The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1901-07-17
BROAD|E PARD0NED
A Wake County Negro Who
Was Sent up for Murder.
Judge Benefits Strong Letters to the Governor
Urging the Pardon Some New Egid-
ence Discovered.

Governor Aycock has pardoned Ran
som Broadie, a Wake county negro
convicted in 1894 of killing another ne
gro in fight and sentenced to the
penitentiary for fifteen years.
Since that time some new evidence
has been discovered, which, if it had not
secured Broadie's acquittal, would have
at least secured for him only a very
short sentence. His pardon has, there
fore, been very strongly recommend
ed by those conversant with the facts,
as well as by those who know of
Broadie's conduct as a prisoner since
he has commenced serving his term.
Among these latter is Judge Bennett,
of Wadesboro, who has had occasion to
see much of the negro on the Arson
State farm Under date of January
25th. Judge Bennett wrote to the Gov
ernor as follows
II would humbly submit to you for
your most clement action the name of
Ransom Broadie, at present detained in
penal servitude by our prison authori-
ties. Hon. j. c. l.. Harris will give
you the official data in the case. It's
my part to put under your eyes and
before your christian heart and respon-
sive soul connecting facts. / have
known the prisoner five years. No bet
ter prisoner or more faithful servant
has worked upon the farm here than
Ransom Broadie. Humble, Industrious,
God fearing quick to anticipate the
interest of the State, doing his duty
and more. he has gained upon me, upon
superintendent of this farm, and now
his character is as good as any prisoner
ever bore
And again on March 1st, he sent His
Excelency the following characteristic
letter in regard to Broadie:
Let me approach your precious heart
and clear understanding in the name
and for the sake of an unfortunate man
now in penal servitude upon the farm
close to this town. Ransom Broadie
has been eight or nine years the servant
and prisoner of our beloved State. No
better prisoner has ever suffered in our
State. Industrious, obedient, giving
no care to his overlookers, trusted by
all who have been set over him in au-
thorty. Every virtue to be found in a
negro since Onisimus, servant of Phile-
mon, was remanded by his conscience
to his master may be found in this
humble image of God cut in ebony.
benefactor of his kind and a cham
pion of humanity who gives mercy to
every living thing. May God mercifully
inspire and direct YOU
And still again, on May 1st, in course
of a letter to Private Secretary Pear
sail, Judge Bennett uses these words:
81 am TO thank you on the spot for
your letter of yesterday, ---
Now I am to address myself to a more
fascinating feature of the case. / believe
upon my soul and conscience this ne
gro GODS image cut in ebony should
be pardoned. / enclose a clipping from
the fifth estate of the realm. the press,
which may soothe your resentment. /
know Ransom Broade. He pulls off
his hat when the sun rises lest the
Governor may come upon him unaware,
and all the day long he worshps the
name of our illustrious executive
hope his pardon may come sometime.
I feel as if my poor humanity would
yield to the weight of sorrow these un-
fortunates arouse in me by their APP
peals. May God spare me to see the
triumph Of that humanity which our
noble man impersonates. There shall
come to pass the words of ancient
Simeon, 'nunc dimittis.' / call you to
witness my zeal for this poor soul, bow
ed under the weight of his punish
ment, yet not without hope-the best
comfort of our imperfect condition.
Help me Pearsall. For Gods sake
stranger let me lean on thee
Yesterday the pardon, duly signed
by the Governor, was made out by Col.
Pearsall and sent to Judge Bennett
with the request that he deliver it in
person to Ransom and announce to him
that his term in prison is at an end.