The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-07-09
THE PARDON OF CAESAR
MORGAN,

and sentenced to the penitentiary 70,
life, has been pardoned. The follow
ing are the reasons advanced by At
torney-GeDeral Walter Rogers and
Lieutonant-Governor Jas. Jeffries fol-
signing the pardon:
BATON ROUGE, La, |
June 9th, 1890. {
10 The GOVERNOR:
Caesars Morgan, a colored man,
was indicted in the parish of Rapides
on the 18Th October, 1886, for the
murder of Dennis Bennitt. The
killing took place on the LIST March
1871. He was found guilty in April,
1889, and on the Goth Of that month
sentenced to imprisonment at hard
labor during his natural life.
This case was considered last
March at full meeting of the Board.
the trial Judge being present. Al
though the alleged crime, occurred in
the early part of 1871, that the &C.
cused and ali the witnesses remained
in the same neighborhood, the courts
constantly in session, no attempt
seems to have been made 10 prosecute
either the accused or any other per-
son for this crime. Several reasons
have been submitted in explanation.
One is that the accused was necessary
as an important and Influential factor
in local politics, that as long as be
carried out political methods, and
was instrumental in securing certain
political advantages, lie enjoyed i'm
munity from arrest or annoyance {;
that he had concluded to change his
political course and assert other
preferences, and as soon as this was
discovered, former friends or politi-
cal compatriots became active OPP
ponents and brought about his con-
yiclion.
Another reason Is that a conviction
occurred in the parish of other par
ties, the prisoner was witress
against the accused and thereby in.
Cured enmlty, and the friends and
family Of the parties convicted
through Morgan's testimony were in
lime Witnesses against him.
The trial Judge at some length pre-
SCENTS his views in writing, antl favored
the Board with verbal statement ia
of what he had before
The facts are that the killing oc-
cured al Negro Collation. The
night was dark, stormy and rainy.
Some difficulty had occurred in the
lancing room; the deceased was
ooisterous and qarrelsome, probably
90 more 80 than others, as it seems
very clear that almost every one was
Trunk. The deceased had been
either elected or persuaded to leave
The room. He was with several
others, his wife with them, she evil
lently trying to quiet him. A sbo.
vas fired in the darkness and the
nan killed. The accused, Morgan,
3 charged;with having fired the shot.
he was identified by the deceased's
wife. She testified that at the
moment Of the shot there was o fash
); lightning and 10 the light Of the
ssh she recognized the prisoner.
Ihe trial Judge is of opinion that
Morgan dld the killing, but that it
vas done III the heat of passion and
mounted only to mauslaughter.
That he charged the jury that the
'nly verdict they could render was
'allty or not guilty Of murder, one
# manslaughter would operate as an
because prescription had
ntervened, tue offense having been
committed over year before finding
lie indictment and had been known
0 an officer authorized by law to
| do not propose to discuss the
natter of guilt, the verdict of the
lry has disposed of that and they
7ere competent judges of the evil
ence. l do not think the Judge
hould have charged the jury as to
he verdict in the terms indicated by
i'm; if the prisoner was only guilty
I manslaughter be should not have
cen convicted of murder, the con-
cquences were matters of other
l am however impressed with other
considerations. II the charges of
rime may be held over a'pcrsonsfrom
ny cause whatsoever, and he be
sught that immunity from punish
lent is contingent upon favoritism,
'-partnership or the like. the public
Ill be placed substantially under
lie dominion of designing and selfish
ersons who themselves, while tech {
ica!ly and actually violating all pub s
and moral law in concealing crime
Id shielding criminals, make use of
ase and vicious means to accom-
ish base and vicious ends. Public
lstice should follow swift after pub
wrong, the promptness Of punish.
ent assures certainty of prosecu,
on, diminishes chances of escape
I'd fixes example that will deter
her wropg-doers.
II power or opportunity or con.
'lracy may prevent this, we have :