Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-08-01
PARDONlNG Her Lover.
B. G. CRANsT0N's PART IN THE
SEWARD CASE.
How Pop State officials Got Wo.
mans Money BY False Promises
Tho Abilene Mans Humble
Share in the Proceedings Related.

Share in the Proceedings Related.
A new Pop sensation comes to light
nearly every day. The latest is in
connection with an attempt on the
part Of Mrs. Tabing Of Butler
county to get a pardon for Bruce
Seward, the murderer of her son, who
is in the state peniteptiary.
The killing Of young Tabing oc.
Cured over Seward paying attention
to his mother. She was divorced
from his father, Charles Tabing, and
Seward was waiting on her and ru-
NOR had 1t the relations were open to
criticism. The young man wanted it
stopped and went to his mothers
house one day and found her and
Seward together They had some
words whom reyolvers were drawn
and battle commenced that ended
in young Tabing's death, In the
trial that followed Mrs. Tabing ap-
peared as a witness md gave testi-
mony that aided materially in getting
Seward light sentence.
Shortly after Seward was placed in
the penitentiary Mrs. Tabing went to
Lansing to see him. She let it out to
the Pop officials in charge OF the pen
itentiary at that time, that she had
considerable property and they saw
at once that she would be an easy
victim to bunco. Their cue was to
pretend they would secure the liberia
ton Of the man whom Mrs. Tabing
loved from prison. They were Popu-
lists, they had influence with the
governor, they would use it, they
would secure pardon--if the woman
would pay them well. She says 'he
paid 5000 to Commissioner L. A,
Waggener; *S5 to B. G. Cranston, Of
Abilene; to DR.. England and Hol-
comb she paid $75. To Labor Com
missioner Todd she paid first $3.50
and then 5000, depositing another
5000 in a bank to be paid over when
the pardon was secured In all the
woman was robbed Of $40 and left
practically without cent,
No pardon was secured and Mr..
Cranston appears to be the only man
who made an attempt to earn his
fee Mrs, Tabing says Of her deal
with him:
II was stopping at Lansing at this
time and q man named B. G. Grams
ton, Of Abilene, wrote me that he
could get Seward pardon. | sent
him $40 to come on to Lansing. lie
said he was Populist with big in
huence and could get Seward out for
$75, which | gave him. He never
did anything to help him to my
knowledge
The REFLECTOR today interviewed
Mr.. Cranston on the matter. He
said, in substance; my first init
nation of the case was when got a
letter asking me to take hold Of it. !
replied that | could not 60 to Lansing
without my expenses were paid. She
sent $40 and went down. Wagge-
ner seemed to have the case but
agreed to do all | could as her attor-
ney for fee Of $50. | went to work
but nobody else did anything but get
a transcript OF the case. | presented
the matter to the board and had rea-
son to think the pardon would be
granted when suddenly she wanted to
discharge Waggener and have me
take the case. Waggener had agreed
to free the man by Nov. and the
time passed with nothing done.
took $25 more for expenses and time
and investigated the case in Butler
county but soon found that the big
fellows were working the woman
and quit"
Mr., Cranston seems to have earned
the money in good service rendered
in good faith-but the boodlers at the
head OF the shameful affair were a
disgrace to the state. What a 're-
form" crowd the Pops are, to be sure.