between seven and eight hum
dred, to assemble in the common dining
/ hall. All understood the object. but
nOne knew which were TO be
| the fortunate ones. The prisoners wore
an aspect of curiosity and subdued anxiety.
! The Warden's clerk, Mr.. r. IL. CamDbsll.
read the names Of twelve who had been
pardOned and thee whose terms had been
cOmmuted. There were no demonstrations
even on the part of those thus apprizcd of
their good fortune, the reading Of the par
hcnr 4 NIT 81.
cOmposure.
Gov. Brown addressed the prisoners in a
few app Opriate remarks expressing gratif-
cation with their general department. He
said about fifty names had been presented
for his consideration, and thought this
spoke well for the behavior Of the Inmates
generally; for it was upon the ground
of exemplary conduct only thar any
one was recommended TO his Glenn
ency. In selecting those TO be par
dOned, he had governed his choice TO
some extent by the various departments.
choosing one from each department. He
had other names in reservation and it was
possible that he might have the pleasure,
consistently with his duty, of pardOning
some others during the short remainder Of
his term Of office. He would say to az
the prisoners that he had a good account Of
them from the officers and lessees Of the
institution.
With this, the Governor and his party
withdrew and the cOnvicts dispersed. The
names of those pardOned, with the places
and dates Of their conviction, terms Of cen !
fnement and the shops or departments to
which they belonged, are as follows:
Charles Gardner, cOlOred, Carroll county,
January, 1872, three years, belonging to |
the Cincinnati Southern Railroad sqUzd.
Edmund Bruce, colOred, Fayette county, |
july 1874, three years-Wagon Depart |
ment.
". II. Williken, Madison county, June, |
1913, ten years-Paint Shop.
Jno. Kimbrough, McMinn coanty, Dec,
1872, three years-Cumberland and Ohio |
Railroad.
Samuel Porter, Dickson county, 1911, ten |
years-Turning Department.
Andrew Beaumsn, BledsOe county, Oct, |
1871, I've years-Yard Department.
w. I. Russell, Madison county, June, /
1873, three ye2rS-Cabinet Shop.
VIM. Cross, BlOunt county, Dec, 1870, !
eight years-BlacksIuith shop.
Dan Richardson, cOlOred, Knox county,
Oct, 1S6S-StOne shop.
A. J. Rains, Marshall county, Aug, 1872,
fifteen years-Machine shop.
Steve Terrence, colored, Shelby county, |
Nov, 1869, ten years-Sewanee coal mines.
George Wilson, alias Gillenwaters, Maui |
" county, 1871, six years-prisOn foundry. |
The terms Of the following were com
muted:
Andrew Hamilton, Shelby county, Aug, |
1874 from y to years.
J. W. B. Smith, Lawrenceburg, Dec,
1872, from u to IA years.
5. ). Watkins, Williamson county, Nov. |
lSGS, from p to years.
An hour OF two later, the pardOned men, |
dressed rs citizens, we're led into the office /
Of Warden W. Matt Brown, for the pur- /
pose Of taking final leave. The twelve /
men arranged themselves in front Of the /
Warden's desk, when he said:
u heartily congratulate you on this Oc-
casion. and am glad to see you again fee
and in the gar6 Of citizens. You are now
about leaving place where you have been
confined as pr soners, having been pardOned
by the Governor Of the State. You have
obtained this clemency mainly in cOnsid-
Grafton Of your good conduct and faithful
service while here. And now, in parting
with YOU, let me in all kindness and with
heartfelt desire Tor your welfare admOhlsu
you to become good men. Whatever may
have been the errors and vices Of the past,
determine now that in future YOU will
strive 10 be good men in the true sense Of
The word, faithfully seeking to lead honest
and upright lives. For the sake of your
selves and families, be sober, moral and in
iustrious. Abstain from Dad company and
evil associations. The officers Of the prison
have endeavOred to treat you as kindly as
possible. Let your future conduct show
hat this kindness and the at o. clemency
-estoring you to liberty were not unde-
served. l shall constantly hope for your
welfare and that no further evil may befall
-ou. And nov, farewell
As the warden heartily shook hands
With the men, each gave expr assiOn TO his
gratitude and determination 20 heed the
,OOd advice given them. They then walk
a out of the prison walls and strolled into