Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-06-20
WINNING A PARDON.
IN Vhfe's Persistent work for Her Hus-
band Gets Him Out OF Jail.

4
tency and success as a lobbyist has
come to light here. In 1876 Edward
bruce, a wholesale liquor dealer of
heokuk, failed in business and became
dlssipated. He had had some business
dealings with p. Mcnamara, a grocer.
Inc latter had loaned him money on
several occasions, but when he refused
70 accommodate Bruce any further a
quarrel ensued. Bruce finally drew a
revolver and tried to shoot, but by
ISLANDERS prevented, and policeman
confscated his weapon. Going home
Bruce took nap, and on waking he
went down town. bought another
pistol, and going to AIcNamaras house
shot him dead.
/ The tragedy caused intense excite
ment in keokuk and vicinity, for it,
was considered one Of the most wan
ton and unproyoked murders ever
perpetrated in the State. Bruce was
tried, convicted. and sentenced to the
penitentiary for life, and everybody
supposed that he would remain there.
His wife set at work, however, with
out delay to secure his pardon. She is
an attractive woman, of great force Of
character and perseverance, and she
has not from the first entertained
doubt of her ultimate success. When
she announced her intention of apply
| ing for his release it was thought that
she must be crazy, for the difficulties
to be overcome seemed insuperable. In
this State the Governor cannot pardon
murderer unless the Legislature rec
ommends it. To the members of the
General Assembly Mrs. Bruce turned
attention.
At the outset she received little en-
couragement, but as session followed
session and she appeared regularly
each time, tearful-eyed, but apparently
confident, and seeming never to i'm
agine that she was asking more than
mere personal favor. it was noticed
that her strength increased. She was
persistency itself. No legislator could
escape her. She was everywhere that
the Solons were. always imploring.
When the Legislature was not in ses-
sion, she was busy soliciting signatures
to petition, and almost every man OF
prominence in the State has at some
time or other been urged to add his
name to her list.
AT the last session when it became
apparent that her gradually increasing
support had become formidable, the
| friends of the murdered man bestirred
themselves, and in few weeks they
rolled up petition against her that
was five times the length of hers, for it
was the general belief that her husband
was suffering well-merited punish
ment Petitions did not count much,
however, against her buttonholing
/ ldCLlCSs lHS Jill 1OI bllc ICACdoc vi
Bruce was introduced, and she haun.-
ed the Capitol at all hours when she
could find anyone there and pleaded
for its passage.
When it was reached on the calendar
many effective speeches. were made
against it, but on the announcement OF
the vote it was found to have been
carried by So against 40. In the SEN
ate less difficulty was experienced.
though the little woman was on hand
all the time until the measure was dis
posed of. She won in the higher body
by vote of 20 against Is.
As soon as the bill had been passed
she disappeared from the Capitol, and
the opponents of the pardon who ha
rolled up the monster petitions against
it left them with the Governor and
made up their minds that he would ig-
more the action of the Assembly, as ne
legally could do. In this they were
mistaken.
1t is learned here now that Bruce
walked out of the Fort Madison prison
the other day clad in citizens clothes;
that he was driven to a small station