The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-08

years. came to st. Paul. YESTERDAY
afternoon, on the Burlington train and
registered at the Merchants hotel Aft
er they had washed off the train dust
they unpacked great budget of peti-
tions and letters from Mr.. Bronaugh's
grip and made for the capitol to file
them with the secretary of the pardons
board. They were Iate however, and
VIII go to the capitol again the first
thing this morning
Seen in their rooms at the hotel bofh
gentlemen We're inclined to be reticen+
regarding the details of their mission.
believing that to make public their
plans might in some way lead to in
creasing whatever prejudice there
might be to their end Of the case. Both
explained that they came as private
cltlzens representing no party or fac
ton, but simply as the Representatives
or the great mass of Missourians who
felt for the poor unfortunate families
OF the Youngers and also felt that the
dignity OF Minnesota had been main
tanned and should now be satisfied.
They noted that some opposition had
developed to the granting of pardon,
from Mortified. the scene of the mur-
der and robbery, but while explaining
| that they easily understood how the
feeling might exist, said they hoped
1t might have been exaggerated in the
reports. The budget was unpacked
] again, and the reporter for the G 0 b
; "dS SNOWn letters and. DeUtlOQS, the
--erkings upon which were from all
pAy.s Of the country, and which weigh
e. in the neighborhood of twenty
I :roEYrds.
/ To begin with, as indicated above,
! the entire state legislature of Missouri
! joined in signing their names to a
petition which is strongly worded, and
in which there are given ten reasons
| why the state should restore to their
liberty, the men who took part in the
bloody affair at Northfield in 1876.
| Among the reasons given are that
! the two brothers have served twenty
! one years in prison, that they have
| fulfilled the intention of the law, that
they have been model prisoners, that
! if restored to liberty the mass of the
! people of Missouri would stand se~
/ curity to their becoming peaceable law
abiding citizens, that both have been
brave and honorable soldiers in bat
| tie, and merciful in victory, that they
we both served twice the length of
7 the average term of life prisoner,
| which the petition sets forth is about
ten years, that they are both old men,
! and the petitioners believe that the
| spirit of Christian charity will allow
! them to pass their remaining days
! among their relatives and friends.
| The signers set forth, further, that
| it is recognized that the object of
penology is to reform the punished
and that when reformation is accom-
| plished, to longer continue the punish
ment is not only of no benefit, butls
| turning the arm of the law into an
| instrument of torture to satiate re-
venge. In conclusion the petition
| which is Voluminous affair-sets
forth that the members of the legis-
! lature come as a united whole in the
name of mercy and humanity to pre-
fer the earnest request that pardon
| be granted.
An exceedingly strong letter has been
| secured from United States Senator
| Steven B. Elkins, of West Virginia.
who writes that while in no sense jas
titying the offense. he cannot refrain
| from urging the release of the boys
He knew their father, and themselves
in the old days in fact he refers 10 the
| fact that Cole Younger. at the risk Of
his own life, saved the writer at a
place called Quantrell, during the war.
A second letter is from r. c. kerenS
one of the most prominent men in st.
Louis. who was for thirty years
business associate of Senator Elkins.
and who joins with him in asking that
! clemency be extended. He writes that
| he has often heard the senator speak
| gratefully of Cole Younger's bravery
in saving his life.
Ex-Gov. Thomas Crittendep. now
| consul general of Mexico. writes from
| that place that he believes Minnesota.
if the Youngers are released, will win
the name of being more merciful than
virdictive. Col. Crittendon was
Union soldier, and while chief executive
of Missouri, had a large part in break
ing up the James gang, which held the
state in a state of dread for so long
William J. Stone, just retired from
the executive chair of the state. in
letter to Chief Justice Start, writes
that the conditions which existed in
the state just after the war were such
as to induce feuds and vendettas and
/ n nNytD -,
the crime. he feels that the Youngers
! have eXpiated their crime, and if al
lowed to go free, would be sure to be-
come good, lawful men and citizens.
Endorsed on the letter are similar
sentiments coming from and signed hy
the new governor, Lon V. Stevens
United States Senator G. G. Vest
writes from Washington that the
father of the Youngers was a loyal
Union soldier. and that the bows
showed the same brave characteristics
which he possessed, and he believed
that but for their unfortunate environ
ment they would have made worthy
citizens.
In a letter written from Kansas City.
Justice John F. Philips. of the United
States district court writes that he has
no sympathy with lawlessness, as
shown by the Youngers but that he
holds the view that it was the result of
the predatory war that prevailed in
MlSSouF1 dC the llrne right atter the
civil war. Both these boys, he adds
fought on the opposite side to that
where he was, but he thinks nearly all
the scars should be healed, and that
they have suffered enough for their
crime.
President John c. Mccoy, of the Kan
sas City Live Stock exchange writes:
"It will be in my opinion an act Of
simple mercy to restore them to their
freedom. I lived in Jackson county.
their home. for forty years and while
it does not palliate in any way their
offense, the troublous times might be
urged as a ground for their pardon
when their age and the fact that they
have suffered a good deal in health
have been taken into consideration.
There are in the budget not less than
a hundred such letters from all over
Missouri, and even from other states,
including letters from supreme court
justices, judges of the court of appeals,
and from circuit judges, and prominent
business men.
Both gentlemen will remain here
pending some action on the part of the
pardoning board, and the result of this
new effort on behalf of the Youngers
will be awaited with considerable in
terest by the citizens Of the two big
states.