The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1885-02-03
4 PARDON.

The Interest II Has for Harbour County
and Its Part In Politics.
10 Tie Etifiorofthe fatdiigaer.
sIR:-ln last Mondays issue notice
you published q list Of pardons made by
Governor Jackson during the last two
years. and among the number Of ! notice
the one Of Albert Collins, Of this county,
on the alleged ground Of "preyious good
character" Thereby hangs tale OF which
/ propose to give you the outlines of with
out comment. Albert Collins belongs TO
n race of which there is q long settlement
in tllis county, in which the white, negro
and Indian blood is mingled, and who are
commonly known or designated as "guin-
eas." He was perfectly worthless and his
previous good(?l character consisted in
the fact that he had, previous to his con-
viction for forgery, for which he was par
,Ioued. been indicted and tried at least
twice. once for assault and battery and
once for disturbance OF religious worship,
and In the last had been convicted and
fined. His sood( p character further con-
s;sted in lie fact that at the time Of his
conviction In March 1888, instead Of March
1882, as stated by you, there was SUI
another indictment pending against him
for tle identical same otIense OF forgery,
int al entirely different circumstances.
At the time Of his pardon IN July, 1851,
very bitter contest was gong on, not
only In State affairs, but also in our county
elections and especially between samuel
Y. Woods, son OF Judge Woods Of tne
Supreme bench, who was tile Democratic
nominee. and A. u. Dayton, tho Repnb-
lican nominee for the Prosecuting Al.
toTneysLip Of the county, which resulted
finally IN favor OF MIR. Dayton. That con-
test Will be memorable here for several
reasons, and not the less so, for that Judge
Woods himself so far forgot the dignity OF
his position on the day OF election, as 10
In n measure descend 10 the position oil
ward nolitiuian and work for tho success
with the voters OF himself, his son and the
Democratic ticket. But thatisa diversion
from the main subject. i,
A short time before July, 1881, the
Woods family, ostepsibly under the man
agement OF Samuel ", took charge Of Col
Inns case, for tho consideration, as Collins
himself stated, whether truthtaiiy or not
we do not undertake to say that he
should vote for and elechoneer with his
people for Sam. v. especially and the
Democratic ticket in general. Be this as
II NAV he was, under the management OF
The Woods influence, pardoned, much to
The surprise Of every one, and it looked Us
thonol, The influence OF that family over
him and his kindred was very strong, But
"The hest laid plans Of mice and men,
gangaft aglee."
Collins ran into crime as naturally as
ducks swim in water, and he had scarcely
been home n month, or at tarthest six
weeks before he went into his old bust.
ness OF forgery and was arrested ana
lodged in jail for that ofiense. Here ap-
parently was q sad ending 1orail OF Alr.
Woods trouble and Of Gov. Jackson's gra-
Cious mercy. But, determined, asst were,
to gather up the fragments, they made the
Sheriff on election day bring Collins out
Of Jail to fulfill his promise OF voting the
Democratic ticket. His vote was chal-
lenged and such bitter comment was
made as In such conduct that he was re-
turned 10 iaiI without voting, But later
in the evening he was brought out again,
and armed with the ponderous authority
that Judge Woods said he had right and
ought to do so, he was permitted 70 cast
his ballot for Samuel Senior and Junior
and tho rest Of the Democratic ticket, and
made one Of the 70 majority that. the
Judges own county gave him.
At the circuit court just following the
election Collins was twice more indicted,
once for forgery, anda second time for
obtaining money under false prctences.
Not being ready for trial his cases were
continued until this coming March term
Of court, and two Of his kindred going his
security he was released on bail, and be-
ing lett to his own choice voted the
straight National Republican ticket in
November. These facts can be proven by
almost any one here. You can draw your
own conclusions as to whether the par
doning power has been abused.
FAX PLEBIs.
n,.,.. r.o ~ 1cpS