The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-07-08
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hone bu. fortified himself m ne een6 Sn.e
ali wrongs must be righted, and that e
would be the chief aim OF his life to rectfy
the great miscarriage Of Justice. which ne
claimed his deprived him of his liberty
The charges upon which Harrison W.
tried and convicted were TWO stagecoscn
and train robheries. the former alleged 70
have been committed at birmingham. Ala.
the latter near Huntsville. In the same
State He always steutly maintained his IN
nocence but circumstances, combined with
n so-caIied confession OF confederate
Jim Brown. brother-,h-law OF Harrison
who was offered leniency by the prosecuc
ton, convinced two tUries In the United
States Court that he was guilty Brown sos
three wears for his participation IN the az
fair and served the same IN the Anamoee
prison Harrison was sentenced for ne
in each OF two eases.
HarrisoD's prison department was OF the
best He was an exemplary and Industrious
prisoner. putting in his spare time In the
manufacture of trinkets from shells. He
soon became acquainted with the quality OK
the different shells. ard often made pur-
chases Of fancy shells from the markets OF
Japan and other remote places These TIM
ke;s he disposed OF to visitors passing
through the prison. With the proceeds OF
these sales ne paid the expenses of an ap-
neal to the United States Supreme Court In
the Biruingh ham case and after two years
struggle had the satisfaction Of having the
sentence for tram ROBBERY set ASIDE W III
highest judicial tribunal IN the land Ths
law still demanded Imprisonment for his
natural life" for the stage robbery.
Harrison was not downcast- His money
was gone and the time for taking an ap-
peal In the Huntsville case expired by lirni-
tatior owing 10 his inability to raise funds
to defrav the costs Of litigation He "
not however resign himself to his faSS.
but rather with more ea-nes'ness than
ever set about 20 procure his ireedom There
was only one way In which THIS could os
secured-a pardon. which must be signed
By the President Month after month. year
after year he toied inCessantiy IN his cell
after working hours. His splendid display
of nerve. energy and determ. t'on had Its
influence on the administrative officers OK
the prison. and even The guards whose duty
ic wa. to watch the lie row. began to
have a kindly feeling FOR him.
Finally a petition TO the President, asking
for the prisoners pardon. was drawn up by
the chaplain and received the signature OF
every officer ard employee OF the Institution
without exception This was an unprece-
denied action IN the history of the prison.
Encouraged by this. Harrison once again
began TO study out the necessary steps 10
be taken to secure his freedom. Ills bank ac-
count gradually increased. Every cent placed
to his credit represented hours of hard
toll With the proceeds of his labor Harrf-
| son employed people to make a house-to-
house canvass for signatures in Rome. Gas
his former home. Hundreds OF personal let
tiers we're secured In the same manner. Peo-
Die who had been instrumental in his con-
yict.on now offered their services In his be-
half with all this work accom- plished the
papers were finally submitted to the Presi-
dent.
About this time the war with Spain broke
cut and the President was so engrossed with
| other cares that he could give attentioTf
| TO the case. For more than two years the
prisoner patiently waited for Mckinley to
| take action. AT last he determined to have
some satisfaction at the Presidents hands,
| II II was no more than refusal of the par
don The mails had failed to bring answers
1 to his letters. and he decided to send a per-
| sonal representative to Washington. Finally
l q sister living at Fort Worth, Tex. was sup
| piled with the last dollar OF Earrisens
| money to defray expenses. She tourneyed
| to the national capital, secured an audience
l with the President. the papers were called
for from the dusty files, and so impressed
the President that executive clemency was
decided upon.
l When Harrison was released he started
4 for Texas. where he has a daughter and s;s,
t@ living.