The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-06-10


 came upon the mob with Robin White. The question was submitted to the jury on the evidencr and the. jury found against the defendants. finding them guilty of murder in the second degree and fixing the punishment at ten years in the penitentiary..
 Evidently the verdict in the Thomas and Strength and Fuller cases was a compromise verdict as 1t is very true that the defendants, if guilty at all. were guilty of murder in the first degree. It Is well to remark here that the de- gree in the Thomas case was very prob ably the result of the degree fixed in the Fuller and Strength cases. those case3 having been tried before the Thomas case.
 Howard. think. deserves consldera- tarily turned as witness for the State and Thomas's conviction depended upon Towards evidence principally, All three of the defe ldants tHoward, strength and hitherto borne excellent characters. They each. as I understand. have family of little children .iependcnt upon them. There are two or three petitions asking for clemcncy These petitions are nu- and other counties. In fact am sure that every prominent man. in Elmore county has signed the petition. l never saw a more numerously signed petition case are signers of the petition in El7 more county. Besides I have had con versations with quite a number of the very best citizens of Fillmore county. Some of them were in sympathy with the State in the prosecution of the cases against the defendants. inspired by a desire to see the law vindicated. and the guilty parties punished. All those peo- pie are unanimously of the opinion that the Executive should extend ciemeney to the three defendants, Howard. Strength and Fuller. They say that the conviction of the parties has denon- strated that in Fillmore county. where there has been so many outrages against the law. the law can in proper case be upheld and that the courts are not power less to protect people In their person. liberty and property Further, that the the punishment already endured by the defendants and some of them are of the opinion that If further punishment Is in- sisted upon the just administration of the law in the future will be jeopardized. That is to say, the sentiment that so strongly favored the trial and conviction of the persons engaged in the moh will be turned against convictions in such have mentioned these different phases of the case to show the condition of pub lie sentiment in respect to the cases. Without sharing in all the opinions ad- vanced I have reached the conclusion that 1t will subserve the ends of justice if a parole is granted to the three. George Howard, John Strength and Martin Full Ter. therefore recommend that your exceilency take this matter under con sideration and that a parole be granted them. Hs also think that on account of the peculiar circumstances connected with the case of Abe White. who pleaded gull ty to an assault with the intent to niur- der John Thomas, that a parole ought to he granted Abe White. He 1t will be remembered. was one of the negroes Ia brother of Robin White). who was pres ent when the exchange of shots was had between Robir and Thomas and Thomas testified that Abe shot at him. I respectfully submit this matter for your consideration.
 Very respectfully,
 N. D. Denson.
 Solicitor Brewer wrote the Governor as follows:
 Tuskegee, June S. 1902. Governor W. D. Jelks, Montgomery. Ala. Dear Sir-I write to ask the pardon of Howard, Fuller and Strength, who were the penitentiary at the special term of the Circuit Court of Fillmore county held In August, 1901. I believe to temper justice with mercy" by the pardon of those that you will pardon them. ! remain most respectfully.
 s. l.. Brewer.
 Solicitor Fifth Judicial Circuit
 In addition to the recommendation of Judge Denson and Solicitor Brewer, the application for clemency was endorsed by several hundred citizens of Fillmore County.
 Howard Reaches MonteomeSy. Luke Williams of Wetumpka, one of the lawyers who represented the lynchers; Col. Willis Brewer, candids te for Con. gress from the Elnfbre County district, and other friends of George Howard. were at the union railway station yes- terday evening to meet him. The train reached the depot at o'clock, and How ard emerged from the day coach bearing several bundles under his arms. He is about 40 years oli, arl his skin Is tam ned from outdoof work at the convict camp. He had discarded the striped clothes of those who feel the sullen sheckles of the law. and wore black alpaca coat, checked trousers. negligee shirt and low-crowned felt hat.
 Towards friends awaited him at the exit gate of the car shed. MT. Williams was the first to greet him. The cx-con- vict had never met Colonel Brewer be- fcre Hello, George" cried MT. Williams. warmly shaking his hand So glad to see you looking well. old man." Then. turning to Colonel Brewer. This is Colonel Brewer, George-Mr. Howard-to whom you are greatly. greatly indebted" T thank you. Colonel Brewer" Howard began, when Colonel Brewer interrupted him. "I did no more than my duty" said Colonel Brewer. All of your friends | worked for you and l did no more than | they I told your wife not long ago that | I would have you out in two weeks" Then Colonel Brewer and Howard walk | ed toward waiting carriage, while MT. | Williams fingered behind. The people of Fillmore County" said | MT. Williams, believe that John Thomas | the extent Of Robin | offense and that they lynched | the negro, believing that he had stood | at Thomas's door and threatened his life. They think If any one should suffer it should be Thomas, and he will probably | serve out his sentence" As George Howard leaned back on the l soft cushions of modern carriage oppo- site his friends. Colonel Brewer and MT. l Williams. his face was the picture of | happiness. From the gloomy walls of an | Alabama convict camp to the weli-fur- | nished room of Montgomery hotel Is | long cry but George Howard made 1t in | a day, and he slept last night tn differ | ent sort of bed from those furnished con- | victs. Che customer tells the other; One Ham sells another. Have you used the Partridge Brande 2t J. M. McCool. Phone GOT.