The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-04-16
Called Back.

A few days ago Governor Hughes
issued pardon for Benjamin Z. Taylor
a young man under sentence for several
years on account Of crime committed
when he was boy of 16. The exercise
of the pardoning power is something
which requires the utmost caution and
the most careful consideration. 1t is a
well-known fact that innocent men are
often convicted and sentenced, and it is
also beyond denial that men guilty in
the eyes of the law may yet be deserving
of clemency. This is why the power
has been left in the hands of the govern
or, and it remains with him to discrimi.
nate US to the merits of the scores and
hundreds of prayers for pardon which
pour in upon him. The case of young
Taylor is one which has attracted con-
siderable attention, and has been watched
with no small degree of interest. His
story reads like a romance. He was led
away by evil associates, and in his sev.
enteenth year found himself within the
walls of the State penitentiary with a
long term of imprisonment staring him
in the face. He was daring little fell
low, and before he had been long in the
stripes he made bold dash for liberty,
evaded the guards and taking to the
woods, succeeded in battling all pursuit.
His insight into prison life seems to have
had most salutary effect upon him, for
he made his way into Texas and uncier
an assumed name soon become identified
with one of the smaller towns, living an
honest and industrious life. He was re-
spected by the community, and when he
married one of the bellies of the town
every one looked upon it as most happy
match. He lived thus in peace and Sc.
curity several years, but one bright
evening as he sat by his 6reside with his
children at his knee, the officers of the
law came in upon him. His sin had
found him out, and he was torn from his
happy home and carried back in chains
to the Little Rock penitentiary. Heart.
broken, his loving wife followed him.
Petitions from leading citizens of his new
home poured in. 1t was an unusual
case, and the Governor gave it his closest
attention. The young mans record at
the penitentiary, both before and after
his escape, was commended by the au-
thorities. At last the decision was
reached, the paper was signed, and the
patient wife received her happy husband,
once more free man. The governor
was highly commended for this action
on his part, aud it was predicted that be
had been instrumental in restoring to the
world man who would be an honor to
himself and his friends, and living
monument to justice and humanity.
The following letter from the poor fellow
shows his feelings when once more at
home:
MT. CALM, HALL COUNTY, Texas.
Kind friends at Little Rock: I am
happy-very happy this morning. I am
once moro at home and free man for
evermore. How sad I have been, shut
up in your prison there, away from my
family and those whom love so dearly.
Once more am with that dear loving
wife who left her Texas home and fol.
lowed me to the prison door, never re-
preaching me, but striving all the time
that / might be freed. A kind governor
was he who treated her so courteous and
viewed my case so fairly. Never shall
he regret bis cIemency, and never shall
the justice Of his act be doubted. We
shall never forget him and our little ones
shall learn to breathe his name in night;
ly prayer. Who can doubt that he had
most just ground for his action? The
offense was committed years ago by
mere boy, and most bitterly have the
faults of the youth been repented by the
man. Kind words of advice and admo-
milton he gave me, and most carefully
have cherished them. Received in my
Texas home with warm.hearted friend
ship and freely forgiven; with the mem
ory of the kind sympathy l received IN
Little Rock, how much the more will l
strive to live life which shall repay it
all. Very respectfully.
BENJAMIN F. TAYLOR.