Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1896-08-01

when reproved for insulting the union
soldiers and negroes who traded at the
store. Witnesses testified to this quar-
rel, which resulted in Hastings being
discharged, and there was an album
dance of evidence TO the fact that as he
left the store he was heard to remark:
"I'll fix the d Yankee"
1t was only two nights after Has
tings' discharge that Bivins was killed.
| Two witnesses swore that Hastings
tried to borrow shotgun from them
on the day prior to the murder. 1t was
also proven that Hastings was heard
to say when speaking of the killing;
The people ought to give the man who
did it vote of thanks"
Added to all this was the fact that
Hastings could not account for his
whereabouts on the night of the kill
ing between the hours of eight and
twelve o'clock. Bivins left his store
about ten o'clock to 20 10 his home,
and il was presumed he was killed n
| few minutes after that hour.
When on trial Hastings stated that he
/ had gone 'possum hunting alone, leav-
]
/ turning about one o'clock the next
morning. 1t was for this purpose he
/ attempted TO borrow gun. He proved
| that it was his custom to go on these
night hunts by himself. With his pre-
| Nous good character. this was ali there
was for the defense.
But Col. Palmer made the most of il
and fought the evidence of the prose-
cution at times with an impassioned
manner that almost amounted to mad
ness. l remember an old lawyer in the
courtroom remarking: "Well. ! never
have seen an attorney so thoroughly
identified with his clients interests
before" Col. Palmer's argument to
the jury. as said. was a most mastery
effort. His face was pale when he
arose and walked to tine jury box. His
voice, although stern and full, trembed
as he cried out: "Geutlemen of the jury,
God is my witness when l say to you
that am here to plead for the life of
an innocent man.
He made but little effort to contro-
vert the damaging evidence against his
client His address was mainly pas
sionate appeal for mercy for an nno-
cent man who was the victim OF pc
culiar circumstances. He ended his
speech by holding the Bible high above
his head and saying:
As true a. the Holy Book l hold in
my hand. so true i this man innocent.
| say to YOU, I know it. You may call
it intuition if YOU like, but so sure as
you convict him you will have the blood
of an innocent man upon your heads
The verdict was guilty, and Hastings
was sentenced to DE hanged. The case
was appealed to the supreme court,
and the decision of the lower court was
affirmed. An application was made to
the governor for clemency, and a petit
ton bearing the names of many promi-
nent citizens of Monroe county was
sent 10 the chief executive. Col. Palmer
was leaving no stone unturned 10 save
his client. The strain and hard work
was telling on him. He had grown
emacated, and more than once had
been i'll from nervous prostration.
The governor refused 70 interfere, but
minated that he might give the case
a more favorable consideration II the
presiding judge recommended a COM
mutation of the sentence. This was re-
garded as a foriorn hope, the deterrIi-
nation of Judge Garrow TO suppress
crime being so well known.
The day of the execution was near at
hand and Monroe county was preparing
20 witness its first hanging in many
years. Then, like thunder clap came
the news that the governor had par
doned Andrew Hastings. Not even a
communication OF the sentence 10 life
, Imprisonment had been looked for, but
here was an absolute pardon, and the
murderer with shadow of the gailows
/, already over him was free man.
? 1t was some time before the people
could be made 10 believe that the news
, was true, and many did not believe il
until Hastings was allowed TO walk
, from the prison unshackled.
} The only reason the governor as
5 signed was that Judge Garrow had re
! quested it in private letter, and th'
appeal was such as not TO be disre
J garded.
But why did Judge Garrow make su2l
j a request? His honesty was above sus
= picion. his integrity was undoubted
l and his firnness could not be ques
D toned, Yet, after declaring it his pur
pose TO check the lawlessness then eN
Sting by the strong arm Of the law
he deliberately used the power of hi
Office 10 free man convicted Of
most foul murder. What could il mean
The Judge would explain. But tn
Judge did not explain, and his silenc
through all these years has kept tn
Hastings case one of the strangcst o
the unexplained murder mysteries q
Alabama. When questioned at the tim
the Judge said: 81 had just and suff
cieIt reasons for acting as I did"
Time and time has this case and II
strange deuouement come before m
mind, and often have ! tried 10 reach
solution which would be satisfactor
to myself and leave no suspicion upo
,,a,,ar,- - ~ fha il