The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-06-29
A PARDONED CONVICT.

His Joy in Going Homo to Aged
Parents-.He Can't Explain His
Feelings.
Yen years ago young Whitfield
Murrell was sent to the penitentiary
for being an accomplice in the murder
The story Of this famous murder case
in Edgeteld county is now recalled by
the pardon issued a lew days ago by
Gov. McSweeney, who released Murrell
from confinement and restored him to
the aged parents who have longed for
his freedom. Murrell and Vim Car
penter were convicted Of the murder
Of YOnce with recommendation to
mercy. At the time of the crime and
for some time afterwards the whole
State was astir. The capture of Muir
rell was only affected after the most
extensive search had been made. He
was brought to Columbia finally, &C.
cureiy tied with ropes, then seemingly
mere boy. He has been serving u
life sentence. Governor McSwceney
granted the petition for pardon on o
statement OF the physicians that tho
young man had developed consump-
tiOn; on the confession of Carpenter,
convicted along with him, that Muir
rell though with him at the time had
taken no part no part in the killiLg of
YOnce; and on petitions of the strongest
character.
During Gov. Tlllman's administra
tlon strong petitions were presented,
but the Governor refused the pardon.
Senator Tillman's name, however, ap-
pears on the petition which aided in
getting the pardon.
The Edgetiold correspondent of The
State thus describes the Homecoming
Of young Murrell
His health Is shattered and he is al
most q physical wreck. The pardon
meets with the hearty approval of the
people OF the county, and tho young
man was congratulated on all sides
upon his arrival His aged parents
were completely overcome when he
reached home, where in addition to
his father and mother, his sisters and
brothers and friends had gathered to
await his coming. For 10 long wears
he has languished IN prison, stead
fastly prOclaiming his innocence. His
co o.defendant, William Carpenter, now
in the penitentiary for life, has ALWAYS
claimed and sworn that Murrell had
nothing whatever to do with the kill
Ing of young Yonce, and the jury who
convicted MIN, realizing the terrible
mistake they had made, signed the Pc
tition for Murrell's pard
Whitfield Murrell left Edgetield June
49, 1888, for the penitentiary, beard
less boy Of l6, curly black hair, hand
some clcar cut features adorned with
a bright and expressive eye. On June
10Th, 1879, he returns, and few even OF
his closest friends recognize him, so
great has been the change. When
asked how he felt upon being set free,
he replied with q tone of sadness :
God ouly knows. l can't describe it.
No living mortal can describe it.
Think OF confinement in u tomb for 10
years think Of hell with ito most re-
Voting horrors, and then to be set
free, to breathe fresh air, to hear the
birds sing, SEQ the flowers bloom, to be
again by the side Of my dear aged faith
er and mother-their kindly voices to
cheer me up instead OF the clang OF the
iron door and tread Of the guards to
deprcss me. Think of these things
and you may in way imagine how |
feel"
Murrell speaks in the highest terms
OF the present officials Of the peniten-
tiary says they are the best that have
been there since his contincmen. DR..
d. S. Pope, the former physician of the
penitcntlary, he cOmmends in language
that is indeed tlattering.