The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-10-24
he IS AGAIN A CITIZEN.
The Governor Removes Wayman Sui
tons Disabilities.
HIS CASE is A REMARKABLE ONE,
Five Times lie stood Before Judges TO &c
Sentenced 20 Death, and Was Finally
sent 60 Prison for Life--Last Year
He Received n Pardon.


moved by Governor oFerrall and he has
been restored TO the full rights OF ciu-
zopship.
Sutton has had about as many narrow
escapes from death as any man now
diving. lie has stood Eve times before
trial Judges 70 be sentenced 10 die. lie
was finally sent 10 the pcnitontiary lot
life on the 2ith OF August 1876. GOV
ernor O'Fcrrau granted him a fun par
con
A MOST INTERESTING CASE.
sutton's case Is most peculiar and
highly interesting one. ,
IN ths 18Th of May 1857. Peter Harvel, a
desperate and lawlcss character OF DIV"
Spring GAP. Wythe county was inui
"a from ambush by Two men VIZ 49,
ts,n halls into his body. Sutton ana ms
,o,har-in-law. Morgan NJ. Pendlclon' were
,uapected OF having committed the crime
,be, having been seen 70 60 I'm the dlfcc-
ION 30 the murdered mans house on the
6ev 81 the killing. but they were not ar
roeted AZ the time Both left the county
and the father-in-law never ro'uIneu.
sutton was located In Illinois. whlther
he had gone 20 buy land preparatory 70
....Wrg there He was advised by his
vie that he had been indicted Tor the
murder but he made no effort TO escape
and when the officers went Tor MIN nc
Voluntarily returned TO virginia.
CONVICTED AND SENTENCED.
He was arraignod for the murder IN
sTaroh ISIS before Judge Brown, OF tho
circuit Court OF Wytho county, his law
~er having without his consent. waived
The trial hy the County Court ana the
evidence being Of such nature as 70
convince the jury Of his CUNT tney
brought I'm a verdict Of murder IN INC
6rs. degree. aad sutton was sentenced
80 Ia hanged An July. 1883. After sutton
had been taken back 10 jail the Judge
ascertained that the date fixed FOR the
execution. fell upon the sabbath, and he
called him back into court ana reseh-
fenced him. The case was Appeared 10
the Supreme Court and as that tribunal
was not I'm session at that time
stay % execution was granted until Octo-
Der. and I'm that month, the court
refusing 10 interfere. the prisoner was
again sentenced. this time 10 be hanged
January %. 1889. Ills friends pettioned
General Fitz Lee. who was then Governor
~ the state 20 pardon him, and upon
his refusal 60 do so they surrounded
the fan. and. battering down the door re-
leased sutton and escorted him 10 the
west end OF tho county. where they turn
cd him loose and told him to -
WAS NEAR THE GALLONS.
',rhls was only forty-eght hours before
the time appointed for my execution
said sutton as he once told his story 10 a
reporter, "and ! lost no time in getting
away from that section, ] can tell you,
though ] never have believed that !
would bA hanged. as / knew ] was guilt
less.
II had a little money and I went as
far as / could. / reached Washington
Territory I'm a few days and located there
went under the name Of r.. J. Howard.
name I took I'm signing my railroad
ticket the night ] made my escape. /
didn't know what the Or j." stood for,
but the name was the first that entered
my head. and stuck 10 1t.
Il engaged I'm business I'm the Territory
as a clerk, and ! believe 1 conducted my
self properly; at any rate. i made many
friends there and was treated with the
greatest consideration. I Joined a milf
tary company, and was also engaged as
teacher and librarian in q Sunday school
] stayed IN Washir gton three years. until
] was seen ana recognized by Nirginian,
and IN a short while "a Mr. Barksdale and
another officer from this State came after
me with a requistion from Governor Nc
Kinney. They had telegraphed the au-
thorties beforehand 20 arrest me- and /
was I'm jail when they arrived / was
turned over TO the Virginia officers TO be
brought back here Notwithstanding that
a ACKNOWLEDGEMENT petition was present
ed 10 the Governor protesting against my
being delivered mp.
OFFERED TO RELEASE HIM
'When 1 emerged from the Jail I'm GUS
tody Of tho officers / found an immense
crowd around the jail. and foremost
among them was every member Of my
officers. and the captain of my company
came mp 20 me a1d told me that needn't
come back to Virginia unless i wanted to;
that the company would stand By me and
take me from tho officers. ! told him not
TO interfere and expressed my willingness
TO come with the officers. Mr.. Barks-
dale. the officer who was i'm control. made
the people a speech, in which he prom
ised that ] should be properly treated,
and they then consented TO let me 90.
SENTENCE PASSED TWICE MORE.
Il was brought back here and vas put
in tho Lynchburg Jail for safekoeping on
November g. 1891 or course. / had to be
resentenced, and was brought into court
IN March, 1892. and sentenced by Judge
Williams TO be hanged in eight DAYS.
After / was taken back to Jail Judge Will
Hams realized that he had given me too
short time. and he. called me back into
court and again sentenced me TO be hang
ed fixing tho date this time on May 30,
1892
Il was carried back 10 the Lynchburg
tan 10 await the date Of execution, and
remained there until May 2ith when Gov
ernor Mckinney commuted my sentence
to life imprisonment.
AN ORNAMENTAL PAINTER.
sutton Is an ornamental painter and an
artist Of some ability. He rs Master
Mason. and through all of his vicissitudes
his lodge stuck 20 him and he stlll holds
his membership. His brethren Of the craft
put forth strenuous efforts 10 save him.
sutton's behavior while in prison was
exceptionally good. and of the employees
OF the prison there was not one who did
not extend CONCENTRATIONS 70 him when
ne was pardoned There were four Ma
sons ia Major INnns office when the
pardon was presented 90 sutton, and
purse was then and there made up for the
man TO help defray his expenses back
home.
THE GOVERNORS REASONS
The petition sent to Governor OForrall
asking him 20 pardon sutton was signed
by / 400 persons. including the trial Judge.
Commonwealth attorney, and members
Of the Jury. The Governor on receiving
this evidence came 20 the conclusion that
there were grave doubts Of Sult0ns guilt
and therefore set him free
when he returned home Sutton's old
...t~IHoro rnrfiNgI him cordially g.