Marshall County Republican., 1877-02-01
PARDON OF A LIFE CONVICT.
The Most Famous Struggle Ever Exerted
for Executive Clemency.

Inc MOST famOus Struggie Ever Exertcu
for Executive Clemency.
A few days before the expiration of
his term of Office as Chief Magistrate of
Indiana, Gov. Hendricks pardoned
Leander B. Mckinney, a once noted
desperate, who was sent to the State
Prison South twenty years ago from
Bartholomew county for murder.
"Never in the history of the Southern
Prison." says the Jefferson Ne,os, "has
there been a convict who had so many
and such influential friends to intercede
in his behalf. The efforts to obtain the
benefit of executive clemency for
'Buck'-so called familiarly-go back
to the beginning of the late war. The
first move WAS made by Gen. Rousseau,
row deceased. Buck had served with
the General in the Mexican war, and
when Gen. Rousseau was assigned to
his command in Camp Joe Holt he met
his old cbmrade in arms. He knew he
was good man, with one exception,
and he commenced move for McKin-
ney's pardon. Since that time the
friends of Mckinney have been untir-
ing in their efforts to relieve him from
his long and weary confinement. Buck
was q general favorite, and has been
called upon at the prison by Governors,
Senators, congressman, and other pub
lie men, who deemed it no degradation
to take him warmly by the hand. Gov.
Willard, previous to his visit to Wis
consin, where he died, had signified his
intention of .par,loning Mckinney, but
never had a chance of rcdeeming bis
promise. Lieut.. Gov. Hammond, who
succeeded Willard, made a similar
promise, but we presume he yielded to
the strong pressure which always came
up from Columbus, protesting against
the pardon. Gen. Rousseau's move
would have succeeded but for Colum-
bus man accidentally hearing of it at the
depot in this city. He fastened to that
place, and upon giving the in-
formation the fire bells were rung,
calling public meeting, which
sent up strong resolutions denouncing
the project to free Mckinney. Gov.
Morton was considering the pardon in
very reasonable light, but the public
Indignation put an end to il, and sealed
McKinney's fate for term of years lon
ger. His case was laid before Gov.
Baker, but, despite all McKinney's in
fuential friends, the protest Of Barthol-
omew county again defeated it. Ever
since Gov. Hendricks Inauguration
McKinney's friends have renewed their
exertions, but they have had the same
obstacles to contend with all along until
this fall. They seemed to feel the neces-
sity of success this year, and felt 1t was
now or never. They were fortunate
in securing the withdrawal of the oppo-
sition of all but two persons, but still
Gov. Hendricks hesitated, and on Tues
day week laid away the papers, deter
mined to refuse the pardon. Time ran
On until the last day of Hendricks
term, during which Mckinney was in
the most intense suspense, neither rest
ing by day nor sleeping at night. Nc
Kinney abandoned ali hope Saturday !
night. On Monday morning Col. Keig- |
win went to Gov. Hendricks Office and !
said to him, Governor, / think about
the last official act you do ought to be to
pardon Buck Mckinney The Gov
ernor looked up, without a twinkle in
his eye, and said, That can never be.
; That is mighty hard, said Col. Keig-
win. Buck mckinney can never be
pardored out of that Penitentiary.' Il
am mighty sorry said the disappointed
Colonel. At this Gov. Hendricks
he had tortured Keigwin suf-
aud he added: 1T can't be
done, because it's already done, and
there is the document. have just
1gned it. Thus ended perhaps the
Los. famous s.Iuggle ever exerted for
executive clemency. 1t extended
thu ough the terms of four differe . Gov
ernors, and included in its adhere ats
larger list of friends than any convict
ever previously had interested IN rs be-
half"