Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-08-12
COL. KING In THE PEN.
Judge Lynch Cheated Out of a Victim
by a Shrewd Sheriff's Work.
THE RIDE TO STATES PRISON.
Warden Blevins Compelled to rut the
Stripes on the Convict,
DESPITE MRS. KINGS PLEADINGS
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DISPATCH,

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE pIsPArcHl
NASHVILLE, Aug. u.-Colonel H. Clay
King, who shot and killed David H. Pos
ton in Memphis over year ago, who was
then convicted and sentenced to be hanged,
and whose sentence was affirmed by the Su-
preme Court OF the State, and who subse-
quently made fruitless effort to obtain q
writ of habeas corpus from the Federal
Court, and later was saved from the gal
lows by commutation granted by Cover
nor Buchanan, is to-day an inmate of the
Tennessee Penitentiary.
Taken from Memphis last night to escape
mob violence, he arrived here at o'clock
this morning In custody of Sheriff McLen-
don, of Shelby county, and was at once CON-
veyed to the State prison, passing beyond
the door at the main entrance of the great
stone building. Colonel King was immedi-
ately placed behind the bars, and receipt
for the prisoner was handed to the Sheriff.
Arrival OF the Party at Nashville.
Colonel King, who, when he reached the
city, was attired in neat suit of black,
met Mrs King, his devoted wife, and her
son at the depot, the two having come to
the city on different roads Miss King, his
daughter, accompanied her mother and
brother from Memphis to Nashville, COM
ing on the Nashville, Chattanooga and ST.
Louis Railway, via Mackenzie, while
Colonel King and Sheriff McLendon
went on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad
as far as Nortonsville, KY, and taking the
Poi1
came to the city, the train reaching here
O few minutes after the one on which
Mrs King, her son and daughter were pas
sengers
Mrs. King, and son accompanied Colonel
King and Sheriff McLendon to the peni
tentiary, while Miss King came up town.
While on the way to the prison Colonel
King signifed his desire for a drink of
whisky, and the carriage was stopped long
enough for the prisoner to satisfy his ap-
petite for liquor.
Private Conference With His Wife.
When Colonel King had been turned over
to the custody of Warden Blevins, Mrs.
King who was somewhat agitated, asked
the Warden to allow her to speak to her
husband in private. Permission being
given. Colonel King and his wife retired to
an adjoining room. After the husband and
W
Warden's office, and Colonel King asked
Mr.. Blevins for drink of whisky. The
Warden replied that his request could not
be granted.
Mrs King then brought up the question
whether her husband would have to wear
stripes. She pleaded in most earnest
manner with the Warden, citing the high
position of the family, the number of
prominent people who had asked the Gov
ernor to commute the sentence imposed
upon her husband, the age of the prisoner,
and finally saying that Grover Cleveland
had written letter to one of Kings
relatives favoring executive clemencv. Her
pleading was in vain, Warden Blevins say
ing: MADAME, if Grover Cleveland should
come with you personally, or if any other
man should come, I should still put the
stripes upon Colonel King, as upon any
other prisoner"
The Colonel Must Wear the Stripes
Mrs King then inquired, "If Governor
Buchanan says you may leave them of, will
you?'' The reply was stNo, Madame; it is
my duty, as Warden of the penitentiary, to
treat him as other prisoners.
Mrs. King, who was deeply moved, asked
if her husbands face and head must be
shaved and received reply in the mega
tive. Warden Blevins also informed Mrs
King that she might call upon her husband
under the rules governing the prison.
Wishing to avoid seeing her husband in a
convict's cell Mrs. King then left the
prison. After her departure Colonel King
was brought into the clothing room, where
he was measured and his description
entered in the records. He then put on the |
stripes, and at 10 o'clock the great gate at |
the inner entrance was opened and a mo-
ment later it closed upon him. He was con- |
Quoted to wing No. 3, where he will remain |
until death closes his remarkable career or |
q pardon is granted by some Governor. Be- |
ing old and unused to manual labor, he will |
be given light employment.
Sheriff McLendon said that yesterday aft |
ternoon he received information that a |
movement was on foot to mob Colonel King |
that night. While believing that, with a |
dozen men, he could defend the Jail against
all of Memphis, he was averse to taking lite
if he could possibly avoid it.
Cleveland's Letter to Kings Aunt.
The letter referred to by Mrs King as
having been written by Grover Cleveland
g as follows:
GRAY GABLES, BuzzARD's BAY, MASS,
July 7.{
Mrs. E. Z. White:
DEAR MADAME-I sympathize with you
1eepy ana t IN ,t. she S nv OF
/
he case, but confess that my slight tnforma-
;ion on the subject led me to suppose that
enough Of mitigation would be shown
,pon his tria! to reduce the grade of
,ffense below that OF the highest known to
,ur law. have been so moved by your ap-
peal that 1 have seriously considered
whether there was not something might
10 to help you. I am forced.to the conclu-
lion, however, that ought not to interfere
by applying to the Governor for the mitiga-
ion Of the sentence pronounced upon your
lncle. Such an application on my part
would be based only upon the sympathy
which feel for you, and my e1-
teaches me that such a con-
Iideration ought, not to control exec
ltive action in case of this kind. Not
this feel that there are CIR
.umstances In your uncle's case which
ought to appeal strongly to the pardoning
power, and earnestly hope that such repre-
entations may be made to your Governor
IS will avert the execution of the death SEN
ence which has been pronounced.
Very truly yours,
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Mrs. White is a niece of Mrs Colonel
Jlay King, the murderer of Posten.