The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-29
1GKOUNDl r., ATT1Ch.


T. Br. NJ -. y % County.
The stanton Vindicator, in one Of us
last issues. reproduces the following
paragraph from Richmond paper:
Governor O.FerraH has rardoaed James
y Rrult youth who was convicted III
Aucusta county for forgery and sen
fenced to two years in the penltentidry'
Tho CludiCator then comments on the
above paragraph in the following manner
The criminal above is not James ,
. Bruit. but James l.. Brent, nor was ne
convicted in the Augusta county Court,
but in the Stanton Hastings Court ana
the history Of the case is important ae
showing how hard il is for the people OF
the Commonwealth 10 get justice against
a iaw-Dreaker and how much they nave 20
pay for the simple attempt 70 punish one.
James J.. Brent, "a man Of tWentj -hNe'
from Nelson, whose face was familiar in
stanton during the ''booms.' returned to
stanton. his old stamping ground, In
1882 and passed forged check on y.
Lobe Z; Co on Augusta street After ms
arrest he evidence Of the crime being
iudiSputabie the usual plea OF insanity
was set up Ne was indicted in December
1893 The plea OF insanity being set up.
the trial Of that issue came OF I'M April,
1894 and there was a large number OF
Witnesses summoned many Of ,hcm from
Nelson, the prisoners home. Doctors as
experts. and good many more besides,
were summoned. The jury did not agree.
Again. at the June term OF the musings
Court, the question Of insanity vas tried.
Again there was q large army Of Wit
ncSees for tho prisoner. for unlike most
criminals ho had influential friends, ana
they came from all quarters To TESTIFY.
This time the iIry rendered verdict
that the accused was sane. The trial OF
the accused for the crime itself was then
put of tin the October term. ON october
ilth the jury found "a verdict OF guilty
and assessed the prisoners punishment
at the low term OF two years IN the pen
itentiary. In the meantime the following
costs were incurred 10 hc paid out Of
the peoples taxes. for an attempt 10
convict a criminal: Witnesses, $40; jury
in Grs, trial. SIS; second trial, So, third
trial. So. beard i'm jail. $50. court officers
fece, S.; incidental, 500: total $50.
After ali This effort and expenditure on
the part OF he peoi r. 90 carry out the
law. Governor O'Fyuau. on Saturday,
December pa, only two months after his
conviction. Tor reasons not publicly
stated, pardoned the prisoner ana let him
90 free
Governor OIerrall was seen i'm regard
TO the above article last evening, ard
stated that the entire Statement was in
correct. While it was true that the name
of the convict who had been pardone
by him was James =. Brent, and not
James j. Bruit as had been reported. he
had been in the penitentiary since Octo-
her. 1893, and not since October. lSB. H.
had. therefore, served fourteen months OF
his sentence Of two years His pardon
was granted upon the request Of Com
monwealths Attorney Brent and that OF
Dr. BlackfOrd superintendent OF the Cen
trail state Hospital at stanton. and one
of his assisants who stated i'm their re-
ports that the man was suffering from
epileptic dementa. The request for
Brent's pardon was also endorsed by ii
number Of other physicians and promi-
nent citizens Of stanton.
The superintendent Of the peni'entiary
end the surgeon Of mat institution also
endorsed the request, the latter stating
that longer Imprisonment would tend to
increase the number Of epilcptic attacks.
Judge j. Thompson Brown. OF Nelson
county, also joined in the request and
for all these reasons the Governor agreed
TO grant the pardon.