Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-03-06
TWO TRUE STORIES
Which Go to Show That Justice is
Sometimes Blind.
IN INNOCENT MAN IN PRISON
Ex-Governor Mckinney Tells How
He Got There and Was Pardoned.
AN L n d L T / f U L s 0 N

Written for The Evening Star
short time ago ex-Gov. Philip w Nc
Kinney of Virginia was entertaining a
crowd of friends and admirers who had
congregated around him on the hotel We
randa at TT ckingham Court House.
After relating a number of interesting
stories of distinguished men and incidents
from hard fought political battles in which
he had participated. q lull occurred in the
conversation. and a grizzled old fellow
who had been silently listening asked the
following question::
''Phil. don't you reckon they's hull lot
of people in the pentencherry that's inner
cent of what's charged agin' 'emT'
NO. Tom, 1 really do not think such Is
the case replied the ex-governor "Of
course it is possible to become the victim
serve out a term. while the real perpe-
traitor of the crime Is enjoying life and
liberty: but such occurrences are rare.
However. | recall an instance during my
term Of Office as governor OF Virginia.
which clearly proves that the innocent are
sometimes punished
An Innocent Prisoner.
He then told the following story:
zone Say 1 was sitting under the shade
ernors mansion at Richmond reading the
papers. and trying to keep cool. Near me
there were several convicts from the peni-
Tertiary. under guard. and to whom had
been assigned the duty of keeping the
grounds clean. and the flowers and shrub
berry neatly trimmed. Among them / no
ticed an old negro. with hair nearly white,
and an honest. though sorrowful face i
had frequently seen him in the grounds,
and had been struck with the kindly man
ner in which he would do the bidding of
my little daughter and her child friends
(who in fine weather were generally play
ing out of DOORS. There was nothing sug-
gestiye of the criminal either in his ap
pearance or demeanor: and the strange
incongruty of his prison stripes and hum
ble polite manner forced itself upon me-.
In obedience to desire to know some
thing of the history of this venerable look
ing old negro i called him to my side and
said to him: Old man, you have a good.
honest face to be wearing stripes. You
look like the old time negroes before the
war. What have you DONE?
The old fellow seemed amazed that i
should speak to him feel any interest
In him: but soon recovering his equanimity
he told me his story. He said that he had
been convicted of horse stealing and that
the evidence and circumstances pointed to
him so Overwhelmingly as the criminal
that the jury were forced TO find verdict
of guilty. Yet he said he was entirely
innocent of the crime.
His Ambitious Daughter.
"He was a blacksmith ny trade. and Lad
succeeded by industry and thrift, In ac-
curnulating enough to insure against want
In his old age. The best white people in the
neighborhood were his friends and patrons.
He had a daughter upon whom he had
centered all of his affections. She was a
sprightly. handsome girl. and had succeed
ed in obtaining the rudiments of an Eng
lish education. She was ambitious and de-
sired to go TO city school. that she might
become better educated and equipped for
the duties of life White people encouraged
Ter in this laudable purpose, and their
joint efforts secured from the old man
reluctant consent TO the qualification of her
desire. She was sent to Washington, and
remained there long enough to complete
her education In due course of time she
returned home and in very short time
thereafter a dudish mulatto appeared and
announced his intention of marrying her.
The Old man didn't Ike his looks. and pro-
tested vigorously. but to no purpose, and
they were duly married.
BEGINNING of Trouble.
This was the beginning OF the old mans
trouble. The husband proved to be thrift
less. and well satisfied TO live upon the
earnings of his father-in-Iaw. The old man
demonstrated with him. and offered to as
sist if he would go to work and try TO pro-
vide Tor himself. This the young man
agreed to do. and the old negro secured for
him mail route. provided horses and ID
vehicle. and the young man started to
work apparently in good faith. All went
well for a good long time. and then the in
nate laziness of the mulatto began TO reas-
sert Itself. The horses were neglected and
began 10 look poor and spiritless. The We
hicle was much in need of repairs. and the
whole outfit was beginning to look pretty
seedy. The old man again renonstrat ted
and again his son-in-law promised to DO
I4.srE Shf4rF IN- hat he.
negro came III driving a splendid high-step-
ping horse. the very picture of good breed
ing and careful attention He stated that
he had traded the horse that he had been
driving for this one. and had given SSj
besides. The old man. not suspecting any
thing wrong. accepted his statement as
true. and regarded the new horse as Justly
hts own property The next day the sherifs
came 10 the old mans shop and desired to
see his horses. and he was politely con-
Quoted 20 the stable. When the sheriff saw
the new horse he inquired. Whose horse is
tSis% and the old negro naturally re-
piled. He belongs TO me Cbereving. as he
did. that his own horse had been traded
for him)- Upon this statement the sheriff
arrested him and took him to Jail. He was
dumfo1nded and speech HESS with amaze
ment- He could not conceive why ne. an
innocent. Industrious man. should be ar
rested for SO heinous a crime as horse
stealing He was dazed and stunned by
the shock.
UnjustIy Convicted.
His white friends Cd not desert him. but
urged eini to speak out and clear himself
of the ugly charge. but he still seemed to
be In dazsd condition, and said nothin~
TO exonc-ate himself About this time his
daughter visited him, and begged and plead
with him to keep quiet She argued thai
his white friends would not permit him Il
be punished. in consideration of his pre-
viOusiy good character. She said that ii
her husband. the real criminal. was punish
ed that IL would forever ruin the prospects
OF her cnild. and that he had solemaly
promised TO do better IL he wasn't caught
this time. The supplemented Old man be
heved her. and he also argued with him
self 10 the effect that his race was abou
run. anyway. that he old and had il
great measure outlived his days of useful
ness. and that he would sacrifice his re
manning years by going to the penitentiary
II necessary. TO shield his child and heI
baby. He followed up this resolution re
fused 10 speak and was duly sent to tn,
penitentiary-
PardOned mt Last.
II was satisfied the old negro had toll
me the truth i did not believe him suffi
GENTLY artful to concoct such a story, an,
acting upon this belief / caused my secre
tary to write out his statement and for
ward it To- the officials OF the court in which
he had been convicted with the reoues
that 1 should be Informed If possible as I.