Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1897-03-06
ROMANCE OF TWO WORLDS,
A KENTUCKY TRAGEDY AND ITS
STRANGE SE0UELS.
A Governors Son Turns Criminal,
But Repents- Of His Descend
anita a PODular Honolulu Preacher

But Repents-One of His Descend
ants Popular Honolulu Preacher
'THE New York Suns Lexing ton
(Ky.) correspondent says:
United States Minister Willis,
who died recently in Homo
lulu, made an interesting discovery
while serving his country there. He
found that the most eloquent and pop.
ular native preacher in Honolulu is a
descendant OF one Of the most noted
families in Kentucky, the Deshas.
This discovery brings to the surface
some hitherto unpublished facts con.
cerning one of the most sensational
tragedies Kentucky has ever known.
Joseph Desha was Governor OF Ken.
lucky from 1924 to 1928. In the lat.
ter part of 1926 Isaac Desha, son Of
the Governor, killed James Baker, Il
traveller, and robbed him of 500. He
was arrested and placed in jail, and
the evidence was so strong against him
there was great danger OF his being
lynched, and lie was taken to the Jail
in Cynthiaus for safe.keeping. Desha
was tried, convicted and sentenced to
be hanged. While in Oynthiana he
tried to commit suicide by cutting
q cash in his throat. His lite was
barely saved.
Owing to his influential family rela-
lions much sympathy was aroused in
favor OF the prisoner after his at.
tempted suicide, and there was strong
effort made to induce Governor Desha
to pardon his son. But the Governor
held out against it, and it was feared
that the son of the Kentucky Cover.
nor would have to hang. Finally,
after much persuasion and many petit
tions had been presented to him, the
stern old Governor relented and not
long before the expiration of his term
as Governor he pardoned his son.
It has been said Governor Desha re-
signed after pardoning his wayward
boy, but this is mistake. He served
out the remaining months of his term
and retired from Office full of honors
Il was supposed that Isaac went to
South America and died, and not until
Minister Willis's discovery of Desha' 8
descendants in the Hawa allan capital
was it generally known that he Went
TO that country.
A few years after Isaac Desha was
pardoned G. W. Crawford, of Greenup
County, took Aatboat load of produce
TO New Orleans. One night while tied
up on the bank near Vicksburg q man
entered his cabin aad threatened to
kill him if he did not surrender his
money. Crawford recognized the man
IS Isaac Deshs, and asked him what in
The world he meant by trying to rot
IN old acquaintance. Desha broke
down and confessed that he had beer
living the life of an outlaw ever since
his father had pardoned him, and he
scarcely cared what he did. Crawford
+ talked TO him like brother, and
begged him to reform and to not further
disgrace his family. Desha listened
to his friends advice, and upon Craw
ford's invitation he continued on the
boat to New Orleans as his guest. Be-
fore he reached the city he told Craw
ford he had decided to change hit
name and go to far.away place and
try to atone for the wrongs he hat
committed. He declined to tell Craw
ford where he intended to go or thu
name he expected to take, but the story
of the late Minister Willis furnished the
sequel to this romantic tragedy.
It seems that he went to the Sand
wich Islands shortly after leaving
Crawford, and there Isaac Desha, son
of the Kentucky Governor, married 9
native woman, and from this union
sprang the eloquent half.breed
preacher, who is the most popular
minister OF the Gospel as we'll as th'
most able in Honolulu. 1t is doubtful
however, if he knows that he is related
by blood to many of tho most promi
nent citizens in Kentucky to-day.