The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-02-13
hr,AHv r>lsfnd

transpirsd in such rapid succession. may b
briefly related.
MI. Taylor rushed into the room and both
he and my husband simultaneously endeav-
ored to gain possession Of tho gun; In the
struggle that followed the rife was accident
ally discharged, BY coming into violent CEN
tact with an upright post which sustained
the roof Of the cabin. Mr.. Taylor received
the contents Of the rife in his side, and aftsr
lapse Of four days died from the effects Of
the wound. supsrinduced BY disease with
which his system was pernsated. The rife
rscsilsd against the upright post with such
force ~ to shattsr Its stock. Had It been held
with murdsrous and deliberate aim, this
threshold OF the back door, I was myself .
terror stricken spectator Of the tragic scene,
every detail Of which Is indelibly imprinted
on my memory.
Mr.. Taylor and my husband, and there was
no possible motive for so base an act - his
murder, as the ofense for which he was
threatened with arrest would only have re-
suited l. small fine. That the shooting Of
Mr.. Taylor was accidental admits Of no pos
sible doubt, but from the very nature Of the
case the fact of its being accidental was net
susceptible Of proof, as no one but myself and
the actors themsslyesin the sad tragedy were
witnesses to 1t, and BY an unjust ruling / was
half '''''0 '''' - "' ''''A"' 10
Peter Meadow, Esq, Billings, and other
intimate friends Of the late Mr.. Taylor have
generously acknowledged to me their belief
IN the innocence OF my husband and arc will
ing pardon. Knowing as do that my hus-
band Is innocent Of the crime for which he
was convicted, I have felt 1t to bs
my duty to cheerfully accept the scorl
1e wife and i've ss wihi hs s Of IL. vs
Of the penitentiary that might contribute
to his comfort and, IL possible, with the as
sistaace Of my old friends and neighbors in
Bismarck, secure his release. It Is q wife and
the mother Of four little children who now
appeals to your manhood and sense of justice
to assist her In restoring to liberty, homo and
family enc who is now unjustly deprived Of
that sacred heritage and i feel quito sure
that from my experience Of your kindness
toward me in the past that my appeal will
not be vain one. Can anything be more
pitiable than that Of an honest, industrious
man, doomed to the joyiess existence Of .
penitentiary and the association of criminals
during the best portion Of his life, and NJ
to the wsrld in old age, broken in health and
spirits and wholly unable to battle with the
world and meet Its stern requirements? Is
not the majesty Of the law sufficiently vindi- |
Gated BY the punishment already undergone, |
flesh and life itself? Circunstantial evil |
dence, however clear and indisputable IL may
appear, Is still not certainty, and tho judg- |
ment Of petty jury Is not always infallible. |
The judicious exercise Of the pardoning |
power is one Of the highest prerogativss Of |
the executive, and 1t is certainly called into
benefcept action when repairing injustice.
A grave errsr has been consunmated BY de-
priving an innocent man Of liberty; this er-
ror can emily be repaired BY invoking the aid /
Of the executive Of the Territory Of Montana,
On such an errand Of justice and mercy |
ask your assistance and the weight of ysur
influence In signing petition for his par
don. ALICE LUMP.