Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-24
A MURDERER FREED.
GOVERNOR TYLER GRANTS A PAR
DON TO WEBSTER sNoDGRAss.
JURY AND COURT OFFICIALS ASK 1T.
Troy All Cnfttu III INT NPPV"f tut
Clemepcy-Members of the virginia
Military Institute Board
ed-Appcnls for Charity.

on July 4. 1870. Webster snodgrass shot
and killed Morgan ThackSr, at Norton
in Wise county.
In December. 1891, Snodgrass was con-
victed OF murder in the second degree III
the County Court Of Wise. and sentenced
20 eighteen years in the penitentiary.
December %. 1898, Snodgrass was given
an absolute pardon by Governor Tyler
He left for his home. in Wise county
last night. lie was accompanied by Cir
cult Judge Wells. of Wise. who presented
the application for pardon.
In 1895 an application for the pardon
of Snodgrass was refused by Governor
Tyler's predecessor. The Judge. Com
monwealth's Attorney. and the jury ala
not unite in the appeal for clemency. In
the application presented TO Governor
Tyler all these unite. save two OF the
Jury. who do not now reside in this state.
The petition was also supported by let
ters from numerous citizens OF the ccun-
~. 1t is said that friends OF the muir
dered man. who formerly opposed the
pardon OF his slayer now want him TO
be free.
REASONS FOR PARDON.
In passing on the case Governor Tyler
says:
"The murder was committed In the
heat Of passion. No previous malice was
shown. The prisoner was under the IN
nuence Of whiskey. The trial judge says
he has always had grave doubts as to
his guilt, and that he has served sufii-
ciently long. The jury say we NOW think
the punishment we imposed on him
too severe He has been confined In the
penitentiary for six years and served FOR
about eighteen months in Jail awaiting
the decision of his case In the higher
courts. He had one or more opportunities
TO have escaped from custody and re-
fused. always protesting his innocence,
and on one occasion helped TO rescue
other prisoners and the j~ailer's family
from a fire which destroyed the Jail in
which he was confined"
The Governor concludes as follows: "The
ends Of Justice have been satisfied
In the opinion of those Of his community;
no harm can be done 10 society by his
release and hope is entertained that a
life thai might be hardened by the ut
most infictiOn of punishment may be
made useful and a blessing to his widow
ed mother and dependent little sisters"
VISITORS APPOINTED.
Governor Tyler yesterday appointed the
following as members of the Board of
Visitors of the Virginia Military 1nsti-
tute, at Lexington: Messrs. Lloyd t.
Smith, Of Northumberland; f. w. Saun-
ders. OF Franklin, and w. T. Shields, Of
Lexington. The appointees serve three
years from January 1. 1899. Mr.. Smith
succeeds Colonel G.. Percy Halves. Of this
city.
Messrs. Saunders and Shields succeed
themselves-the former having been APP
pointed TO fill the %unexpired term of Colo
mel Peter Hairston, Of Henry. and the lat
ter to succeed Judge S. H.. Letcher.
Richmond has more than her share of
members Of the boards Of State institu-
lions, and the Governor is trying TO scat
ter them over the State. Hence his de-
c~lination 10 %reappoint Colonel Halves.
WANT CHRISTMAS GIFTS.
Governor Tyler is receiving numerous
appeals for Christmas gifts. He is al
ways more or less the recipient of ap-
peals for charity. Just now they come in
in great numbers. Occasionally the Gov
ernor responds. As Private-Secretary
owen expressed 1t IN a letter TO an appli-
cant yesterday. 1.-THE Governors heart is
willing, but his purse is weak"
Some of the writer's specify the things
they want the Governor to send; the ma
jority simply ask for a Christmas re-
membrance. Any old thing will do. II
the Governor sent a dollar TO every ap-
plicant. his salary would be almost con-
sumed by charity.