The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-03-15

remained nearly year, during which
she was occupied in making clothing
for the other convicts, her husband re-
naming with her and holding the posi-
tion Of guard over a squad Of prisoners
She was not restrained in her liberty,
but remained with and had the privi-
leges of a member Of the family OF the
lessee At the expiration of year she
fell to the lot of another lessee, whose
camp was in Taylor county, whittier she
was removed, her husband following
her little girl dying during her stay at
the Washington county camp. After
eleven months in Taylor county she was
removed to Barton county, where the
family of the lessee resided, where she
remained in the capacity of domestic
until last February, when the lessee, Col
onel @. B.Howard, removed to Atlanta,
bringing with him the fair convict, who
is still retained as a servant in his
household. Her husband remains with
her and acts as her escort, no surveil
lance being kept on their movements.
They attended the exposition frequently
and alone.
To the readers of five years ago the
name of this woman, the circumstances
OF her crime, the trial, conviction and
death sentence will be familiar, for
" Kate Sothern" appeared in the col
umns OF every newspaper printed in
this country and in many out of it. The
victim of her outraged love was Mar
cissa Cowart, or " Ois Cowart," as she
was better known.
Although only twenty-five years old
now, Mrs. Sothern bears the age traces
of thirty. Her countenance wears the
shade of deep melancholy, and her
great blue eyes perpetual expression
of sadness A visit to her by your cor
respondent has led to revival of the
tragic history of her life, but not for
the purpose of pandering to the sensa-
tional appetite of the public. Far from
it. The, columns of the Commercial are
sought with higher aim, which is an
appeal to every wife and mother in this
broad land to lend her name to q pc
tltion to the governor of Georgia for
Kate Sothern's pardon. Men have
killed their fellow men for like provo
cation that Kate Sothern killed lar
cissa Cowart and were not only acquit-
ted of crime but applauded for the
deed. 1t is husbands conceded right,
nay, his N ost solemn duty, to protect
the sanctity of his home and wherein
is the wife to be less commended than
the husband in like effort =? Again,
if the purpose of the law is punish
ment for crime, in what measure has
the law been satisfied in its execution
OF the sentence OF Kate Sothernt
Clearly she was either guilty or not
guilty. If guilty, she should have been
punished according to the degree of
her offense. If not guilty she should
be set at liberty, Her punishment has
not been in satisfaction for the crime of
which she was found guilty, for she has
enjoyed unrestrained liberty,
which is wrong if she is innocent.
Certainly the authorities are not dis
posed to regard her as guilty, since her
sentence is permitted to go unserved,
and it would appear that whatever the
extent of her crime, she has atoned to
the law and society in the four years of
her detention at the camp of the con-
victs, and it is believed that the adop-
tion of the suggestion herein contained
is only needed even in part to induce
Governor Oolqutt to grant Kate
Sothern's pordon. It is left for the
ladies. Let them seek it.