Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-10-21
GOV. TAYL0R'S PARD0NS.
An Examination of His Record of Mercy to
Young COnyicts.

All examination OF HIS Record OF Mercy TO
Young Convicts.
1t seems, from Gov. Taylor s re m qrks
on the question of pardoning convicts
and signing the poll tax law, that he
would have the people believe that God
never before created man with such
God'like sympathy and angelic mercy
as himself. He tries to excuse himself
for such reckless use of the pardoning
power by tryingto leave the impression
that all he pardoned were boys that
should have been sent to a reformatory
school instead of the prison. Let's see
how this is. Last Friday | went thro'
only part of the list and examined 302
cases where Gov. Taylor, in his sweet,
tender spirit granted pardons to con-
victs, and find only eleven out of this
number who received his blessing were
under 10 years of age. The remainder
of this 3O9 is made up of thieves, cut.
throats, murderers, housebreakers rob-
bers, forgers, perjurers and attempted
rapists. also find in these same rec
ords that Taylor did not pardon one
half of the poor unfortunate boys under
10 years of age that were sent to prison
under his administration of tender
mercy. Poor little Will Taylor, only
12 years of age, had to serve out his full
term, while Gov. Taylor pardoued q
midnight robber who was over 80 years
of age. And Will Moore, 10 year old
boy, went in under Taylor in 1889, but
Taylor bestowed no tender mercy on
him, and he remained in felon 8 cell
till 1893, when he made his escape.
Yet Gov. Taylor pardoned fiend who
tried to rape good woman of Tennes-
see. And Walter McWhirter, 12 year
old boy, had to serve his term out In
dark, damp cell, while Gov. Taylor
turned a perjurer loose upon the coun-
try. And Will Ledbetter, 10 year old
boy, was put in prison in 1887 under
Taylor, but received no mercy from
this man who turned gangof thieves
loose on the country, and remained
in prison until pardoned by Buchanan.
And Bob Taylor let Joe Williams, 12
year old boy, 20 in the prison in 1883
and serve out his full term, while this
same Taylor turned forger over %
years of age loose upon the country.
And poor Wade Taylor, 10 year old
boy, was locked in cell under this
great man of mercy and suffered in
prison for two years and then escaped,
and meantime Bob Taylor turned a
murdered out to murder again. And
viii Tucker, 13 year old boy, was
locked in the walls of crime, suffering
and sorrow in 1888 under Taylor and
served seven years, and Bob Taylor
turned his back upon this boy and par.
doned thief more than 30 years of
age. And Will Jones, l2 year old
boy, suffered two years of miserable
existence in prison while Taylor was
in power dealing out mercy, and u
housebreakec was given his liberty.
And Horace Williams, 10 years of age,
served his full term of one year in this
awful prison under this man of God,
while he who had attempted murder
was turned loose to carry out his former
attempt. And MurIell Lenoir languish-
ed in his cell for eighteen months, al.
though youth of 12 years of age,
while Gov. Taylor pardoned thieves by
the dozen. Aud Conner Jones, a 10
year old boy, served his full term In
prison and had no mercy extended to
him, while Gov. Taylor turned out men
Of years guilty of almost every crime
known to our criminal code. And yet
John Brown, a IA year old boy, had no
sweet word of comfort from Taylor's
sweet soul and served his term in com.
pany with all the vile criminals of the
state prison. And Will Benton, o bov
IL years of age, was locked up under
Taylor in 1887 and the only word OF
comfort that can be found on the rec.
ords for him is that he will be liberated
November IA, 1901. And Sugg Swan.
son served out his full term under Tay.
lor, although only 10 years old when
locked up. And Tommy Moore, only
10 years Of age, was permitted by this
essence of mercy to cry In his cell until
God looked down in pity and took him
to another world.
And little Willie Harris served three
years of torture that has no equal this
side of hell, although boy OF ouly 12
years, and Gov. Taylor pardoned q
poor wretch after he had been dead
several months. God pity Bob Taylor
and save the people from another term
Of his sweet tender mercy.-W. L.
Ownby in the Nashville Banner.