New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-18
4 MLST1KEN PARDON.

II
Tho +olocranb brourht the news day or two
ago that Governor Stephens, OF georgia, hiu
a,doned Edward Cox, sentenced to imprson-
ment for life for the murder OF hoDer' IL A's'"n'
None of fine reasons for this step were given,
and nothing was said about It's eNtraoruih"r'
character. The Georgia newspapers nave DO"
come to hand giving full accounts OF the pro-
ceeding. AMI the Governors action Is lNely 10
he so widespread in its influence that the case
is worth stating at length.
In March. 1879 Cox and Aston had dls-
nute over a convict lease in which both Dc
came very angry. Cox determined to nave
AI.+on's life. and followed him about during
the entire day of March IL, in order to draw
him into fight They met toward nlghtiail III
the Office OF the State Treasurer. Cox insisted
upon fight Al,tOn said 81 do not want 10
have any difficulty with YOU about tins m'tter'
and Il ere is no need for it. Let us drop IL now
1t will do yOI no good to Kill me- ana 40 me
M good TO kill yOu-nOt bit IN the world
But Cox would fight, and the two began hIing
simultaneously. Several shots were rapidly
exchanged one OF which hit Cox i'll the mouth,
knocking out several teeth. Aston exhausted
his revolver first, and when he had finished
firing Cox aimed deliberatelysat him and shot
hin, IN the right temple. Cox was tiled, iound
guiltv of mnrer. and sentenced to lmprlsOn-
ment for 1ile. The trial excited great interest
ool Gov WAS defended by able counsel. The
fact that 1welye men could be found who
agreed to call this act murner in State where
dueling is considered to he a ecessary accom-
pishment for every gentleman was sulIlclent
evidence of the brutality of the crime. Cox
cd ell.p N
hunted his victim to his death with the ierocity
OLA wild beast. His sentence was pronounced
inst in a community which looks with great
lenirncy upon homicide OF all kinds. The de-
csion was confirmed by the Supreme Com oil
the State. and he began his convicts lie on
MAY 7, 1880. Now, after serving less than
three years of his sentence, he Is given an I'M
conditional pardon.
The reasons which Governor Stephens gives
for his clemency are worth examining He
says ne has received hundreds of petitions,
embracing many eminent citizens, lawyers,
"iurists, merchants, bankers, ministers OF the
Gospel journalists, mechanics and farmers,
land including majority of the House of
REPRESENTATIVES and tw0-tblrds of the Senate
" of the present General Assembly, asking ex-
secutiye clemency" that there existed in
" the minds of several distinguished lawyers,
q iursts and others, at the time of the convic-
- ton, doubts as to the grade OF the crime,
q and that many of the same class as well as
3others entertain and express doubts on
q that point; and that his own views coincide
with those of majority of the petitioners
Therefore he gives full pardon. The weak
ness of these reasons is too apparent tc need
-,
what the Governor says, though there is none,
| it only goes to show that Cox ought to have
been sentenced for voluntary manslaughter
instead of murder, and the extreme penalty for
that crime Is Imprisonment for twenty years
| If the Governor had committed the sentence to
twenty years he would at least have been log
! ical AS il is, he argues that criminal whose
sentence may possibly be too severe ought not
10 be punished at all The plain truth is that
| he has yielded weakly to depraved and scky
1 nublic sentiment which has been easily worked
nm in Cox's behalf. This is made evident by
! the tone of the State newspapers. The atlanta
| Constitution publishes in the same Issue with
the news of the pardon a moving account of the
suAeungs which Cox's family have undergone
through his enforced absence. When his wife
reached Atlanta on her way TO join her re-
Ieased husband, she was serenaded by the
Decatur band" and her husband was spoken of
with great respect as Captain Cox" An ac-
count is also published of conversation with
n gallant son of Aston" IN which he says
that while he "apprehends no trouble between
,he Alstons and COxes" he deems it "unfOr-
atunate that our families reside SO near each
aolLer. Cox, you know, lives but a mile and
"a half from us" 1t is easy TO see that Cox
will be hailed as a hero on his return to the
home circle.
The effect of the Governors mistaken elem
ency is likely to be wholly bad. One. State
paper, The Macon Tel graph, has the sagacity to
see this and protests against the pardon in
terms when must be extremely disagreeaDl'
to its readers, but which, if heard oftener IL
the South, would cause rapid dminution il
tie number Of homicldes. Other Southern
journals must. see the wisdom OF taking THU