The Clifton clarion., 1885-02-11
A NOCTURNAL VISION.
Tho Strange ApparitiOn Seen by Gov. PSrter-The Case of Jack Crawford.
@ Indianapolis Journal.

Tho Strange ApparitiOn Seen by Gov. Psrter-The Case of Jack Crawford.
 From the Indianapolis Journal.
 "There, I feel as though l had done an act of justice" said Gov. Porter yesterday (Jan. 10), as he handed an official document to Secretary Blacklodge. It was a full and unconditional pardon for Peter Crawford (known as Jack Crawford), prisoner at the Mich igan City Penitentiary, where he is serving a life sentence for a murder committed sixteen years ago. T want that pardon for warded at once," added the Gov ernor, land here, Mir. Blackledge taking $50 from his purse), inclose this with it. Tell him that l would especially request him to keep me advised as to his future movements. Do you know," con tinued the Governor, turning and addressing his remarks to the Journal reporter, "that the case of that man has worked on my mind more than all the other applica- tions for pardon that have been presented to me during my entire term7 I first became acquainted with the case three years ago, when he WAS at Jeffersonville. Warden Howard called my atten- ton to him while I was on visit to the prison. He had just made an attempt at suicide, and had a frightful gash in his throat. I asked him if he had any friends who might interest themselves in his behalf, and the question sur prised him. He answered that he did not know soul in the world outside of the prison where he had been for thirteen years. There is one man, said he, sadly, who may remember me, if he is still living, but he is the only one l know The man was ig, fine looking fellow, not having the expression or look of a criminal at all, and I became greatly impress ed with him. He told of the crime for which he was a prisoner, and referred me to the man mentioned to snbstantiate his story. He had been employed on railroad con tract, and while resenting the abusive treatment of tho man in charge of the set ln which he was working, he used a small penknife with fatal effect, but without any intention of killing his adversory. He was utterly friendless, while the man he killed was we'll known, and the case was prosecuted with with vigor by the ablest lawyer in Clark County. The result was his conviction, and for 16 years he has been a prisoner. He was little more than boy, and in time was lost sight of entirely, and probably no one outside the prison ever remembered that he had ever had an existence.
 I had him removed to tue Mich igan City Prisou, and took the i trouble to hunt up the man whose name he had gwen, finally found him, and from him heard the story of the killing, even more favorable than Crawford had told me him self. There was no one to apply for a pardon for him, but the case appealed to me so strongly that for three years I had been consid- ering whether it was not best to set him free in the absence of any petition. I never had any case work on my mind as this one did, and it seemed impossible to drive it away. The other night, as lay fitfully, but unable to sleep, that mans figure appeared at the foot of my bed, and I could see the face as plainly as I see yours now. shut my eyes and tried to think of something else, but when I opened them again there stood Crawford, the most beseeching and reproachful look imaginable upon hIs face. And there 1t re mained until I made up my mind. I will issue that pardonr I cried, fully resolved to do so, and that apparition, if apparition it was, vanished. Nothing ever made such an impression on my mind as that vision. I am firmly convinced that that man has suffered enough and therefore I:set him free"