The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-02-12
A Nocturnal Vision.

'There, feel a. though | had done
an act of Justice said Gov. Porter
recently, rs he handed an official
document to Secretary BIackledgc, be-
fore the expiration of his term. 1t was
81 full and unconditional pardon for
Peter Crawford tknown rs jack
Crawfori). Il prisoner at the Michigan
City Pcnitrntiarv, where he is serving
a life sentence for murder committed
sixteen years ago. Il want that par
don forwarded at once" added the
Governor, land here Mr.. Blackledge,
taking $50 from his purse), incloss
this with IT. Tell him that | would es-
pecially request him to keep me advis-
ed as to his future movements. DO YOU
know" continued the Governor. turn
ing and addressing his remarks to the
journal reporter. THAT the case of
that man has worked on my mind more
than all the other applications for par
don that have been presented to me-
during my entire term first became
acquainted with the case three years
ago when 1 was at Jeffersonville. War
den Howard called my attention to him
while | was on visit to the prison.
He had Just made an attempt at sui
eide, and had a frightful cash in his
throat. | asked him if he had any
friends that might interest himself in
his behalf, and the question surprised
him. He answered that he did not
know a soul in the world outside of the
prison where he had been for thirteen
years. There is one man. said he sad
", who may remember me. if he is
still living, but he is the only one I
know The man was a big. fine
looking fellow, not having the express
sion 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. He had been employed on a
railroad contract, and while resenting
the abusive treatment of the man in
charge of the set in which he was
working, he used a small penknife with
fatal effect, but without any intention
of killing his adversary. He was utter
ly friendless. while the man he killed
was well known, and the case was
prosecuted with vigOr by the ablest
lawyer il Clark county. The result
was his conviction, and for sixteen
Years he has been 4 prisoner. He was
little more than Il boy, and in time was
IOSl SlSHl VI eHlItiN, anu pIOUiDlN nO
one outside of the prison ever remem-
5ered that he had ever had an exist
ence. | had him removed to the
Michigan City prison, and took the
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
Crawford had told me himself. There
was no one TO apply for pardon for,
him, but the case appealed to me so
strongly, that for three years | have.
been considering whether it was not
best TO set him free i'll the absence of,
any petition. l 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 doing fitfullyl
but unable to sleep, that mans figure
appeared at the foot of my bed, and L
could see the face as plainly as | see
yours now. L shut my eyes and tried
to think of something else, but when 1
opened them again, there stood Craw-
ford, the most beseeching and reproach-
full look imaginable on his face. And
there it remained until l made up my
mind. Il will issue that pardon L
cried, fully resolved to do so, and that
apparition, if apparitiOn it was, van
ished. Nothing ever made such an i'm
preston on my mind as that vision. [
am firmly convii iinced that that man
suffered enough, therefore | set him
free IndidndpOliS Journal