The leader., 1900-01-24
SHAMELESS PROSTITUTION o
THE PARDONING POWER.

IGOVernOf, none stand out Ill DOlder
relief than his shameless prostitution
of the pardoning power. In our hum
Laurin administration has been con-
stantly in the direction of lowering a
healthy public moral tone and creating
contempt and disrespect for law and
rightful authority. Mob law itself,
against which our incoming chief ex-
ecutive protests so earnestly, has not
been more demoraliZing and hurtful
in its effect upon our own people, than
their observing the ease with which
convicted criminals have been able to
escape the just penalty of their crimes
by simply appealing to the pardoning
power. And we may add in this con-
nection, that if Gov. Longino should
be guilty of the stupendous blunder Of
following the McLaurin pace in this
particular, not only will mob law con-
tinue to increase, but in the eyes of
many good citizens who have hitherto
stood aloof and condemned it, there
will be urgent necessity for it.
We are led to make these observa-
tions on the misdeeds of a dead State
administration whose evil influences
unhappily will live after it, because
of the pardon by Gov. McLaurin,
among his last official acts, of Prentiss
Easterling, a young man sentenced to
the penitentiary for life from this
county two years ago last December
for murder. The history of Easterling's
bloody crime Is still fresh in the
minds of most Of our people. TN
August Both, after a petition for his
pardon had been industriously circu-
lated and was being published, THE
LEADER published a review of his and
other murder cases tried at the special
term Of the Circuit Court of pecem-
Der, 1897, and in the name of the law
abiding people of Lincoln county, pro-
tested against the granting of the par
don prayed for for reasons therein set
forth. Relatives of Joseph Bufkin,
who was murdered by King and Easter
ling, got up large counter petition,
which was duly presented to the Gov
ernor. Personal letters were also
written to him by a number of re.
putable citizens Of the county, pro
testing against a pardon, among them
the following by leading citizen of
Caseyville, which clearly states the
case
CAsEYyILLE, Miss, Sept.5, 1899.
To His Excellency, Gov. A. j. MeLaurin, Jack
son, Miss:
DEAR GOVERNOR You will soon be
presented with petitions, if you have
not already, praying for the pardon OF
young man named PrentiSS Easter
ling and one named Aaron Lotion, both
of whom were convicted of murder at
special term of the Circuit Court in
this county in December, 1897. | write
this to you, as Governor OF the State,
to say heartily endorse the enclosed
editorial clipping from the BROoKHAvEN
LEADER, which is a correct statement
of the facts, as far as it goes, and to en-
ter my protest with that OF the editor,
against the pardon of these men. AS
one of the oldest citizens of Caseyville,
/ especially protest against the pardon
of young Easterling, who, with James
King, less than 2 years ago, murdered
in cold blood, Joe Bufkin, one of the
best citizens of this community. That
was one of the most atrocious murders
ever committed In the county, Inter
cepting, by premeditation. their victim
on the roadside, in full sight of the
church where he had just been engaged
with his neighbors in a prayer meet
ing, they shot him down in the pres
ence of his little daughter, sister, in-law
and niece, without the slightest chance
for his life.
If Easterling is pardoned by you,
many of the oldest and best citizens of
this community would be compelled to
move away or feel that their own lives
were in constant jeopardy; if not from
Prentiss Easterling himself, from other
reckless young men who would be en-
couraged by the ease with which he
escaped justice to pattern after his bad
example.
sympathize with the relatives Of
the young man to the fullest extent
and would do anything In my power
consistent with the we'll lbeing OF the
community, to relieve their troubles,
but under existing facts and circum-
stances, your Excellency would be do
ing our people positive wrong and
Injustice to interfere with the sentence
of the court in this case.
AS to my own character and credl-
bility, l take pleasure In referring you
to Major Millsaps, Hon. Ed Brown, and
Hon. r. HI. Thompson, of jackson, or
to any of the county officials Of Lin
coin county or business men of Brook
haven. Respectfully,
w, w. DAVIS.
We are credibly informed that
joint letter of pretty much the same
import as the above, and signed by a
number of the most reputable citizens
of the Caseyville community, was
mailed to the Governor and each mem
Der of the Penitentiary Board of Con
troll, only short time ago, protesting
against the pardon of Easterling.
There was another circumstance
which it was thought, and with reason,
would also have an important effect
in influencing Governor McLaurin
against granting pardon, but did not.
Soon after Easterling got to the peni-
tentiary he was made "trusty," and
given the freedom of the capital city.
Last September, after the petition for
his pardon had been filed, a story was
published in the Jackson Evening
News that, while acting as "trusty,"
Easterling had been detected in the
theft of two pistols belonging to the
Penitentiary and diamond pin be-
longing to one of the penitentiary
officials. Detective Jack W. Cain was
credited with having ferreted the mat
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