Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1876-01-01
LETTER FROM RICHMOND.
william ID. Coleman---HIs AppIica-
ton for Pardon acknowledgements
kemper's ReaSOns-The Legtsla-

Kemper's Reasons-The Legisla-
ture.
Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette
RICHMOND, Dec. 81 1875.
Governor Kempcr, to day, refused 10 par
don ". D. Coleman, who is conhned 10 the
Peuitcutary for forgery. The Governor refer
red the petition to Judge Gulgon, and the
Judge. after carefully reading it, returned 1t to
the Governor with the remark, that ne saw 20
reason why Coleman should be pardoned OF
words to hat fleet. The Governors reasons
for his acton are a. follows
II have examined the case With strong de-
sire and purpose TO grant pardon ii could
find ground to rest i, ou The prisoner 5 cul-
tivatlou, aud former social position render his
punishment peculiarly painful and arose strong
sympathy in his behalf On the other hand,
higher responsibility attaches to one OF Ills
Intelligence and position than to criminals who
who never bad his advantages.
I have searched 10 vain for proof that the
prisoner was convicted on the testimony oil an
insane witness. He wasindicted for Two crimes,
charged TO have been committed By him when a
public officer, to wit forgery and larceny. lie
was convicted Of forgery, whcrcupon n0He
pr2seoui ended the Indictment for larceny. But
On the trial for forgery, full proof of the larceny
was admitted to show the anlmus of the lorg.
ery, and the prosecuting attorney asked the
iury not to convict uoless they believed the
/ prisoner guilty OF larceny. l. is uudeniablc
| that the grava1ucn Of the prisoner guilt was
DEVELOPED by the proof Of larceny, and his COZ
| yic,;oD resulted from such proof. While Col.
! Mayo's testimony was doubtless important rs
| part of the proof OF forgery, it was not essen-
tiai as part of the proof OF larceny. Ii It we're
conceded that Colonel Mayo was insane at the
time Of the trial, still one main feature OF the
prisoners ascertained guilt would stand out un-
altered and uuinfuenced by that fact.
| But the question of Colonel Mayos sanity
at the time OF the trial was subjected to jul,
cial investigation running through several days
and the whole Of the evidence was taken down
and fiually laid before the Supreme Court OF
Appeals. Whatever the condition of Colonel
Mayo's mind at any prior or later date 1t was
specifically asccrtaiued and decided by the
proper judicial tribunals, that be was sane at
| the time be testh ii agaiBst the prisoner. No
other judicial Investigation has found or shown
or fairly implied that he was Insane at the
time. Il is not for me to review much less TO
reverse the action OF the judicial department
on such a question.
Stripped Of all technicallties the punishment
Of the prisoner must be considered as resulting
| from the larceny of public funds in connection
| with the alteration OF an official record alleged
to have been done and designed to conceal the
larceny No attempt will ever be made 10 re-
new the Indictment for the larceny; but II this
were not SO, ard if any additional sentence
we're procured 10 the premises, the Executive
would promptly uterpose the pardonlng power
to arrest it.
The prisoners case is made neither better
| nor worse by beiug connected with any other
case. | am bound to consider it on the separ-
ate record it presents, aud it must staud or tall
| upon its independent merits or dement's. The
| guilt or innocence, the punishment or nonpuu-
| ishmcut of any other person, does not alter the
status Of this case or change the principles OF
| Justice which controlt. With very great def
ererce and respect for tn. five Jurors and the
many legislators and citizens who ask the prIS-
oucr discharge, refuse it 10 the spir! II that
cvcnhauded justice which treats alike the hilh
and the small; and which, temperug the law
with uercy, enforces it with impartia!ity to.
wards all. JAMES l.. kEMpER
Miss Virginia Dadc, of this city, has ,ceived
an appointment 10 the Treasury Department at
Washington.
The Capitol Offices will be closed t.. morrow,
and the Governor aud the whole Government
will observe New Yvar's Day. The LegIsa
tarr adjourned ua,,! Monday, HI which time II
is TO be hoped that they will be here 10 iul
force.
The prospects OF a railroad war are incrcas-
lug daily. Perhaps it has scared some OF the
mtmbers off House, no quorum.
An evening paper stat that Col. ;. Bass il
French will soon begin ecturlng on Temperance.
That is one OF George W!ldc's ''donat.rs.
Couldn't George Canning suggests any one
that the Colonel might take with blm as the
"horrid example.