The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-07

PLEADING BEFORE TIE GOVERNOR.
Everybody laughed at tue flea OF Jake
Feinn owning a team worth 500, and, as he
was also a chronic l%itigator, it was generally
conceded that johnson would be discharged.
| But his misfOrtunes seemed to swOop Town
on him from the very first moment. AT the
preliminary examination johnson acted like
o man who l. dazed. He couldn't talk or I'm
der,tand English very well He failed to
get a lawyer. He pleaded guilty, not know
ing what it meant, and was permitted to
take it back. He had no witnesses, and the
| court was ia something Of a hurry, As it had
10 prepare a speech that afternoon 10 be de
liyered IN the evening ON the Beauties u
Eternal Justice. - and 80 it was adjudged that
in default OF 500 bail the said William John
| son he committed 10 the county Jail Of Al
bany county, IN said territory there to await
the action VI the grand jury fOr the succeed.
ing term OF the district court Tor the Second
Judicial district Of Wyoming
Finally the regular term Of the district
| SQUIRT opeaed. Men who had como from a
long distance 10 vaunt their ignorance and
other qualifications as jurors could he seen
on the streets. Here and there you could See
the familiar faces of those who had served as
Jurors for years and yet had never lost d
Cdsr.
William johnson was peculiarly untOrtu
uate ia the selection OF his counsel The man
who Wa appointed to defend him was a very
much overestimated Young man who started
the movement himself. Tie was courageous,
however. and perfectly willing u wade la
! -. --a.N. ..,AIt .Lea.-Ia ono E..I
His brain would not have soilcd the finest
fabric, but his ogotism had a biceps muscle
Oh il like "A loaf Of Vienna bread lie was
the kind Of a young man who loves 10 20 to
see the drama and explain il along about five
minutes in advance OF the company in a loud
trenchdnt voice.
He defended William johnson Thus la
the prime OF life. hardly understanding u
word OF the trial, stunned, helpless, alone,
the latter began upon his term Of five years
/ in the penitentiary. His patient gentle face
Impressed me as it did others, and his very
hclplcssness thus became his greatest help
One lawyer said ii was all outrage, anC
Charlie Eramel said that il Johnson would
pat up so he would agree u jerk him out OF
the Jug on u writ of habeas corpus befOr,
dinner.
Seeing how the sentiment ran / resolved
70 stait a petition for Johnson's pardon. /
got the signatures Of the court, the court
officers. the jury and the leading men Of
business IN the country. Just as / vas about
to take it to Governor Thayer there was an
incident at the penitentiary. VIM Johnson
had won the hearts Of the warden and the
guards to that extent that he was sent out
one afternoon 10 assist one Of the guards ia
overseeing the labor of a squad working ia a
stone quarry near by. Taking advantage OF
u time when the guard was a few hundred
feet away, the other convicts knocked John
son down and tried to get away. He got up,
however, and interested them till the guard
got to him and the escape was prevented
johnson waited till all was secure again, and
then tainted from loss Of blood occasioned by
u scalp wound over which he had a long fight
afterward with erysipelas.
This was all lucky for me, and when | pro
scented the petition to the governor | had a
strong case, made more 50 by the heroic
action Of a man who had been u~njustly con
demned.
/ spoke earnestly of his good character
since his Incarceration, and the governor
: DIOllll-sl DlOlilkA G'Aigus pub AZ "a GA44ttl
away in December and | feared that he
might, IN the rush and pressure Of other bust
ness, forget the case Of Johnson till after the
holidays. SO | telegraphed him and made
his life a burden to him till the afternoon OF
the 2ith, when the 4:5O train brought the
pardon.
went away 10 spend nay " Christmas,
but not till | had given Johnson a few dol
lars To help him get another start, and had
made him promise 10 write me how he got
along. And SO that to me was a memorable
and a Joyous Christmas, for had made my
self happy by making others happy.
BILL NYE.
PS.-Perhaps l ought not to close this ac-
count so abruptly as l have done, for the
reader will naturally ask whether johnson
ever wrote me, as he said he would. | only
received one letter from him, and that /
found when | got back, a few days after
Christmas. 1t vas quito characteristic, and
read Us follows:
"Laramy the twenty-hft dec.
"FRENT ME.
"When you get this Letter i viii Be in A
nuther tearritory WHARF the weekid seize
from trubbling * the weery air at Reast
excoose my Poor writing | refer above to
the tearritory OF Utaw where | will begin
Life A new & all will be fergott.
Il hop god will Reward you In Caise 1
Shood not Be Abel to Do SO.
"You have Bin a good trent of me and SO
/ am shure you will enjoy to beer Of my sue.
cess hope the slooth hounds Of Justiss will
not try to folly lie for it will be- worse than
Useless as hav a damsite better team than i
had Before.
1T is the Sheariff's team wieh i have got
& his name is denis, tel the Governor to Par.
den me il i have seeamed Rude i shall go to
some new Plais WHARF / will not be Looked
upon with Suchpishion wishing you a mary
Crissmus happy new year and April Fool |
will Close from your tru Frent