The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1892-04-29

a LETTER TO IDAHO FRIENDS
The Governors Reasons for Granting
the Pardon--HaIf a Million People
Sign the Petition.

News has reached here that Col.
Aaron ID. Yocum, who was SEN
fenced on the 10Th INST. to one year
in the penitentiary for the killing
of Myron Vanheet at Hastings.
Neb., on February %, is to-day a
free man, Governor Boyd having
signed a full and free pardon. The
governor said:
''1he jury of twelve menavho sat through the
whole trial found verdict for manslaughter, II
verdict which in my mind practically exoner-
ates Colonel Iocum for the Killing / am con-
vinced that these men, Viewing IL from the
standpoint OF immediate rfoximity, have made
II incumbent upon me TO Yiew 1t In the same
broad spirit of mercy. Tie taking of human
life is an awful thing but s0 is the destruction
of virtue and the despoillOg of n good nnme
The man who, as the head Df family, would
shirk the responsibility of that headship is un-
worthy to be considered ainan, and while Il is
fur from my purpose to extol Yocum for his
rash act, yet am firmly impressed with the be-
lief, gained from hundreds o. letters, petitions
cohhvyersatons, newspaper sditorials etc. that
1t has been said, 'He did wrong that he might
do right and to this public sentiment yield
the assent OF executive cleraency."
Among the hosts of Colonel
Yocum's friends there are none who
will more heartily rejoice in the
action of Governor Boyd than will
THE HERALD.
While we echo the sentiment Of
Governor Boyd, sit is far from my
purpose to extol Colonel Yocum's
rash act" we firmly believe the
ends Of justice could be in no way
more fully aehieyed Ehan by the
full and complete pardon granted
"Who steals my purse steals
trash, but he who filches from
me my good name robs ne
of that which not enriches him and
makes me poor indeed" This SEN
timent is much nearer the teachings
of holy writ than are most of the
laws on our statute books, yet too
often the petty thief is punished
and the villifier of the good name
OF a woman is unmolested.
Colonel Yocum as man, as a
man of spirit, as a man knowing
the insufficiency of the law to
adequately administer the punish
ment that human vampire de-
served, took the course his high
sense of right prompted and public,
sentiment and executive clemency
have approved his act.
Through the kindness of Mr.. J.
E. Dolan we publish the following
letter from Colonel Yocum:
HASTINGS, Neb., April 19.-Dear
friends, Mr.. and Mrs. j. E. Dolan:
Once more | breathe the free air Of
heaven, an exonerated and free man.
The sentence Of the court and find
ings Of the jury have both been an
nulled, set aside and held for
naught by full and free pardon
at the hands Of the governor of my
state. Of course, behind this stood
half million people, 80 per cent.
of whom were my staunch and
staying friends, all asking in one
way or another that the pardon be
issued. send a copy of the Omaha
Bee to Mr.. Taylor containing the
facts and reasons of the governor
for the pardon.
/ received your most cordial let
ter of coincidence, but as it came al
a most critical time when / was
pressed qp every side by most
urgent matters, l could not an
swer it Without permitting mos
important matters to go neglected
| know You will appreciate thii
state of facts and excuse delay
When you spoke af the dear littl