Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-25

WANMAN SUTTON.
vhs. -4ior Lynn sent for him TO come
in bis c1cc. where Mr Chesterman was
v t1g FOR him. He entered the Office
i..a dreaming Of the good fortune that
awaited him. rather expecting. as he af-
tern rds explained. that permission was
going 30 be granted him TO write TO his
wife,
Nsfor Lynn introduced the prisoner.
who. while emaciatcd in appearance, is a
Ire-.cokirg fellow. with pronounced fea-
tHr.s. and gn open. frank, honest counte-
nance. to Sir ChostermGn. and that gem
tem.u asked sutton how he would feel
- told that he would be permitted to see
Dis wife and children IN year. His
face lighted up instantly, as he respect
fully replied "I would De delighted sir" 4"
PRESENTED WITH HIS PARDON.
well how would it suit you to be told
tho- YOU could see them tomorrow
asked the Secretary.
That would be too good to be true"
vas the reply.
"It is true. nevertheless" said the Sec
retary. and al the same time he pro-
lroed the pardon. 10 which the Governor
l.I affixed bis name and read IL 10 the
ror os'erjoyed prisoner
sutton stood as one transfixed for an
instant. then bis face took on happy
' emile. alQ ne said:
"I knew if there was a just God that
this would come sooner or later. 1 have
slpa5s tried to live "a Christian. and I
believe that the only thing that has
helped me 10 bear up under my troubles
is that my conscience is clear Of the
' crime they fastened upon me-"
DO was evident that Sutton was being
overcome by his emotion. as ne choked
up ere De- uttered the last word Of the
sentence but Dee sulped his feelings down,
ana stood Ike man. Major Lynn
walked over to him. and. grasping his
hand said. sutton. you have certainly
been Christian while here and you have
Cerortel yourself nobly."
Turning t0 the other gentlemen in the
room. Major Lynn continued. "Only last
week VS. Ntman assisted an officer in hand
ling au obstreperOus prisoner. and pre-
vented the prisoner from striking The
officer"
sutton was told by the Superintendent
rtat Dee was free 20 go as he pleased, and
be- was asked as 20 bis wishes He said
h- was anxious 20 get 10 his wife and
family. l5-year-old girl ana two boys
oae i- and the other 10-who- were at
srretHa.er Tenn. but be had some busi-
las- matters 90 settle within the prison
and Dr. would leave this morning lie
W ha provided with a suit of clothes.
and tie gates win De thrown open for
l.u al. whatever hour he says.
a MOST INTERESTING CASE.
slttou's ease IS most peculiar and
.taT interesting one. and has become
LIBERATED from the waters Of the Pacific
t' tta shores OF the Atlantic. Sutton
having been brought across the continent.
with rle expectation that he would soon
i ae death penalty.
On fae 18th Of May. 1857. Peter Harvel
.a-lte and lawless character, Of
blue Spring Cap. Wythe county. was
murdered from ambush by TWO men. who
tral tno balls into Bis body. Sutton and
DIS lat.r-.n-law. Morgan NJ Pendlet0n.
were suspected of having committed the
crime. tt.y having been seen TO 30 in the
.t -ol of the murdered mans house on
tt osF of the killing but they were not
alr..feI 20 the time. Both left the
county. and The father-in-iaw never Tee
i-rt.L Sutton was located in Illinois.
".fner he bad gone 20 buy land prepara-
I.it i0 settling there. He was advised
l DDS wife that be had been indicted
i.r Pee murder but De made no effort Co
L-m te voluntarily returned 10 Virginia.
CONVICTED AND SENTENCED.
He was araigned FOR the murder in
-'iea, l," before Judge Brown Of the
N-e-ii Court Of Wythe county, his law
!er having without his consent waived
'i. trial ty the County Court. and the
eva nee being o. such a nature as "a
convince the jury of bis guilt. they
Drought in verdict Of murder I'm the
Afei degree. and Sutton was sentenced
' n- hanged in July. 1883 After Sutton
Aai Been taken back TO iau tue Judge
"a. "..'rianed that tne date fixed for the
execution, fell upon the Sabbath and he
called him back into court and re-
sentenced him. The case was appealed
io ile Supreme Court and as that trlbu-
Aa was not in session al that time
s.ay oi execution was granted until Octo-
N.., ana in that month. ihe court re-
i.rg 20 interfere. the prisoner was
.tIIn scntencca This time 10 be- hanged
January % 1883. Ills friends potltloned
General Fitz Lee. who was then Governor
or the state 10 pardon Lim. ana upon
Af refusal 10 do 50 they surrounded
l.e lai and. battcring down the door. re-
lased sutton and escorted him TO the
west end OF The county. whore they
l@fned him loose and told him 10 10.
WAS NEAR THE GALLONS.
This was Orly forty-eight hours before
We time appointed for my execution"
haii sutton. as he told bis story 70 a Dis
Idich reporter IN the prison last night.
ana j lost 40 time iu getting away from
ihat section. l can tell you, though l
never have believed that / would be hang
~, az J knew / was guiltiess
i had little money. and / went as
lar as / could. / reached Washington
Itruiory Ia a few days and located there.
went under the name OF X. j. Howard.
"a name 1 took Ia signing my railroad
uehet the night / made my escape. 1
o'9''i know what the "Il. j." stood for,