New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-08-12
PRICE THREE CENTS.
KING IN STATES PRISON.
NO MOB INTERRUPTS HIS JOURNEY 10
NASHVILLE.
VAIN APPEAL TO SAVE HIM FROM THE cor
yIcrs sTRIPEs-GovERNoR BUCHANAN
TALKS ABOUT HIS ACTT0N-A LETTER
FROM GRAY GABLES IN THE
MURDERER's BEHALF.
.sr TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIBUxE.y

.sr TELEGRAPH TO THE TkrBUxEI
Nashville Aug 11.-At O'Clock this morning shefin
McLendon Shelby County, reached the city. HAVING
in his custody Colonel H. Clay King, the murderer
OF David II. Poston. 1t vas the intention o. Me
sheriff to allow King to remain In the Memphis jAu
for n few DAYS but the rumors that mob wouio
make an attempt last night to lynch his prisoner
caused him promptly to remove him 30 the state fens
testary King In his cell at the State Prison remains
as he has been all the time, defiant rather than sae
mtsssve fierce rather than meek, active rather unan
melancholy. He calls his conviction and hcarcerauoo
the result Of conspiracy and he asks for no mercy.
He was not handcufYed during the trip from Memphis
10 this city, The sheriff said to-day that on tne
tourney Kings conversation was calm enough Dus
there was an underone OF defiance In all be sa'd '
talked about facing any mob that might como'
He was not melancholy and he said noonine
about desiring mercy Sheriff McLendon was affaid
there would be some excitement at NashVnie' oo'
everything was quiet upon their arrival
The sheriff and his prisoner ieft memphis On :
Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad train, ana proceeoins
TO Nortonvie, KY, made connection with tne Lou's'
Vile and Nashville Railroad He chose TINS fou'0
because there fears that q mob woud iesve
Memphis and meet them at Mckenzie. MS. hing
and ber son and daughter arrived at about the same
time by another road AID met Sheriff McLendon
and King at t., depot Mrs. King and the son
entered a hack with the sheriff and prisoner. ana
accompanied them to the pententiary. On the way
the party stopped at a saloon where King drank
glass OF whIskey lie TIED to get another drink as
the prisah, but ti, refused. Mrs. King had
long conference IN private with her husband at the
penItentiary. At its conclusion she made strong
appeal to Warden Blevins not to compel her nus
band to wear the prison garb. but was firmly yes
politely, told that the rules Of the place must oe
carried out. Mrs. King, In her appeal. said. among
other things, tha. Grover Cleveland had written
letter to one of her relatives In behalf OF executive
rJamenrv this the Warden replied
Madame II Grover Cleveland should come here With
you In person or II any other man should como
should still put the stripes Colonel King as upon
any other prisoner"
Mrs. King, who showed evidence OF great agitation
soon aerwad returned to the city, not wishing to sec
her husband wearing striped clothing King then
taken behind the bars and after being
measured suit was given to him
which he put on, and In shors
time he was placed In a cell. Warden Blevins said
he would treat King as any other prisoner and give
him some employment to suit his advanced age
He evidently could not stand manual labor ana had
accustomed to brain work all his life. The doc
tor would permit him to have drop or two Of
whiskey for few days, until his system was In such
condition that he could do without liquor.
Governor Buchanan to-day said. when spoken to
about the scenes at az memphis sn nS bn Sesn Ssnse1
and buried could be expected to feel He Thought the
reports from Memphis mis- naS Sse1 10 snSsas sd
perfectly, satisfied with my action" he aid sand By
.se petitions on my tsoe n1sS %Sw there .Sis sss
Sane had snS change Of The tavsisx
around as It should have done, and II probable
that King Is at least 70 some extent insane ana thea
ishment 70 him and less disgrace to his family than
hanging. Letters have come to me nom other Gov
ernors, from statesmen, and from men In every wek
Of life-an this in addition to the peadIne Of his v6
and children weighed the matter long In my
mind, and have decided it. believe that have
done right tf
signed by twentysix United States Senators and Cbn-
gressmen.
Among the documents filed with Governor Buchanan
In reference to the H. Clay King is the follow1ngt
Gray Gables, BuzMrds Bay, Mass. July 81.
Mrs. f. X. White.
Dear Madam: sympatbize with you deeply and
sincerely IN the conviction Of uncle. know but
the facts In his but confess that sgfo
information the subject led suppose that enough
mitigation would be shown upon his trial 10 reduce
the grade offence below that OF the highest known TO ouu
law. have been moved by your appeal that have
seriously considered whether there something I
might do to help you. / forced the conclusion
however that ought not interfere by applying t the
mitigation Of the pronounced
your uncle. Such application my part would b
based only upon the sympathy which feel for and
experience teaches that such consideration ought not
control executive action in OF this kind Notwiths
standing this feel that there circumstances In
uncles which ought to appeal strongly 10 the
paronng power and earnestly hope that such represen
aons be made to your Governor will avert the
execution Of the death sentence which has been pro
nouneed. Very truly yours
GROVER CLEVELAND.
Mrs. White is niece of Colonel Clay King.