The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1897-12-22
WAS A DAY OF PARD0NS
TWO PARDONS AND A COMPUTATION
GRANTED
Riley Pate Given his Life.-The Other Men had
Been Convicted of Madstaughter,
Riley of Murder

/ Governor Russell yesterday granted
two pardons and committed one death
sentence to life Imprisonment All OF
, them have killed their men. The life OF
Riley Pate, who was convicted of muir
der at the September term, 1897 OF
Yancey Superior court, and was sen.
will be sent to the penitentiary for life
More than a year ago-to be accu-
rate, on December 5, 1S96-Riley Pate
a white boy 16 years of age, killed Mat
Hensley, a 15-year-old boy, in drunken
quarrel. 1t seems that the quarrel grew
out of nothing and there was no malice
or premeditation-but simply drunken
row, in which Hensley used rock and
Pate a pistol. Pate, it is said, is weak
minded, and comes of very ignorant
parentage.
THE papers in this case" says the
Governor in granting the pardon, SHOW
that the public sentiment of Yancey is
against the execution of this prisoner.
The commutation is recommended by
the father of the deceased, by the
county officers, by large numbers of cit
liens, and all the jury who tried the
case. 1t does not seem to be a case
where capital punishment should be in
fiicted."
1he first pardon granted was to Pres
ton Andrews, convicted of manslaughter
at the spring term, 1896, of Allegheny
Superior court, and sentenced to three
years in the States prison.
Crockett Holbrook and Preston An
jrews were convicted under the same
ill of Indictment, in April, 1896, of fe-
oniously Staying George Edwards. 1t
ppeaIs that in, an alteration. between
e deceased and Eli Lowe, the two
oys who WIRE cow cted were the
r.ends of the deceased and that An
4rews was also a cousin. Through ac-
cdent, Edwards, the friend of the prs-
:yner, was killed. The solicitor who
prosecuted certifes that lit was the an
.elstand.ng at the time OF conviction
that after one years service the Judge
would recommend "a pardon" Holbrook,
the other defendant, was pardoned by
Governor Carr on the Sth of January,
1897. The judge who tried the case,
the solicitor who prosecuted, the county
commissioners, register of deeds, Mr.
Joifes, the Representative from Ale
ghahy, the sheriff, ex-Leut Gov
DoGghton, the clerk of the court, and
sonic five or; SIX hundred other citizens
IF Alleghany county, now urgently ask
the pardon Of the other defendant, An
drews, who appears to have had no CON
neetion witHthe shooting at all.
The second pardon was to Robert
Dougherty, convicted of manslaughter
at the June term, 1891, of Buncombe
lCriminhl court, and sentenced to twenty
years in the States prison.
This pardon was recommended by
70. ID. Garter, who prosecuted the case,
and whose letter" says Governor Rus
sell, gives reasons sufficient and salts
factory for granting this pardon. It is
also advised by Col. Lusk, the private
prosecutor, and by the widow of the de-
ceased, and by all the jury who tried the
case, by many of the members Of the
bar of Buncombe, and by numbers of
responsible citizens. 1t appears that this
homicide was without MALICE or premedi-
tation or actual intent to kill, and was
not without some proyocationl He has
been in States prison about six years,
and has suffered enough" rf