News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-05-14

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A few days ago Governor Hughes is
sued a pardon for Benjamin F. Taylor
O young man under sentence for severa
years on account of a crime committed
when he was boy Of sixteen. The ex
ercise OF the pardoning power is some
thing which requires the utmost caution
and the most careful consideration. I
is well known fact that innocent men are
often convicted and sentenced, and it il
also beyond denial that men guilty in the
eyes of the law may yet be deserving O
ciemency. This is why the power hal
been left in the hands Of the Governor
q ID if remains with him to discriminat,
as to the merits Of the scores and hun
>.ss--ef rfayers for pardon Yhich pou
in upon him. The case of young Taylo
is one which has attracted considerable
attention, and has been watched with nc
small degree of interest. His story reads
like romance. He was led away by
evil associates, and in his seventeenth
year found himself within the walls ol
the State Penitentiary with long term
of imprisonment staring him in the face.
He was daring little fellow, and before
he had been long in the stripes he made
bold dash for liberty, evaded the
guards and, taking to the woods, sue
ceeded in battling all pursuit. His in
sight into prison life seems to have had
a most salutary effect upon him, for he
made his way into Texas, and under an
assumed name soon became identified
with one of the smaller towns, living an
honest and industrious life. He was
respected 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 fireside 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
authorities. 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 recommended for the action
on his part, and it was predicted that he
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:-
II am happy-very happy this morn
ing I am eaeo more 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
loved so dearly. Once more I am
with that dear loving wife who left her
Texas home and followed me to the
prison door, never reproaching me, but
striving all the time that l might be
freed. A kind Governor was he who
treated her so courteously and viewed
my case so fairly. Never shall he regret
his clemency 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 nightly prayer.
Who can doubt that he had most Just
ground for his action? The offence 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 admonition be gave
me, and most carefully have I cherished
Them. Received in my Texas home with
warm-hearted friendship and freely for
given; with the memory of the kind SYM
pathy received in Little Rock, how
much the more will 1 strive to live life
which shall repay it all.
''BENJAMIN F. TAYLOR"
Arkansas Gazette.