Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-24
A PARDON FOR HASH.
TO DE DISCHARGED FROM PENI-
TERTIARY TO-MORROw WEEK.
WHY CLEMENCY Is EXTENDED HIN.
The Governor Sets Forth Hts Rem
sons for Shortening the Young
Mans Term OF ImprIsOnment--
Church Peoples Interest In Case.

Lee y. Hash. the young Grayson county
man who was sent TO the penitentiary
some three and half years ago to serve
fourteen years for murder In the Sc
cond degree has had ten years cut oil
OF his sentence, and will become free
man one week from tomorrow.
lie secures his freedom through the
clcmency of Governor O'Ferrail, and the
Executives action. while based on sub
stantial reasons. appears as though in
answer TO the prayers OF Christian peo-
pie whose sympathles were enlisted In
the prisoners behalf.
The case of Hash, as fully told In the
Dispatch some weeks ago, when the FIRST
intimation that Executive ciemency would
be extended was given, is quite an inter
esting one. The young man Is the orly
son OF an humble but highly respected
couple. who live near E1gewater'
in Grayson county. He attended
Richmond College for year or two, was
good student, of exemplary character
and became quite popular.
KILLED SEYMOUR PHIPPs.
Hash became involved in an alterca-
ton with Seymour Phipps. at Edgewater,
in September. 1893. and shot and killed
him. He was tried in the January Ioi-
lowing. convicted Of murder In the Sc
cond degree, and sentenced to fourteen
years in the penitentary. HIS cohVlc-
ton was due chiefly 10 the testimony OIL
j. Lawson Kesling. whose character i
not considered savOry. and who has since
become a fugitive from justice having
| been charged with theft.
Since the trial some additlonai tesu-
mony has been discovered. given by
Athen Anderson. a boy then IL years Old
who was i'm close proximity wnen the
shooting was done. and who has since
made oath that the shooting was zone
by Hash in self-defence.
II has also been brought out that the
verdict against Hash was UNUSUALLY Sc
| we're. inasmuch as the killing OF fnlpps
followed the shooting OF several persons
I'm that locality at short intervals All
| tbese noints have been explained 10 the
| Governor i'm detail. and his Excellency
/ has finally become convinced That IN TINS
case the appliance Of mercy would be
| justified.
THE GOVERNORS REASONS.
In granting the pardon, Governor
! O'FerIall says:
- narlon in this case is recommended
nv ton of the Jurors who convicted the
prisoner and by three members OF the
| House of Delegates, and the SherlH OF
| Gravson county. and by number OIL
prominent citizens.
"a reduction Of the sentence 10 snor'
| term is recommended by the Judge aho
commemorative Attorney of GraysoI
county. and the Clerk OF the court.
INSTRUMENTATION of clemency IS base,
upon the following grounds:
First. The bad character and unreh
ability of the principal witness. now
fugitive from justice, developed since th'
| trial .,.,,
second. After-discovered testimony
favorable to the prisoner.
.Third. Severity OF the sentence. ever
# the testimony on the trial Is worth!
of credit.
sentence commuted to four years.
BAPTIsTS TOOK AN INTEREST.
The mother Of Hash was among thos'
who came here TO attend the meeting o
| the BAPTIST General Association last laii
and il so happened that she was asslsne
10 the home of Major y. w. Lynn gu
nerintendent of the Penitentlafy. On
interested Major Lynn in the case OF he
| hoy and he loOk iltl ~ SI' tiiN 49,
who gave her a respectful hearing. lhe'
Mrs. Hash wrote a letter TO the Grace
street Baptist church, with which tn
association met. asking for their prayer
in bebalf of her son. Earnest prayer
we're offered in both the Sunday schoo
and church for the early release fror
prison of Hash. and some weeks ago III
Hatcher received a letter from the &c
ioicing mother bringing the glad tang
that the Governor had decided TO com
mute the sentence to four years his eA
celIent conduct during his imprlsonmeh
GUS mis- term down 40 thll IL Will eNp"r
July %. -.
Uasb fills the position Of hospital stew
ard AT the penitentiary. and has made
IN nodeI prisoner The prison officials nav
T,ecome greatly attached TO him.