The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-07-21
FIGHT ron A PARDON.
How n Woman Secured the Release
of a Convict.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.


of a member of congress. fun OF senti-
ment and sympathy and that letter nearly
broke my heart. l cried myself sick over
IL, and somehow took the morbid fancy
in reading and re-reading it. 1t was
hardly the letter OF an educated woman,
but it was full OF tears and pleadings, and
my newly widowed heart bled in sympa-
thy for the writer.
1t told the tale Of a crime. where
young man. who had been in the postal
service in a far distant western town,
was dismissed for suspected dishonesty.
and had failed to give up the keys in
trusted to him by the department Al
terward he had wandered TO an eastern
city: and, in broad daylight had stood
on the street. opened the letter box. ex-
tracted the letters, torn them open. read
them, pocketed the money found in sew
eral then coolly tearing tnem into small
pieces, scattered the fragments where
he stood. Meanwhile a policeman had
watched this insane pantomime. and as
the young man started off leisurely. the
guardian of the peace quietly tapped him
on the shoulder and claimed him as his
prisoner. He was tried, convicted and
sentenced to FIVE years of hard labor;
and the letter over which l had wept
myself sick was from the heart broken
wife. She was connected by an infini-
tesimal link of relationship with my late
husband, but 1 had never seen either her
or the imprisoned husband for whom
she pleaded.
My husband, however, had refused 20
interfere with the course Of justice; bu-
that letter to me sent all ideas of justice
TO the winds, and 1 answered it immedi-
ately, telling her in equally heart-broken
terms, that 1 would 90 all I'm my power
to obtain his pardon, adding that my
husbands affairs, being in the condition
of a member of congress usually leaves
his finances, If she would bear the eX-
pense, 1 would leave nothing undone to
aid her; and l fancled that l had frinds
who would help me.
The answer came by return mail, weigh
ed down with gratitude, and pledging
her honor that even in the event OF fail
ure no burden of expenses should be left
to me. OF course. he was crazy at tho
time, what man would do anything of
that kind in broad daylight So they
hunted up the family records and I'M
earthed lots of dead imbeciles; who, If
they had known how they were being
slandered for the sake of that young
scapegrace, would have turned In their
graves and howled.
This budget of evidence was sent 70
me, and the member OF congress from
their district being in town. l sought
him. and begged him to go with me. At
first he declined positively. but / coaxed,
and at last took out the wife's letter
His eyes looked very supicious Of tears
after reading IL, and then he said: There,
child, you have no business to undertake
anything of this kind, but I'll go with
you"
George H. Williams. whom knew well,
was the attorney general at that time.
so we proceeded to the department of
justice. l met Gen. Williams al the door,
and he courteously shook hands After
l had explained my errand ne laid his
hand kindly on my shoulder. my, dear,
Mrs. b." he said, IF little women like
you let their sympathies run a way with
them, we might as we'll throw open the
prison doors and let all these wretches
loose"
But 1 pleaded so earnestly that I OBJ
| tanned his promise to look over the pa
pers. These included the petition of the
wife, the certificates of the family of the
| eccentricities of the dead members, three
or four ah1davits of towns-people where
the prisoner had been reared as to his
previous irreproaohable reputation, GER
tificate OF good conduct from the warden
of the penitentiary where he was con-
fined, one from the prison doctor, at
testing that his health was giving away;
a whole budget representing him as the
most awfully abused young innocent that
ever got into trouble; and the whole
theory was that his insanity alone was
responsible for the rashness of such an
act as he had cQmpitted.
few days iAtef the budget was re-
turned, with the following Endorsement:
Dear Madam: / fail to find one extern
uating circumstance excusing the acts of
this criminal, and regret that / must
decline granting any personal request
from you. Very truly.
Then took the bundle to Gen. Sherman.
All the girls loved him, and to those who
enjoyed the friendship Of his daughters,
his whole souled cordiality and CHEEKY well
come at his home will never be forgot
ten. 1 knew him we'll, and went at once
to the library. With him, the girls were
all my darling" and the boys, my SON."
In few words my errand was explain
ed. He listened attentively, and after I
had told him of Gen. Williams refusal,
he said, In his gruff way, Now, look here,
my darling little girl it strikes me that
the young rascal has gotten no more than
he deserves"
Then 1 took out the wife's letter and
began to read Now outside of his mill
tary career Gen. Sherman was one of the
most sympathetic of men. He listened
awhile, the rugged face softened and the
small, keen eyes grew sympathetic as he
interrupted me. Don't read any more;
what do you want me to do?"
Come with me to the Attorney Gen
eral," 1 answered
He ordered the carriage, and we were
soon being rapidly driven to the depart
ment, and were admitted at once.
Williams" he began, you'll have TO do
as this little girl wants you to. The fellow
don't deserve it, but there must be some
good in him. or his wife would not want
him out"
Gen. Williams at last compromised by
saying that if l could get a recommen-
dalton from the judge who had sentenced
him he would consider the matter
did not know who had tried the case:
but after considerable coaxing to this
effect, 1 prevailed on Gen. Sherman to
write me a letter to the Judge, whoever
he might be. asking him to grant me an
interview. Then l packed up my maid
and baby. Meanwhile I had written to
the wife, and received a Geographic re-
ply begging me to go at once and again
assuring me that all expenses would be
cheerfully paid We started two days
after. The member from their district
met me, and together we went to the
district attorneys office. The date Of the
trial was given, and after considerable
no de war fr..r