The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1885-02-04
A NOCTURNAL VISION.
Tho Strange Apparition Seen By Governor
Portef--The Case OF Jack Crawford.
rrnd,aronoi,a .Iournai1


Tho Strange Apparition Seen by Governor
Porter--The Case OF Jack Crawford.
indianapolis Journal
"There. feel as though / had done an
act of Justice" said Governor Porter yes
tsrday january 1Oth), as he handed an
official document to Secretary Blackledge.
1t was full and unconditional pardon for
Peter Craw ord (known as "Jack" Craw-
ford), prisoner at the Michigan City
Penitentiary, where he Is serving life
sentence for amurder committed sixteen
years ago. ~ want that pardon forward
ed at once" added the Governor, "and
here, Mr.. Blackledge (taking $50 from his
purso), inclose this with 1t. Tell him that
would especially request him to keep me
advised as to his future movements. Do
you know" continued the Governor, turn
ing and addressing his remarks to
the journal reporter, shat the case
OF that man has worked ON my
mind more than all the other
applications for pardon that have been
presented TO me'during my entire termi
first became acquainted with the case
three years ago, when he was at Jefferson
vile. Warden Howard called my atten-
tion to him while was on a visit TO the
prison. He had just made an attempt at
suicide, and had a frightful cash In his
throat. asked him II he had any friends
who mightfnterest themselves In his bs-
half, and the question surprised him. He
answered that he did not know soul in
the world outside Of the prison where he
had been thirteen years. There is one
man. said he, sadly, twho may remember
me, II he Is still living, but he Is the only
one know The man was a big, fne-
looking fellow, not having the expression
or look OF criminal at all, and became
greatly impressed with him. He told me
of the crime for which he was a prisoner,
and referred me to the man mentioned to
substantiate his story. Ho had
BEEN employed on railroad con-
tract, and while resenting the abu-
sive treatment OF the man in charge Of the
SGT in which he was working, he used q
small penknl'e with fatal effect, but with.
out any intention of killing his adversary.
He was utterly friendl-ss, while the man
he killed was WELL known, aud the case
was prosecuted with vigor by the ablest
lawyers In Clark County. The result wa,
his conviction, and for sixteen years be
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 even remembered that he had ever
had an existence had him removed TO
the Michigan City Prison, and took tho
trouble to hunt up the man whose name
he had given, finally found him, and from
him heard the story OF the killing, even
more favorably than Craw ord had told
me himself. Thsre was no one to apply
for q pardon Tor HIN, but the case
appealed TO me so strongly that for
three years l have been considering
whether 1t was not best to set him free In
the absence OF any petition. / never had
any case work on my mind as this one did,
and IL seemed impossible to drive 1t away.
The other night, as I lay dozin, Att lily
but unable 10 sleep, that mans figure ap.
peared at the foot OF my bed, and / could
see the face as plainly as see yours now.
/ shut my eyes and tried to think Of some
thing else, but when opened them again
there stood Crawford, the most beseeching
and reproachful look imaginable on his
face. And there II remained until made
up my mind. 4 will issue that pardonp
cried, iuily resolved to do-so, and that
apparition, II apparition II was, VANISHED.
Nothing ever made such an impression on
my min as that vision. lam firmly con-
vinced that that man has suffered enough,
and therefore SGT him free"