The Savannah morning news., 1900-12-22
J. S. WHEELER RELEASED.
JUDGE STEER MADE HIM A CHRIST
MAS PRESENT TO HIs WIFE.

wheeler Was n Member OF the Ty-
son Hand of Conspirntors. Con-
,icted at the Last Term of the
United states District Court of
Using the Mails 20 Defraud-He
Was Sentenced Co a Term of
Twelve Months In JRiI, of which
NJ. Had served Nine--Mrs. wheeler
Urged Her Appeal for the suspen-
sion of the Sentence with Entire
success.
There will be one merry Christmas. al
least. out In screveu county this year
Yesterday Judge speer oommuted the IN
expired sentence OF J. :. Wheeler. ono
OF the men convicted With J. 5. Tyson
o. conspiracy 60 defraud through the use
az tho mails. and handed the prisoner
over % the custody Of his wife.
The circumstances OF this case We're
somewhat remarkable and az the time
or tho trial much public interest was ex-
cited Tyson was the brains Of the entire
conspiracy. which was carried out by
h.m. with the active assistance OF W. l..
Jones and two men named Hutchinson
The others in tho plot were mere tools
ln The hands OF Tyson and participated
hut very lttle In the profits OF the enter
Prise The conspiracy evidently included
large number of persons In its opera.
lions. who were scattered through the
counties Of Screven and those which adj
t,n a. principally along the line OF the
Afah.v.a nafIu.av
The evidence TO secure the CONVICTION OF
the men was secured by Postofiice In
spector Fred Peer. and they were tried
q the last term OF the District Court
Tyson and the othes began by making a
hard night. but under the weight Of the
evidence introduced by District Attorney
Erwin. they weakened and Acknowledged
their guilt. They were sentenced 20 terms
o. varying length. Tyson and the two
Hutchiusons Ia the Nashville penitentiary
and the others In the county JAIN. Wheel
81 was sentenced 90 pay hne and serve
n year. He has already served nine
months OF his term. which. with the ad-
ditional month he would have been COM
PEELED 10 spend IA jaH In lieu OF tine pay
ment OF the tine. would have expired next
April
Yesterday the wife OF Wheeler was a
visitor at the United States Court House.
where she expressed very earnest wish
10 see Judge Speer. She was accompanied
BY Mr. william Pease Wheelcr's counsel
hy whom she was introduced 10 judge
speer as h. stepped from the elevator
Ia the chambers Of the Judge where
The conference between him and Mrs.
Wheeler occurred. the woman broke down
and wept copiousiy. as a sort OF prelude
90 the appeal she designed TO make Bee
tween sobs she managed 10 explain that
she wanted 20 ask the court TO remit
the remainder OF her husbands term OF
imprisonment.
Il is possible that this exhibition OF fem
inine grief somew has alarmed the court
My dear madam" ne fastened to say
'ii VIII be impossible for me 10 do any
fhing for your husband n you continue
20 weep In this fashion I'm an exceed
ingly tender-hearted man myself aud lf
sou don't consent to stop / snan prob
ably b. IN tears myself Then / shall
not be- able to sec 90 write"
Mrs Wheeler's tears aud sohs stopped
at once. She explained 10 Judge sp-er
fn1t her husband owned a good farm out
IN the country. but that one crop had
been lost because he was away in Jail II
he were not released before April an
other crop would be lost and she and the
little Wheelers. OF whom there g. tho
usual abundance that obtains among tine
poorer class OF country people. would sur
fer very greatly. parenthetically. she
stated that her husband "haint guilty Of
doing nothing. nohow."
Her eloquence sufiiccd. Judge Spccr sat
down az his desk and wrote an order sus-
pending the unexpired portion OF Wheel
Cr's term OF imprisonment and presented
% 90 his wife.
I'm going TO make YOU an officer o.
che court" he said TO her. land deliver
your husband into your custody. II D.
Christmas present from the court. The
court relies upon YOU To see that he keeps
clear OF the evil communications that cor
rupt good morals. and that he does not
get into mischief again"
Mrs. Wheeler accepted the trust with
equal confidence and pleasure She assur-
I'D Judge Speer OF her gratitude and that
OF her released husband and wished him
tho seasonal blessings with a sincerity
that viii not be- surpassed by any OF those
who viii extend him the stereotypcd
MERRY Christmas" ana Happy and
Prosperous New Year"
Under the order Of tnc court Wheeler
was released from custody, and he and
his wife were reunited. The scene was
an affecting one when they urst saw
each other, and Wheeler free man
again after nine months Of Imprisonment.
embraced the good woman to whom he
on cd hts release