The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-01-08
HILL CAN'T WEAR LONG HAIR
Gov. Atkinson Declines TO Grant The
Petition for His Pardon.

III Health the Only Ground on Which
the Application for Clemeney Was
Basod-His Attorneys Fail 20 Sustain
the Claim That the Prisoner Is Going
Into Rapid Decline-Banker Porter
Sends in Letter Giving Strong Rea-
sons Why Hill Should Not Be Par
doned.
Atlanta, Ga, Jan. 7-Harry Hill, who Is
Just completing the first year OF his
hve year sentence at tho Gress peniten-
tiary camp. viii have to serve out ths
remainder or his term unless there is a
providenual dispcnsauon in his behalf.
Gov. Atkinson disposed of the case in
short order this afternoon. Hilrs attor-
neys rested their case entirely upon the
handsome convicts health. The petition
for Hnrs pardon was signed by a lot OF
well-known people. whose friendship he
claimed. as well as some 130 members OF
tho last House of Representatives, and
thir,y-two out Of the forty-four senator's.
but his attorneys completely failed to sus-
tain the plea that he is going into rapid
decline.
Il. II. Hin and r. w. Rucker, who de-
Tended Hill, pleaded with the governor
for over an hour. Tho prosecution was
represented by no one in person. but
Banker Porter, the name of whose wlfa
Hill forged submitted a long letter pro-
testing against pardon.
J. r.. Tolleson, tho little banker wh1
hunted Hil down after his flight. being az
himself his nemesis" was present. bus
had nothing to say, although bitterly op.
posed to pardon.
The evidence upon which It was sought
to prove Hills bad health was a letter
from Dr. Froweu, the camp physician.
and certificate from DR.. Jernigan OF
Atlanta, who went down TO Kramer to
see Harry at the instance OF his friends.
DIR. Jcrnigan said he had fallen away
forty pounds IN eleven months and he
didn't believe he would live his term out.
Banker Porter's letter was a very tart
document. After a brief review OF the
case he says Harry had been n "parlor
boardcr" in the Fulton county jail and
that his situation in the penitentiary
camp has not been any more onerous.
Banker Porter says In his letter that hs
regards his punishment and the manner or
the execution Of the sentence as doubtful
compliance with the sentence Of imnris-
to the consciences OF the officials. Mr.
Porter says HilPs attorney now admitted
his guilt and the genulneness of the writ
ten confession that played such con-
spicuous part IN the trial. which the de-
fense tried 10 prove a forgery committed
by Lawyer Echols OF the prosecution
This being so the banker says Hil's states
ment TO the jury was a falsehood and the
jury knew IT, Tho public, he says con-
siders HIPS punishment extremely light,
though he does not know how far his
own personal feelings influenced his judg-
ment.
Banker Porter reminded the governor
that u Is easy to get signers to a petit
ton when the party has wealthy and in
huentlal friends at work, and also that Ii
was easy to get an honest doctor to give
certificates OF ill-health when II was his
interest to do so. Some doctors could
easily give similar certificates to every
ono in the penitentlary, If prompted by
the same desire, and further Mr. Porter
declares that there Is no law exemptins
invalid criminals from punishment. Be-
sides there are thousands Of men working
every day in Atlanta whose health ia
worse than Hills.