The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-10-15

PLEADING FOR HER SONS LIFE.
ment for life, but after carefully consider
ing the testimony his conscience would not
permit him to do 50, and Leuth was hanged
in the Columbus penitentiary shortly after
midnight Of the Goth Of August. That
morning Governor Campbell found let
ter, written in German, in his mail, Of
which the following is a translation:
CoLU0BUs o., Aug %
O'Clock at night
GovEsSoH-My son John has Just brought the
news that our child Otto Leuth has been muir
dered. You want 70 make people believe yeur
heart has suffered since you dismissed me 50
rudely. Whoever Possesses a heart would not al
low child Of 10 years TO he hung, and nobody
expected it Of you except your Irish friends. and
especially Sheriff Sawyer. for politics are at
stake the life OF human being Is counted for
nothing But curse YOU his Inurdsrers and their
descendants May his shadow haunt you 20 the
hour OF your DEATH May all the tortures plague
you which have suffered all this time. This is
my wish LENA LEurH.
P. SIT is a week tonight since you have uur-
dered my child, accurscd murderer! Give me
back my Otto or l shall 20 mad. Why did you
sacrifice my child for political reasons? You
want the Cleveland votes but the road TO the
presidential chair leads over the dead body OF my
child, and you will never get there. Is il justice
TO hang a child and respite a mAtrcide, whom
the board Of parJlons had also refused: will tell
you the votes Of Prebe county are not so hnpor-
tant as those Of Cleveland. But I have on the
grave Of my child sworn 70 curse you as long As
live, and shall keep my oath. Why don't you
kill me, too? / wish you would
LENA LEUrH
Though Governor Campbell did no doubt
what he considered his plain duty under
the circumstances it is highly probable
3 hot Of / - laff
made him feel very uncomfortable. The
pardoninR power with which many gov
errors of states are invested causes them
more trouble, worry and annoyance than
ali their other duties Several years ago
while | was a travelling correspondent OF
The Cincinnati Enquirer business called
me to the Office of Governor Thomas l..
Young. of Ohio
While talking with him his doorkeeper
came in and informed him that a delega-
ton of ladies was outside who wished to
see him with view to obtaining pardon
for Mrs. Robinson, who was then an in
mate of the penitentiary. / arose to go,
when the governor interpOsed.
Don't 60" said be, but take a seat at
that desk. / want you 20 hear what ! have
TO undergo day after day. They will think
that you are one Of my secretaries and
they will talk freely before you.
''This Mrs. Robinson that they want me
TO pardon IS a wretch who should have
been hanged instead Of being sent 70 prison
for life. She poisoned her husband inch by
inch in order TO get rid of him for another
man. Now she Is locked up, and as she IS
very crafty and deceiying she has aroused
the sympathies OF "A lot OF good ladies who
visit the prisoners, and they have nearly
driven me out Of my wits time and again
with their opportunities on her behalf
She is unworthy OF clemency and / cannot
give it to her, but these ladies are well
meaning and / have hated 20 hurt their
feelings by point blank refusal.
~ can't stand il any longer, and now
intend TO tell them once for all that I will
not pardon her, but / must 90 II gently