Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1901-10-31
THURSDAY, Feb. s.-It is all over

TUESDAY, Feb. Sit is all over,
and ! have been found guilty and
sentenced TO be hanged. The curious
thing about II Is that | do not feel so
very gloomy about II. 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 I am stunned by the hopelesness
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 I do not regret the
act which has brought me to this cell.
glory in 1t, 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 did not consider myself 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 il will do no
good. ! killed Philip Sherry--there is
no question about that They proved
II plainly enough at the trial, In spite
OF my lawyers most sltillful efforts.
Even II they hadn't, IL would have been
none the less true. But none OF them
know why did it--only one--and they
tutIl LpnxH fHnrtttra
drag It from me. She knows, and am
content. No, will tell nobody. will
not even tell the governor.
Wednesday, Feb. 6.--Strange things
have happened to-day. saw the gov
erpor. l broke my promise to my
self that | would not tell why killed
Philip Sherry, and the governor has
pardoned me. They told me that he
was a cheap politician who could not
be reached except by Doodle. But
know he is n most masterful man, who
knows all the fountains and impulses
of human action and passion, and that
he has heart that understands and
beats In harmony with his fellow men.
He was not at all the sort OF look
ing Uan | expected to soc. His face
impressed me AS being type OF the
pioneers, the men who have felled the
forests and reclaimed the wilderness.
He does not look the scholnr nor the
orator, although he surely must be an
impressive speaker judging from his
lnnianI huhttg - tIA,.rIt l..
terful use Of the English language.
think II was his eyes which made the
greatest impression on me. They
were the most peculiar eyes | ever
saw. They seemed to turn inward and
be communing with his inner con
sciousness most Of the time. But every
now and then he would give me ,
glance so sharp and penetrating that
] felt he was looking into my very soul
i entered the room sulky and un.
reconciled with my fate The govern
or, sitting sprawled out In his chair
loose-jointed, looking more the back
woodsman than the statesman, his
eyes dulled with that peculiar intro.
spection. lie asked me a number of
commonplace questions. which | an.
swcred with mixture OF contempt
and doggedness.
Suddenly Strengthening himself up
and fixing ON me q glance so sharp and
penetrating, and at the same time so
commanding as to make me involun-
tarily rise from my chair, he fired at
me a volley of questions so pointed, so
comprehensive, so searching, that II
seemed TO me he was scanning my in
nermost consciousness.
Before | realized It was pouring
out the most sacred secrets OF my soul
60 this man who but mosent before
had been an utter stranger to me, and
whom had been taught to regard
only In the light Of coarse and self
ish politician. Something he said
stung my pride, and his personality
won my confidence so artfu!iy and |
so quickly that invoiuntarily re.
sponded,
Listen to me, sir" l cried, my fists
clenching. while felt the veins stand |
out ON my neck, even as had felt them |
stand out on that day when killed |
Philip Sherry 81 am not a criminal. |
am not bad man. | do not believe my
tendencies are vicious. God knows / |
have an awful temper, But upon the
memory OF my mother, | believe that
temper has never been aroused. cxcept
upon just pro'ocation or by some act
of injustice or brutality.
81 remember well the first time
ever realized | had a temper. II was
the same time also that realized I
was an independent uutli.y. lwas
peculiar boy sensitive, lonely and
self-conscjous- stunning the Other
boys because their badgcrIug WAYS
played upon all my superseusitiye
nerves,
wv 80 NV . = heSs her NH,