Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1883-08-17
4 chips PRAYER.
How IL Melted the Heart OF AiIssourFs Act
Ing Governor.

a jefferson City special to the -.
Louis Republican SAYS: Gov. Camp
he'll to-day issued a pardon 10 Eli Bur
nett OF Bates county, who was at the
July term, lSSg, sentenced TO three
years in the peniteniiary for grand
larceny. The pardon was granted
upon petition which sets out that
the crime committed was Burnett's
first oiiense, and that the law having
been sufficiently vindicated by q years
imprisonment, if given his liberty he
would lead an honest life and. fur
ther, he Is the father Of little mother
less, sickly girl. who is thrown upon
the world, and who needs fathers
care and attention The petition is
signed hy the prosecuting witnesses.
prosecuting attorney, sheriff and re-
corder Of the county. ex-~tate Senator
Bradley. and "a large number Of prom
inent citizens OF Butler county.
among whom are bankers. attor-
neys. physicians. merchants, minis
tiers, farmers and other trades and pro-
fessions.
The governors order recitCs as fol-
lows:
SCR nted for the reasons given in
the within application signed by she
prosecuting attorney. prosecuting wit
nesses, and the Officers Of the county
and leading citizens, and especially
upon the application and fearful sup
plicatiCn vi his siX-ye.ar-old moiherless
little girl
The petition was presented yester-
day by the sister OF the prisoner, who
was accompanied BY the little child.
While the governor was reading the
petition. the little girl quietly APP
preached him. and attracting his at
tention, said, with streaming eyes and
trembling lips: Please, sir, let my
papa go home with me.
The governor was greatly affected
by fhe simple PRAYER Of the little or
phan, and with difficulty controlled
his feelings. Ii was no put-up Job, no
acting; simply the earnest pleading of
a weak little child for her papa.
Whatever he might do to others to her
he was all IN all; too young 10 know of
crime, she only knew her father had
been taken from her and was in
prison, and she wanted him.
Thegovernor, however, did not allow
his feelings TO sway him in the matter
and declined to act in the case until he
had duly considered it. but kindly told
the little one he would see what he
could do for her by morning When
she left she took his hand and said:
PLEASE let me have my papa"
This morning the sister and child
again called on the governor and the
child renewed her pleadings for her
fathers release. The governor, not
having decided on granting the par
don, told the little one she could go
home on to-day's train, and he would
send word what he would do, but she
replied: ~ can not go home again
without papa"
Following this they took their de-
ture aud went out to the penitentiary.
About an hour later the governor came
to the conclusion that the circum-
stances of the case, the strong recon-
mendations, and particularly the need
of the child for II protector, warranted
executive clemency, and ordered the
pardon. Immediately upon its being
signed ne dispatched n messenger to
the prison with it, so the little ones
heart might be glad and her burden of
sorrow removed as soon as possible.
The sister of the prisoner says never
n day has passed since the imprison-
ment of Burnett that the little girl has
not wept for her loss and fretted for his
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