The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-07-14
KENNEDY is FREE AGAIN
COMES To THIS CITY AND GETS HIS
PAROLE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
The Ex-Convict. After "a Call on Rev.
MIR. MiIburn, Leaves for His
Cincinnati Home.

>
igan City for the murder of David Baker
at Greensburg. in 1884 was paroled by Cow
ernor Mount yesterday morning At
O'Clock he arrived from Michigan City, hav-
ing travelled without guard. and later
went to the law office of his attor-
ney, A, W. Wishard, who with ether
friends accompanied him to the office
of the Governor, After a few minutes
Of conversation at the Governors office
Governor Mount handed Kennedy the bit
of paper that makes him a free man during
his good behavior. The parole is a condi-
tional pardon and it is confidently asserted
by his friends that none of its provisions
will be violated.
Kennedy is a slender, rather frai looking
man of thirty-four years. He was dressed
in a readymade suit of black and wore a
black felt hat. He seemed like a man dumb
and dazed, now that the liberty he had so
long hoped and watched for, the liberty
that his young sister had devoted the best
part of her life to securing, had come to
him. Somehow he gave the impression that
it would take a few days liberty in which
to brush against the world to fully restore
his faculties
4 shall never know how to fully express
my gratitude" said Kennedy in a CONVEX
sation with Journal reporter. "to the
Governor and my friends who have taken
such kindly interest in my case. 1 shall
go to Cincinnati this afternoon and after
remaining at home for d few days. will so
to work. The world all seems so different
from what it was when 1 was in it before
that hardly know what to make of ii"
Kennedy spent the early part of the after
noon in visiting the men who had been in
strumental in securing his pardon and ex-
pressing his gratitude TO them.
UNIVERSITY SQUARE ENLIVENS HIM.
Among those who Kennedy went to see
yesterday afternoon was Rev. Joseph A.
Milburn, pastor of the Second Presbyterian
Church. Mr.. Milburn took an interest in
the young mans case several years ago,
after convincing himself that the man was
victim of circumstances and expiating
another mans crime. 1t seemed monstrouS
to the minister. as it has seemed to almost
every other man who has given the case
attention, that such an act of injustice
should continue without even what slight
reparation a pardon or parole might bring.
Mr.. M1lburn was frWiuent visitor at the
executives office during Governor Mat
thews's term, arguing the case with him and
beseeching him to give the young man
his liberty. Kennedy had been aware of
the minister's efforts, and he wanted TO call
on him yesterday and thank him for what
he had done. With a friend he walked up
pennsylvania street to the parsonage of
the Second Presbyterian Church. The re-
cent rains have left the green carpet OF
University square very fresh and inviting,
and as the ex-convict passed the place the
sun was shining through the gltStening tree
tops, giving the park an unusually beauu-
full aspect 1t was the first vacation Ken
nedy'S eyes have had in many years from
the whitewashed prison walls and grim cell
corridors, and the transition in a day, from
cherries penitentiary to the living green
OF the park thrilled him with an emotion
that almost started the tears. He stopped
for moment, and in long breath drew
in as much of the fine, pure air as his weak
lungs would permit. Even as he continued
on the walk to the parsonage his eye would
turn to take In what seemed to him a mar
Vicious beauty of park land His hating
gait, prison characteristic, dropped into a,
smart, swinging walk under the quicken
ing influences of the scene. He felt that
1t was very, very good to be a free man
again. The preceding night he had spent
in stuffy railroad coach coming to the
city, and this, was his first opportunity to
catch more than glimpse of the finer
things of outdoor life.
Mr. Milburn gave him a warm welcome,
and after listening intently to the express
talk and cheered him on to be ever mind
fuI of his promise of upright endeaver.
70 Oh fba ought 10 deUote the rest OF y4ur ne
burn. She has been a wonderful girl. hers
is beautiful character, and the devotion
she displayed to you and in your behalf
has brought you out of prison"
II know that" replied kennedy, his voice
choking. Il never can repay her for what
she has done for me-
THE MINISTER'S ADVICE.
oh yes you can" quickly interrupted
the minister. You can do it by devoting
yourself to her and making the rest of her
life sweet. She will neither ask nor want
better reward than that you live an up
right life. 1t will be pride and a delight
to her to know that she has not only been
the means of bringing you out of prison,
but has made man of you. You have lots
of friends now, and the world is not going
to frown on you. If you should not keep
your promises there would be many heart
panied beside that of your sister, for we
all have high hopes of what you are going
to- do. But / know you will not be wrong.
That sister who has spent the best years
of her life for you will still watch over
you, and am sure her influence will he all
powerful" And the minister put his hand
kindly on the back of the ex-convict.
kennedy,s eyes turned to the floor. The
kindness of his friends men who had never
known him, indeed overwhelmed him. Il
never can show my gratitude sufficiently
to YOU said he. to the minister. There
IS no gratitude due me" replied Mr.. Mil-'
burn. Its to your sister your friends and
the newspapers that you should be CRATE
When Kennedy had concluded his talk
with Governor Mount in the morning he
walked over to the telegraph office to send
a message 10 MS sister at CINCINNATI. AS
he began to date the message he noted that
the day was the 18th of July.
MY goodness he exclaimed. If | had
known that this was the thirteenth day of
the month l would have asked the warden
to postpone my trip a day. And yet it
wasn't an unlucky day for me. 1t has been
just thirteen years, too, since l was sent
to prison. l have had my hopes blasted so
many times that l can be excused for be-
told me in prison that they would pardon
me. and yet the pardon did not come. But
the fourth one was the charm | saw the
report that / was to be pardoned but I
tried not TO get hopeful; however, when
that article In the Journal stating
that / would be paroled | knew it must be
So and / told them at the prison that the
pardon had come at last The night / left
the prison | gave my chair and other be-
longings away, though the warden told me
/ had better attach a condition to the gifts
for maybe the pardon wouldn't come No
SIR said l. It's come now. l. sure | never
felt so certain as this before The night I
heard l was to be paroled | had a very pc
culiar feeling. ! felt like ] was seasick
and then | suddenly felt light and airy ali
over. ] couldn't hold myself down. But It
a week or two ! am going out to the coun-
try and try to get a little flesh. The doc
tors tell me have consumption. / have
had several hemOrrhages. Still / have
hopes OF getting back my health some
day"
Kennedy left at 4:45 o'clock in the after
noon for Cincinnati
CHRIST CHURCH PARISH HOUSE
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