Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-07-23
The Governor Releases Innocent
Man From PenitentiaTy.
THE rUDDLER's STRIKE
Thomas short, or Russell County,
served Eight Years For Murder
He Never -Empio Dyes OF
eho Old Dominion Eaiiworkswaik
Ont - An EIopemont = Death OF
maJer Cecil.
Especial TO YirEi,ian. Pilot.y

Especial TO virgi,ian.Pilot.)
Richmond, Va, July Ex-Governor
Tyler has granted pardon to an in
nocent man who has been incarcerated
within the walls of the State peniten-
siary for eight years. not half of the
term to which he was sentenced.
In the latter part OF 1892 q man named
N1cGraw was killed one night at a
house of illfame. in Russell county.
There were several other men in the
house. A few minutes before he died
McGraw stated that Thomas Short did
the shooting and Short was arrested
At the trial there was no direct evil
dence of the shooting by McGraw
Short was convicted upon the dying
statement of McGraw.
He protested his innocence and has
always done so. He has been Il model
prisoner, though knowing all these
years of the terrible blundcr the jury
had made He was given eighteen
years.
FRIENDS WERE TRUE.
But he has had friends who did not
Forget him. Colonel Browning. of Pc,
cahontas has very much Interested
himself in the case. Mr. T. S. Finney.
the prosecuting attorney at the trial OF
s1taSAe. Willis " 1pNcTIlOT lylcr ln0t
he recently had a conversation with
witness who Is positive that it was an
lmpossibility for NlcGraw 10 have been
Killed by Short. MIR. Finney and Judge
", "A. Ayers who presided at the trial.
both think Short innocent. The wit
ness who establishes Shorts innocence
Is O lumberman who left the State i'm
meoiateiy after the killing and before
the trial. hence his testimony could not
De secured at the trial of Short.
HARD. BUT NO REDRESS.
:. Short has been set free and left to-
day for his home. in Russell His case
rs a hard one. But it is one in which
tnere Is no redress.
THE PUDDLERS' STRIKE.
The puddlers' strike at the Old Do
mimon Iron and Nall Works may or
may not assume serious proportions,
the determining factor in the matter
consisting in the persistence and stay
Ing qualities of the men. 1t Is reason
ably safe to say that the advance to 81
per ton contended for will not be grant
ed, certainly at present, so that the re-
sumption OF work depends on the men
themselves. Their determination to re-
main out has not weakened to-day. and
puddlers who were interviewed declar-
ed that they have not the remotest idea
or returning to the furnaces until their
able one, has been complied with.
MEN RESENTFUL.
The men bitterly resent the surres-
tlon emanating from higher officials of
the company that the wage scale here
Is controlled by prices paid at Harris
burg. The Pennsylvania city, they
point out. Is on an extremely cheap
basis, only one other iron town. Potts
vie. Pa, paying lower price to pud-
dlers.
What we are contending for" said
pne or the puddlers to-day. sis the pre-
vailing schedule throughout the East
"a ton. That is not a high figure. In
the South and West the rate varies
from $500 to $3.50, and in the Ohio
valley, where the best prices obtain, the
figure exceeds $3.50"
Ihree months ago the puddlers at the
Old Dominion Works were paid 81. IS
per ton. successive advances at 20
cents clip brought the price 10 So 80.
where 1t rested until Tuesday, when no
tees were posted announcing n further
rise or 20 cents. making the figure s375.
While there has thus been a considera-
DIE increase of wages within compar-
R1vely brief time, the striking puddlers
ueclare that the better figures were OBJ
lAlneu In each instance after the men
mad taken the initiative for the adj
vance.
The present strike first assumed tam
SiDle form last week, when Il meeting
OF the puddlers was held and IL commit
zee or three appointed to ask an in
crease or 90 cents per ton. The commit
Zee waited on President Clark Friday
or Saturday. The demand was not ac-
ceded to. On Tuesday morning the com
pany posted the notice announcing the
sS,76 rate. Tuesday night the puddlers
walked out
DEMAND FOR WORKERS.
An incentive to independence on the
part of the strikers is found in the
very general demand for workers in all
departments Of the iron industry conse-
squently upon the revival of activity in
the business.
AN ELOPEMENT.
Mr.. James M. Langhorne, bookkecper
for g. firm in the Tobacco Exchange
building. and Miss v. Myrtle Dabney,
daughter of Mr.. X. A. e. Dabney, clop-
ed to Washington yesterday and were
married in that city last night. The
bride is only about II years old and is
quite a belle. 1t is said her parents OBJ
jected to the marriage on account of her
youth Only a few. intimate friends
knew of the plans for the wedding
81 Miss Dabney left home yesterday
making some excuse satisfactory to her
parents. She was joined by Mr.. Lang
horne and they took q train for Wash
angton-
last night.
DEATH OF MAJOR CECIL.
IA telegram was received here this
morning stating that Major William p.
Cecil, a man widely known all over this
,state. died at his home, in Giles county.
5nsf evening at o'clock in the 10th
gear OF his age.