The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1884-09-11
MiseeIIa,teous.
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8Es0aD1REM'S NEW YORK
A.ETTEss.

| wish some one would tell me
! if he could, why it is, that when a
criminal commits some particular
ly atrocious crime an interest is
awakened in him that hundred in
nocent men or women could never
excite. Only q few years ago a
brutal negro strangled a woman
under particularly horrible circun-
stances, and for nearly year he
poised in prison as q first class
dude; admiring friends sent him
good clothes, fruit, flowers, ice
cream, and all the delicacies OF the
season, not to mention first class
cigars and other like consultations.
Three days before his execution
respectfully dressed and not bad
looking woman, called to see him,
but was not admitted. She tried
for an entire day to see him but
failed; she had never seen him and
did not know him, and yet when
finally refused wept like child,
and going out purchas d basket
of flowers at q cost Of five dollars
and sent it in to the murderer, with
her love. This is the very quin-
tessence of madness, and yet in
Brooklyn scene was enacted last
Sunday which makes me think that
some of my colored brothers are
daft. In that goodly city few
weeks ago they hung negro muir
! derer named Jefferson, one Of the
most heartless desperate brutes
that ever paid the penalty of his
crimes upon the gallows. He had
been terror from his boyhood,
thief and drunkard; as far as
could be learned he had not soli-
tary redeeming feature in his char,
acter. He murdered two innocent
people and nearly killed two more,
manning them so that one will be
terribly disfgured for life and the
other, his own brother, will carry
the marks of his injury to his grave.
| No sooner was his awful crime
made public, than forthwith an
army of philanthropic cranks be.
came interested in Mr.. jefferson.
Ladies called upon him, ministers
of all denominations became fear
full he might be lost and they all
appeared to be afraid that some
body else might save him. Some
kind-hearted-Sisters Of Charity at
! tempted to pray with and convert
him, bnt the regular chaplain of the
| jail seemed to think that be might
just as well die in his sins as have
anything to do with the papists.
Linda Gilbert, who is known as the
prisoners friend, a sort Of crank in
her way, who believes if you find a
man robbing your house, instead of
shooting or arresting him, you
should give him ten dollar bill
| she took up Jefferson's case. Linda
has money, is true philanthropist;
she does not fool away her loose
change on innocent or unfortunate
people-not she, but let some no.
torlous scoundrel be guilty of some
terrible crime, the worse it Is the
more she glories in her protege. and
until the gallows claims him or
States prison gets him the gentle
Linda will furnish him. with every
good thing that heart of man could
| wish for. Miss Gilbert and many
Others became interested in Jefer.
| son; they fought Justice up to the
very last moment, but at last every
legal resource had been exhausted
and MIR. Jefferson departed for the
happy hunting grounds. He mag
unanimously forgave all Of his ene'
mics, gave Miss Gilbert his skele'
k ton, and died certain that the Col
4 den Gates were opened and ready
!; TO receive him. Some weeks have
/ passed since then and last Sunday
a respectable colored clergyman de-
nounced the execution Of Jefferson
{ as a judicial murder. The colored
/ people seem to think that there is
/ strong prejudice against their race,
+ and from their efforts 10 get their
i criminals off, seem to think that
/ they are entitled to some special
/ exemption from punishment. 1t is
4 about time that this mawkish sym
i ,pathy for murderers, thieves and
/ ;yagabonls generally, were stamped
i out, and that more was done by
4 these would be philanthropists fol
/ suffering wretches who have never
/ had the fortune 10 knock down s
i traveller with q sand bag or have
seen the inside Of States prison
There is too much gush over no
4 torious criminals and too little
i interest in those who are not.