The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1895-11-01
THE DINKINS BROTHERS
Write a Salty Card to the
Press.
Define Their Position on The Pardon Of The
Brandon MQrdererS.


To the State Press Of Mississippi:
CHARLESTON, Miss, Oct. 2l.--Ithas
come to the ears Of members OF our
family that the friends OF Marshall,
Fox and Coleman are circulating a Pc
tition for their pardon, are telling and
spreading it abroad and using IL as a
means of obtaining signatures to their
petition; that the brothers OF II. T.
Dinkins, or at least n Of them,
would sign the petition.
Whether or not we r correctly in
formed We are unable to say, but
whether they are not, We take this
occasion to say that no statement
could possibly be further from the
truth or more utterly without fOunda-
tion.
The circulating Of the petitions for
the pardon of Seit-cOlifeSSed murder
ers is the most unparalleled prcsump-
tion ever heard Of. They confessed
their crime because they were guilty
and afraid to stand trial, and none
can say that they were without legal
advice, as they had certainly as mighty
an array Of legal talent engaged in
their defense as could be gotten to-
gether in the south. The proposition
to plead guilty and take life sentence
was made by them and accepted by us,
because we deemed a life imprisOn.
ment quite as severe as hanging, and
on account of the expense and tedious
ness OF a trial and not from any fear
that they would escape the law.
Neither did we fear that we would be
unable to sustain the charge made
against Marshall that led up to the
killing, but on that score, rs well us
the cold bloodedness of the aSsassina-
ton, we felt armed capapie, and it
seems now almost a pity but that the
whole plot and plan should not have
been made public by a trial, which
should have revealed il in all its
hideousneSS and proved to the world
the shame OF its perpetrators. But
with feelings humane we refraincd to
press the matter beyond the limits of
seeing the just punishment of the law
melted out, but now, disregarding the
compassion shown them, they would
seek to take advantage of our gener-
Osity, and would represent falsely
that we wouldput our hand to a petit.
tion asking their pardon. There is
not one OF the name or blood who
would sign such Il petition or who
would not go to any honorable length
to see the sentence Of the law fully
carried out on each OF them.
Wed0 not believe that any governor
OF Mississippi will ever pardon them,
and regard the presenting Of counter
petition to Governor Stone as almost
an insult to his dignity and his honor;
yet, II it comes to a test, W are ready
to go that length, but we do not think
such petitions will be required. w
have already employed and paid coun,
sci to assist the State in her pr0secu.
tiOn Of these men and, having obtained
their conviction and their delivery tt
the State authorities, We do not be.
lieve that any chief executive of Mis-.
sissippi will require or expect us to e
further and spend more money on the
circulation Of cOunter petitions IL
keep them under the punishment tho
law had adjudged to them, when the,
have served hardly two months OF
their life sentence.
We submit this to you and to thu
public and hope that The entire pres,
Of the State will take it up and Grove
it as against any such false rum0rs as
we first refer to. Respectfully,
j. +. DINKINs,
IL. l.. DINKINs,
q, PAUL DINKINs,
= +. d. DINKINS,
Brothers OF II. L. DINKINs.