The times., 1897-04-25
LUM PEARSON IS SAVED
The President COmmutes His Sen.
tence to Life Imprisonment.
Reasons for the Executives Ac.
tion-His Counsel Was Hoping
for a Ten.Years' Term.

The President yesterday commuted tho
sentence OF aged Lum Pearson, who shot
and killed John Ford on August 7, 1896,
to life Imprisonment.
There were three considerations acting
to influence the President in the matter OF
Communication of sentence in the Pearson
case, as fellows: Congress had practically
abolished capital punishment In the Dis
trct OF Columbia by ali act which was
approved, leaving to juries the sentences
in such cases, only seven days after Fear
son had been sentenced to be executed.
the defendant having been sentenced ON
January g last to be hung the 30th Of
this month, and the act OF Congress- having
been approved January 3 last.
Second, the commutation OF sentence
was recommended by the judge who tried
the case and by the District attorney who
prosecuted the case, and there was no
record OF President ever having refused
TO commute death sentence in the District
of Columbia thus recommended. Third,
the circumstance OF Fearson's age.
Information az to the Executive action
in the case was Immediately sent to the
prisoner and to the latter's family.
Lawyer Thomas C. Taylor counsel in
the case, visited Pearson yesterday even
ing at the District Jail and the prisoner
thanked the attorney for the faithful ser
gices rendered by himself and associate
counsel, A. Y. Bradley, on his behalf
Pearson, it Will be recalled, was formerly
a sail-maker by trade, and through many
years of industry and economy had accu-
mulated considerable property, including
valuable real estate interests.
Up to the time of the starting Df the
races across the river three years ago,
Pearson had not been convicted OF any
crime, but beginning with the time Of the
height of Jackson City's notoriety he
eliminated in his taking up his abode
ing gambling and general dissipation, that
eliminated in his taking up his abode
at No 1923 Cissel alley. between Thir-
tieth and Thirty y-first, and K and l. streets
northwest
About the 1st Of August last, while
living at this place in reduced circuu-
stances and extremely poor health, he
was waited upon by a former fnamo-
rata, widow. Mrs. Lillian Cooper, who
engaged In his service, ostensibiy in the
capacity Of h0usekeeper
1t appears that Lillian had for some
time been living with a family by the
name OF Ford, but had been expelled
from their house on account OF alleged
immoral relations between herself and
young John Ford.
During the week that the woman was
with Pearson young Ford visl ted he place
nearly every night. He was admitted on
two occasions, but was finally forbidden
the premises by Pearson.
On the night OF the 7th of August young
Ford went To Fearson's house and began
battering on the rear door for admission.
Pearson appeared at an upper window
and told him to clear out
Ford refused TO comply, and continued
his batleriug process on the door. where
upon Pearson told him that the Cooper
woman was not in the house, and that If
he did not go away he would use Il gun
TO dIslodge him.
Fords only reply to this being s.ries
OF oaths and threats. Pearson secured "A re-
yoIver aud firedtwo shots, one taking effect
in Ford's back Three days later, Ford
died
The theory of the Government was that
Pearson killed Ford out OF jealousy. The
defendant claimed that jealousy did not
prompt him TO do the shooting, but that
he was fearful OF his life, having been
virtually on a sick bed for two years and
was In bad condition when Ford tried
60 get into his house. This defense was
sustained by Lillian, who testified that
she was away from the Pearson home
on the night of the tragedy.
The case was presented to the President
for Communication to life imprisonment on
teh recommendation OF Judge Cole, District
Attorney Brney, a majority OF the jurors,
all OF whom who could he found having
cheerfully signed the petition; and certain
prominent citizens.
Counsel for Pearson urged a commuta-
ton OF sentence to a term of years within
the limitation of the punishment for the
offense OF manslaughter in the District
OF Columbia, but they succeeded only in
securing commutation to imprisonment
for life