Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1888-01-07

"a @.D
PLEADING BEroRS THE GOVERNOR
Everybody laughef at the idea Of Jake
feinn owning q team worth 500, and, rs he
was also . chronic lit gator, it was generally
conceded that Johns N would be discharged
But his misfortune, seemed to swoop down
on him from the very first moment. At the
preliminary examination johnson acted like
. man Who is dazed. He couldn't talk or un-
derstand English very well He failed to
get . lawyer. He pleaded guilty, not know
ing what it meant, and was permitted to
take it hck. He had no witnesses, and the
court was in something Of hurry, as it had
% prepare a speech that afternoon to be de-
lvered in the evening on the beauties Of
Eternal Justice and 80 it was adjudged that
in default Of $500 bail the said William John
son be comnlitted TO the county Jail Of Al
bany county, in said territory, there to await
the action Of the grand jury for the succeed
ing term Of the district court for the Second
Judicial district Of Wyoming
Finally the regular term Of the district
court opened. Men who had come from a
long distance to vaunt their ignorance and
other qualifications Is jurors could be seen
ON the streets. Here and there You could see
the familiar faces Of those who had served Is
Jurors for years and yet bad never lost a
case.
William johnson was peculiarly unfortu-
nate in the selection Of his counsel The man
who was appointed to defend him was . very
much overestimated young man who started
the movement himself. He was CONTAGIOUS,
however, and perfectly wi6ing to wade in
where angels would naturally hang back
His brain would not have soiled the finest
fabric, but his egotism had biceps muscle
/. On il like . loaf Of Vienna bread He was
the kind Of . young man who loves to 60 to
sse ths drama and explain it along about Eve
minutes In advance Of the company in loud,
trsnchant VOICE.
he defended William johnson. Thus In
- prime of life, hardly understanding q
word Of the trial, stunned, helpless, alone,
the latter began upon his term Of five years
n The penitentiary. His patient, gentle face
tnpreaBsd me - il did Others, and his very
helpsessue3 Thus became his greatest help.
Ons lawyer aid it Was an outrage, and
Charlie REamel aid thkt il Johnson would
MT up $50 he would agree TO Jerk him out Of
the ing On writ Of habeas corpus before
dinner
Seeing how the sentiment ran, l resolved
% start petition for Johnsons pardon. /
goe Tho ngnnfures OF the court, the court
omcefs, the jury and the leading men of
h1sinsD in the country. Just as was about
70 take IL to Governor Thayer, there was an
incident at the penitentiary. VIM. johnson
bod won the hearts Of the warden and the
guards to that extent that he was sent out
one afternoon to assist one OF the guards in
Overseeing the labor Of squad working in a
stone quarry near by. Taking advantage Of
time when the guard ~as few hundred
feet away, the other conviets knocked John
son down and tried to get away. He got up.
however, and interested them till the guard
got % him and the escape was prevented
johnson waited tli all Was secure again. and
then tainted frum loss of blood occasioned by
scalp wound over which he had long fight
afterward with erysipelas
This was all lucky for me, and when pre-
sented the petition to the governor had
strong case, made more so by the heroic
action Of man who had been un njustly con-
demned.
I spoke earnestly Of his good character
since his incarceration. and the governor
promised prompt action. But he was called
AWAY in Decen,bcr and | feared that IN.
might, in the rush and pressure of other busi-
ness. forget the case of johnson till after the
holidays So 1 teiegraphed him and made
his life burden to him till the afternoon of
the 2ith, when the 40 train brought the
pardon.
l went away TO spend nv own Christmas
but not till had given johnson a few dol
lars to help him get another start. and had
made him promise to write me how he got
along And SO that to me was q memorable
and joyous Christmas, for had made my
self happy by making others happy.
BILL NYE.
P.S.-Perhaps ought not to close this ac-
count % abruptly as l have done, for the
reader Will naturally ask whether johnson
ever wrote me, as ne said he would. only
received one Ietter from him, and that
found When 1 got back, a few days after
Shristmas. IL was quibe Characteristic, and
Feao q tofio"s;
afamy the twenfy-hft dec.
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.ou se' .n,' A~''ei VIII Dc IN a
nu'Aei "h"e eiie "eekio seaze
e3coose my foor writing L refer above TO
tne teafritory OF otaw where Will begin
Llie A new al VIII De fergou
mop ga win reward you In oalse
shood MOI be,ao 70 Do So