The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-12-23
REGAIN THEIR
LOST LIBERTY
Penitentiary Convicts Pardoned on
Eve OF Christmas.
THE STORY CT THEIR CRIMES
circumstances Related i'm Extcnuation
ofthe Various Offences, or rs Justi-
fcation of Clemency-One Wo-
man and Three Men.

Governor Tyler on yesterday granted
pardons to four persons. who regain their
freedom on the eve Of the Christmas.
Three men and one woman are included
i'm the list The Governor considered a
large number Of applications. and from
them selected as objects OF Clemency the
quartette herein alluded to. They are
Mrs. Sarah Deckard. Marshall Owens
Walker Kean and G. T.. Cox.
The woman was sentenced at the April,
1897. term Of the Washington County
Court 10 five years in the penitentiary Tor
murder in the second degree. The woman
killed her husband. but the circumstances
seem to justify the act in large measure.
The testimony Of the Commonwealth at
torney. who prosecuted her, l. to the ell
feet that "she killed him because MS
cruel and brutal treatment for twenty
years forced her TO believe that her only
hone TO live was in the attempt 10 take
his life. The evidence showed he was
strong and brutal man. and that he mad
threatened to kill her only a few minutes
before she struck the fatal blow. II seems
10 be known i'm the neighbOrhood whele
they lived that twenty years ago NE whip
ped her with a hOrse-whp until the blood
ran off her heel, as she walked along
the road. and that he Knocked her down
with tobacco stick. his fist. or anything
that was convenient and that during All
these twenty years she endured It.
Her petition was signed by judge, Com
monwealths attorney. all Of the jury, ana
officers of the court.
PARDON or MISSOURIAN.
Charles L. Cox was sentenced at the
July term Of the GraysOn county Court
1896. for a term of eighteen years I'm the
penltentiary for murder in the second de-
gree This man was a citizen of Missouri
am engineer by profession. and was IN
Grayson county prospecting for ore prop
erty. The man whom he killed seemed
TO have conceived the idea that Cox was
an internal revenue officer searching Tor
Illicit distillers and thereupon determined
10 kill him.
A citizen Of the county. on whose prem
Uses the killing took place. says: Roberts
dhe man who was killed. had sworn ne
would kill Cox before the sun went down
and had come twelve miles that day Tor
the purpose. and repeated the threat after
meeting Cox" The same gentleman also
states that Roberts was a terror 10 the
community"
Judge u. W. Bolen, ex-iudge OF that
circuit, and a former representative OF
Carroll county in the Legislature wrote
several letters earnestly intercedlhS LOT
the prisoner. He says:
Il have heard most of the evidence
and arguments of counsel and think the
verdict harsh. In my judgment the case
vibrated between justihable homicide ana
mauslauehter The trial took place at
a time when q number Of other homicides
had recently been committed. and public
excitement was at high pitch, ana a
Cox was a stranger. ii was openly talked
that he would be a good man to make
an example Of
Cox has been an exemplary prisoner,
trusted by all the authorities. and APP
parently deserves 10 receive his pardon
so that he can return TO his native state
and begin life anew.
IN THE HEAT or PASSION.
Marshall owens was convicted in the
County court of Washington county Of
murder in the second degree and gen
fenced TO fourteen years in the peniten-
tiary
This young man committed the crime
for which he was sentenced, in the heat
of passion. and acted. as stated by the
Judge and Commonwealth Attorney,
under impulse rather than malice. and
did the killing because he felt his younger
brother, mere child. had been imposed
upon" He has suffered great mental
anguish and is deeply repentent. His
father has spent his all i'm the defence
~ his son. and now has an opportunity
10 go TO the State of Washington with
his boy The health Of the prisoner IS
bad and his trouble IS aggravated by
confinement He has served nearly
four years Of his term. and in view OF
an the facts OF the case. the Governor
thinks he has been sufficiently punished.
ABOUT TO DIE.
Walker Keen. the fourth convict 10
receive his Christmas pardon. is slowly
perishing Of consumption. lie is the
third member Of his family to be SEN
fenced 10 the penitentiary. Both the
others were pardoned. one died after
the pardon was granted and before il
could reach him, and the other died
shortly after he received his pardon.