Mexico weekly ledger., 1882-10-19
HAPPY HARTLEY.
Leslie Hartley. Implicated in the Mastin
Wyiie Murder, PardOned--Hartley
interviewed by The Ledger.

Leslie Hartley. Implicated in the Mastin
Wylie Murder, Pard0ned--Hartley
interviewed by the Ledger.
Gov. Campbell, last Thursday, is
sued a pardon to Leslie c. Hartley,
sentenced, ut the October, 20, adj
joHrned term of the Audrain circuit
court, to ten years in the ~penitentiary
for murder in the second degree. The
pardon was granted on the recon-
mendation of Judge Gilchrist Porter,
before whom the case was tired, and
many prominent officials and citizens,
and ten of the jurors who rendered
the verdict, and because the governor
deems that the. prisoner has already
suffered sufficient punishment for the
part he took in the crime. Leslie
Hartley was charged, with his brother
William Hartley. with killing one
Mastin Wylie in January, 1879.
William Hartley vas convicted and
sentenced for a term of sixty years,
which he is ~ serving in the peni-
Tertiary. On the trial it was proved
he inflicted the fatal stab with a knife,
which killed Wylie. Leslie. the
brother, was in his company at the
time, but it is alleged did not and his
brother in killing MOI did he take any
serious part in the affray.
Judge Porter in a letter to the gov
ernor states: II am of the opinion
that the ten years originally assessed
was too e for any offence he
committed (but it was the least al
lowed by law). l am of the opinion
that he has already sufficiently expi-
ated his offence (if. indeed, he were
really guilty of any, on which it is
needless now to ~descant), and l take
pleasure in recommending that your
excellency, on the G both of JUS
tice and humanity, grant him an alb
solute and immediate pardon"
II. w. Gleason and an another juror
on the case, and prosecuting-attorney
J.. Med. Trimble, did not sign the
petition, although they did nothing
to have the pardon withheld. Geo.
Hablutzel and W. II. Kennan have
for sometime been working hard for
Leslie's pardon, .and were rewarded
with ucces Leslie had been in the
~penitentiary two years and 10 months,
and worked in the boot and shoe de-
partment. He made us a call as soon
as he reached Mexico. He.is in good
health, but looks much older than he
did three years ago. His wife died
in Pennsylvania while he was in the
~penitentiary, and had not seen him
for several years. He has no chill
dren. Leslie says it is all a mistake
about the prisoners not being fed and
treated well in the pen. He says if a
man behaves himself he has no trouble.
The first he knew Of the pardon
was Wednesday morning, when his
boss came in with a new mar and
told Leslie to learn him how to work
in his department. He knew then
that he was soon to be pardoned.
He vas almost overcome with joy.
and could hardly speak. Friday
morning at 6 a. M, he was informed
of his pardon. He left the prison at
once, and without any breakfast
started for the depot. He says he
felt too happy to eat. On being dis
charged, he was given a new suit of
clothes and S. in money. As soon
as he got to Mexico he left for the
country to see his father who, not
knowing of the pardon, was greatly
surprised and rejoiccd.
Hartley will settle down in Mexico
and work in Geo. Hablutzel's shop.
He says the world looks brighter, and
the sun seems to shine warmer and
with more brilllancy; the trees look
taller, and the sky bluer than ever
before. He walks around like a
school-boy, viewing everything with
pleasure and curiosity.
William Hartley is still in the peni-
tertiary, enjoying good health and
behaving himself. He has hopes of a
pardon himself in the course of time.