The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-03-07
An Outrageous Abuse of Executive
Clemency
News and coasiersa aarsh sc S.
Vl6m8u@-

of Executive clemency since the days
of Scott and Moses is the recently
granted pardon Of the notorious G. W.
Lucker, of Mount Pleasant, by Cover
nor Tillman. Lucker was convicted
at the June terr of the Court Of
General Sessions Of Berkeley County
for 1898 on charge Of larceny from
the field. He was defended by E. J.
Dennis and Charles S. Venniug. and
after a fair and impartial trial was
declared guilty by jury composed
principally of Tllmanites. He vas SEN
teneed by Judge Izlar to pay fne of
$500 or be Imprisoned in the State
Penitentiary for thirty months. but
was admitted to bail with good and
sufficient sureties. The case was
appealed to the Supreme Court, Lucker
being represented Mr.. G. S Bissell.
The Supreme Court affirmed the
decision Of the lower Courts.
At the Court of Sessions Of Berke-
ley last month, Judge Townsend
presiding, the case vas called. Solici-
tor Jervey and E. J. Dennis and
G. S. Venning. the former attorneys
for Lucker, called. Mr.. Deonis said
tha. he had nothing to do With the
case, but he understood that Mr.. Bissell
vas Mr.. Lucker's attorney. Mr..
Bissell was called, bat failed to respond.
whereupon the judgment of the
Supreme Court vas made the judgment
Of. the Circuit Court, aud Lucker was
turned over to the sheriff Of Berkeley
to execute the sentence Of the Court.
Prior to the call of the case the
sheriff had been instructed by Cover
nor Tillmau not to put Lucker in Jail,
so when the sentence was announced
the convict was not imprisoned, though
possibly kept under legal surveillance.
Lucker's reputation all over Berkeley
County, and especially at Mount
Pleasant, vas so notorious that Mr..
T. 6. Venning addressed Governor
Tillman the following letter to put him
on his guard !:
MOUNT PLEASANT, S. c., February
1, 1894.
To his Rxcellency, B. R. Tillman..
Governor, Columbia, S. C.-Dear Sir:
I ask of you in my name, and also in
the name Of the good people of Mount
Pleasant. that before you consider the
petition Of E. w. Lucker, (who was
convicted at the June term of Court,
1898. for larceny from the fields,
which conviction on appeal to the
Supreme Court vas affirmed, that you
confer with the people of Berkeely
County generally as to his character,
I couid give your Excellency history
of Lucker's life which, I am sure,
would cause you to refuse tc consider
the case, bat | do not feel that | am
called upon at this stage OF the case to
forward such history when the Courts
of Charleston and Berkeley stand
ready to furnish it. But if your
desire that shall furnish
you With G. W. Lucker's history /
will then, 10 a seasonable time, for
ward it. I am very respectfully.
THO. G.. VENN1NG. Anti-Tillmauite.
In reply Mr.. Venning received the
following letter from Governor Till
mans private secretary.
STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER.
CoLuMB1A, February 8. 1894
Theodore G. VeDning, Mount Pleas
ant, S. C.-Dear Sir: Governor Till
man directs me to ask you to send on
what you have to say against the par
don of G.. W. Lucker Very respect
fully,
D. 81. THoMpK1Ns
Private Secretary
Mr.. Veoniog sent the following
reply:
MOUNT PLEASANT, Feb. IA. 1894.
His Excellency B. r. TilIman,
Governor, Columbia, s. c Dear Sir /:
In response to yours of the 18th instant
recelTed by me this day, directing me
to furnish you with what evidence
/ haze against the pardon Of c W.
Lucker. l beg leave to submit the
following: 10 the year 1884 c. w
Lucker was held under a criminal
prosecution for maltreatment of his
two children by his FIRST wife.
Upon the cali Of the case he
agreed that if the case vas
dropped against him he would give
a bond and mortgage for $1,000 for
the support Of his said two children.
The case was dropped and he and his
second wife made the bond aud mort
gage the subject Of the foreclosure suit
which was subsequently, brought. The
fictitious mortgage referred to by Mas
ter Leland caused the litigation. |
herewith enclose certified copy of the
fual report of J. S. Leland, late