The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-08-22

and have been found guilty and
sentenced to be hanged. The curious
thing about it is that l do not feel so
yery gloomy about it. The suspense be-
fore the verdict was great deal more
narrowing than the certainty of the
scaffold seems to be. Perhaps it is be-
cause am stunned by the hopelessness
of the situation and tired out by the
long weeks of excitement and worry.
Anyway, know that tonight do not
fear the death that has been decreed.
Most certainly | do not regret the
act which has brought me to this cell.
Iglory in it, and would do it again to-
morrow under the same circum-
stances. | want to set that down here,
so that all of my friends and any 9TH
ers who are curious enough to read
this diary may know after / am gone
that l did not consider myself a Grim
inal.
My lawyer tells me that my friends
are making strong efforts to have the
governor intercede, and that he has
promised to see me. But it will do no
good. l killed Philip Sherry-there is
no question about that. They proved
It plainly enough at the trial, in spite
of my lawyers most skillful efforts.
Even if they hadn't, it would have been
none the less true. But none of them
know why | did it-only one-and they
never will know. Torture could not
drag it from me. She knows, and 1 am
content. No, will tell nobody. l will
not even tell the governor.
Wednesday, Feb. 6.-Strange things
have happened to-day. l saw the gov
ernor. | broke my promise to my
self that l would not tell why l killed
Philip Sherry, and the governor has
pardoned me. They told me that he
was cheap politician who could not
De reached except by Doodle. But l
know he is most masterful man, who
Knows all the fountains and impulses
OF human action and passion, and that
he mas heart that understands and
beats in harmony with his fellow men.
lie was not at all the sort of a Look
ing man | expected to see. His face
impressed me as being type of the
pioneers, the men who have felled the
forests and reclaimed the wilderness.
ne Goes not look the scholar nor the
orator, although he surely must be an
Impressive speaker, Judging from his
iosical habits of thought and his mas
'erful use of the English language. I
'nlnk 1t was his eyes which made the
greatest impression on me. They
we're the most peculiar eyes l ever
saw. They seemed to turn inward and
oe communlng with his inner con-
sciousness most of the time. But every
uow and then he would give me a
siance so sharp and penetrating that
: iei' ne was looking into my very soul.
1 entered the room sulky and un-
'eeonclled with my fate. The govern
'f' sitting sprawled out in his chair,
1oose-Jolnted, looking more the back
"ooosman than the statesman. his
eses duiled with that peculiar intro
spee'ioh. He asked me a number of
eohnonplace questions, which I an
s'ered with a mixture of contempt
ana doggedness.
suddenly Strengthening himself up
snu nSlng on me glance so sharp and
pene'ra'lng, and at the same time so
.., ..'ahoing as to make me involun-
.ariy rise from my chair, he fired at
80 e Voiiey of questions so pointed, so
pienensive, 30 searching, that it
NE. neo TO me he was scanning my in
aermost consciousness,
before / realized it T was nour;no.
ou' tne most sacred secrets of nv soul
y TINS man who but moment before
-.u oeen an utter stranger to me. and
mon "nom | had been taught to regard
onis IN the light of a coarse and self
-. stn poiitlcian. Something he said
s my pride, and his personality
WON my eonfidence-all so artfullv and
~ quickly that l involuntarily re-
sponded.
.,. his.en to me. SIR 1 cried. nv fists
~. .h'ng' while | felt the veins stand
s.a. oh ny neck. even as I had felt them
p,." sana out on that day when I killed
n'iip Sherry, Il sm not a criminal +
MOI pad man do not believe nv