Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-27
SOON BE FREE AGAIN.
LEE HASH TO DE RELEASED IN
ABOUT TWO MONTHS.
SPECIAL PRAYER FOR hts FREEDOM.
The Grace-street baptist Congrega-
ton Needed His Mothers Request
and the Answer VIII Come in His
Discharge from Prison.

Lee Hash. the honest-faced young man
who has for some time filed most credit
ably the position of hospital steward at
the Virginia Penitentiary. VIII be given
his liberty July list, and return to his home
in Grayson county. where fond parents
a loving wife. and innocent little children
.anxiously await him.
His return TO the once happy home,
made dark and desolate by his hasty act
and the conviction and punishment that
followed, will be sooner by ten years
than was expected up to few days ago.
The communication OF his sentence by
Governor O'Ferrall comes, 1t would APP
pear. in the nature Of a direct answer
TO special prayers offered in behalf Of
the prisoner.
HE KILLED ALLAN.
The story OF tie circumstances under
which Hash Is U be restored to freedom
and loved ones is short but intensely in
terestng. TIE young man, not yet
30. is well connected and has always borne
a good reputation. He IL an only son,
and his parents are highly esteemed
among the people of their community.
Hash was educated at Richmond College,
and his record there was good one.
After reaching manhood he married into
A family of eminent responsibility, and
his wife and little children are living out
in the Southwest.
II was about four years ago that the
dark shadow crossed the path OF Hash.
He became involved in difficulty with
man who was considered desperate, and
inflicted upon his antagonist wound
that resulted fatally. He was tried, ana
in due course of law convicted OF muir
der I'm the second degree and sentenced
to fourteen years in the penitentiary.
The Baptist General Association OF
Virginia held it's annual meeting here last
November, and among those who came
TO attend its session was Mrs. Hash,
of Grayson. She was through fortunate
circumstances assigned TO the hospitable
home of Major b. w. Lynn, Superintend-
emf of the big White Prison or which
her son was an inmate. she saw ner son
and wept and prayed over him, ana ac-
companied by Major Lynn, visited cover
nor O'Ferrall, to whom she made an
earnest appeal for clemency toward her
boy who she assured his Excellency' only
resorted to such extreme violence 10 save
his own life The Governor heard her
with characteristic patience, and assured
her Of his deep sympathy, but did net
commit himself.
ASKED PRAYERS FOR HIM.
The mother did not stop here She be-
lieves i'm the efficacy Of prayer. ana de-
ternined to ask other Christian people
to unite their petitions with hers In pc
half of the one who was all the world
10 her. The meetings of the great Bap-
tIst gathering at the Grace-Street Taper-
nacIe had greatly interested her. ana
she became impressed with the desire
that the Grace-Street people should pray
for the early release Of her son. ms
desire was communicated TO DR.. Haten-
| err who read the letter to MS peo-
| nile who at once became tenderly IN
| terested. and special and repeated
nraver was offered that the young man
ioieht be soon restored to his liberty and
| bogin life anew. Last week Dr. Hatcher
received a letter from the reJoicine
parents. saying that the Governor mac
| taken ten years from the original sen
| tence and that this, together with the
| time Hash had earned by good De-
havior. would enable him to go forth
free man on the 1st of July. This letter
| DR. Hatcher read to his Sunday schoo
| Sunday morning just after the study o.
| the lesson, which, curiously enough waS
about the dellverance of Peter from the
| iau in answer TO the prayers or hi'
| brethren.