San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-12-22


of Expenditures.
Probably one of the most interesting
and pathetic stories in the history of
the state penitentiary at Lansing in
this county is involved in the applica-
ton of convict bank wrecker for a
pardon.
{. Il. Wightman, an eX-member) of
the Kansas Legislature, now serving
sentence of three years in the Kan
sas penitentiary for wrecking the
Bank of Tribune, has asked Governor
Leedy for pardon and there is
fair prospect that he will get it.
w. NJ. Glenn, also an ex-member of
the Legislature, from Greeley county.
visited Governor Leedy this week
and carefully told him Wightman's
story.
Wightnnn was a young man with
a little money and no knowledge of
banking. Greeley county is on the ex-
treme western border of Kansas in the
district which in recent years has suf-
fered steady depression of business
with for long time no prospect for
relief. Tribune. which was Wight
mans home, was making desperate
efforts TO keep alive a town and
Glenn told the Governor that Wight
man was advised by his fellow
townsment to keep the bank alive,
though they knew it was by no means
safe financially. Wightman. in his eff
forts to keep the little bank going.
made statements TO the bank commits
sioner which he afterward confessed
were false and intended only to mis-
lead
WERE WORTHLESS.
When the bank was closed Septem-
Der 23. 1896, il was found that most of
its paper was worthless and the cred
itors received but n small share of
what was due them. Wightman went
TO the penitentiary in December. Just
n year ago on his own plea of guilty,
and his wife soon afterward set out
to secure a pardon for him. The ap-
plication which she presented to Gov
ernOr Leedy a few days ago. contains
among other things, a petition signed
by the county attorney, sheriff, treas
nrer, probate judge and county SUPER
in which the officers declare
hat Wightman was n victim of depre- |
citation of property in his county. not |
4 criminal at heart
1t includes Wightman's statement
Of what become of the money of the
Bank of Tribune 1t shows horses tn
Ken on notes. taxes on land on which |
the bank held mortgages, notes cam
celled by work on Wightman's farm,
DID lumber taken on notes. doctor bills |
which were paid by cancelling a note
against Dr. Moore.
The itemized amount of money |
spent was like the expense account. |
kept by a careful person. 1t shows |
that Wightman spent $500 on his |
wedding and the purchase of house
hold furniture. He took So from the |
bank TO pay the expenses of a trim TO |
Topeka in 1896 and in seven and one |
half years spent S275 on clothing and |
shoes. Details are given down to the |
cost of n sewing machine and con- |
tributiOns to the church amounting in |
seven and One-half years to 5000.
Mrs. Wightman for some reason |
gives statement of what she has
expended since her husband was sent
to the penitentiary. 1t is headed |
Money Expended for all Purposes" |
iiu NLt VI Iutl anu REO-
ceries' she shows an average expen-
diture of less than $3.50 a month. |
She includes $50 spent for repairs |
on her windmill. On another page
she shows what her receipts have |
been. When Wightman was taken to
he left 1926 with her. She
has earned by nursing, sewing, wash
ing and homework $3.50. Her sis
ter gave her 50 on Christmas and she
has sold her husbands shotgun, her
machine. old lumber, vine
gar, meat, lard, dishes, tinware, ket-
ties, furniture, fish from a pond on
the farm and finally her stove. She
shows that she has received from all
sources S126.36. Probably no part of |
the effort to secure a pardon has had |
as much effect on Governor Leedy |
as the woman's expense statement. |
She has used part of the balance saw
ed from the sale Of goods to go to To |
peka and beg for her husbands par
don.