Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1877-05-09
rot su Hidua11 g. b580I1
ISHMAEL.


sThe man is very importunate, SRI"
The speaker was the turnkey of the
city Jail. who had come to the Governor,
with a request for an interview, from a
prisoner under sentence of death eaiIT9j
q have already. said" replied the
Governor, resolutely, that [ cannot ac
cede todthe request [ have laid the
case before the Attorney General, who
tells me that the prisoners guilt is I'M
doubted. [ have, heretofore, refused a
pardon. After this,fto grant an inter-
view would be to hold out hopes which
| can never realize .v1Rn3afe
But there is something more than
commop," interposed the jailor, g in this
man. don't think he fears to die; for
more hardened, or rather more deter
mined character, | never saw; and his
desire to see you arises from no humanity
terror of his doom, your eNcellency may
rely"
Why YOU seem interested teSlg in this his.
manW - pig - levy ~ {. p.
'SI am He is q peculiar character;
wicked and desperate, indeed; but with
many noble traits 1t is the wreck of
what might have been, I often think, a
useful and even distinguished citizen"
"What clergyman visits him.
"Several, but not at his request. He
laughs at their concern for him, and
says they have come too late; that his
destiny isdecided, and that he wouldn't
be mean enough to smuggle himself into
heaven now, even if he could ada ~ f.
"This is frightful, y interrupted the
Governor. ~.
q know it; I repeat his own words,
however. He told them, the other day,
to 90 into the alleys and cellars of the
city, among the beggars, thieves and
wantons, and there labor; and not wait
till years of outlawry from society had
done their work, till the ripe criminal,
those were his words, was in prison, and
the gallows being built. =. =
He has strange name, unused the
Governor, referring to a paper in his
hand. 8aits.4 a1oW 10. ado IL ssaaI.
q Ishmael, your Excellency means. i
once asked him if he had Arab blood IN
him, when he answered with a scornful
laugh, and said that he was the original
Ishmael, whose hand had been against
every man and every mans hand against
him." SEQ SCI + allzH ssa L snort
II don t wonder you are interested in
him." answered the Governors after a
pause. He is evidently man OF. SUI
perior mind, but with a certain savage
ness of ideas. like many criminals who
think society has done them wrong. But
[ can't break my rule, which is never to
allow my Judgment. in cases where par
dons are sought, to be influenced by
personal considerations. He has taken
mans blood, and the law must have its
course" gaf
With these words the turnkey was dis
missed. But, the next day, what was
the establishment of the Governor to
find that officer again soliciting an au-
dience, on the same errand.
His Excellency slightly frowned, for
he did not like his decisions, when once
positively announced, to be appealed
against
q beg your PARDON said the jailor,
noting the Governors countenance
But the prisoner made me promise to
come to you again, and though / told
him You rarely revoked a resolution, he
insisted on my compliance. And yet,
to speak frankly, don't think he cares
much whether [ obtain a pardon or not !;
it is an interview with you. that he
chiefly wishes. He told me to say that
he demanded it for your sake more than
for his own and that beg pardon for
what | say. but they are his very words
If you did not grant it, you would
repent it through all eternity"
The frown deepened on the infexible
brow of the Governor. q I am not to be
alarmed" he said, "by such miserable
shifts The man must die!
"And your Excellency will not see
him ?''
No." said the Governor, positively,
rising to show that the interview was at
an end; 81 am less inclined to it than
ever The wretched man must dismiss
all hope and bethink himself of his soul.
Have clergymen about him, whether he
will or not, for even at the eleventh
hour he may repent. It would be horri-
BILE if he should die in the, frightful
mood you described yesterday, like wolf
crashing his teeth in the trap"
The multiplicity Of affairs demanding
the attention of the newly installed
Governor absorbed his mind for the re-
mainder Of the day, and dismissed him
50 fatigued to bed that he thought no