Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-29
Slept on His Post.
HOW a SOLDIERS LIFE WAS SAVED BIZ
THE LATE JUDGE HENLEY.

In 1884 young soldier of Penn
sylvania regiment was convicted by
q court-martial for sleeping on post,
and sentenced to be shot. Friends
of the unfortunate boy FASTENED to
Washington and enlisted the sympa-
thies of the late Hon. William ID.
Kelley in his behalf. Their states
ments of the boys grave offense in
dictated that there were mitigating
circumstances which rendered him q
proper subject for executive clemen-
cy. 1t is claimed that the soldier
was in feeble health, but had refused
to go to the hospital, remaining with
his company, which was engaged in
the campaign against Richmond. He
had been marching and fighting for
two days and nights without sleep,
and it was under such circumstances,
and that, overcome by exhaustion,
he had suffered himselfto fall asleep
while on picket. Military law was
rigidly enforced at that time and lit
tie mercy was shown to offenders.
Mr.. Kelley at once went to the
President, with whom he was on
terms of close intimacy. Few men
enjoyed to fuller extent than he
the confidence of Mr.. Lincoln. Mr..
Kelley laid before the President the
case as presented by the friends OF
of the soldier. Both agreed that
if the facts were as stated the death
sentence might properly be
revoked in the interest of hui
mainly, and without prejudice to
the service. The time was short,
as but few hours, or days at most,
interviewed between the sentence OF a
court-martial and its execution. Mr.
Kelley volunteered to go at once to
the army and investigate. To en-
able him to do this Mr., Lincoln
handed him a reprieve for three days.
So fully did he trust the Judgment
of Mr.. Kelley that he also wrote and
signed pardon which Kelley was to
present in. case he found the state
ments of the soldiers friends to be
correct. If, upon the other hand, he
should find the case to be without
extenuating features he should not
interfere with the execution beyond
the reprieve granted for the inquiry.
Mr.. Kelley took the first train for
the front. Travelling as far as he
could by rail, he rode on horseback
nearly all night through the great
camps to reach the regiment he
sought. The execution was to have
taken place that morning, but was
stayed by the Presidents order. Mr..
Kelley satisfied himself that the de-
mands of justice and the discipline
OF the army did not require the sac
rifce of the young life, produced the
pardon and the soldier was restored
to duty.
Naturally Mr.. Kelly watched with
interest the future career of the boy
whose life he had held in his hands,
and was gratifed to know that had not
erred in his judgment. The soldier
fully redeemed himself by conspicu-
Gus gallantry, and lost an arm in
the final assault upon Petersburg,
After the war Mr.. Kelley secured his
appointment in one of the depart
ments of Washington, where he re
NAMED until his death two or three
years ago. In after years Mr. Kel-
ley often remarked that no act of his
life, public or private, gave him more
satisfaction than his services in be
half of that condemned soldier. II
goes on without saying that the lat
ter's affection for Mr.. Kelley was be
yond any power of language to ex
press, continuing till the last mo
ments Of life.