The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-03-18
YOUNG sToKLEy,s PARDON.
Inside story of a Once Famous Case.
From the Philadelphia Times.

Inside story of Once Famous Case.
From the Philadelphia Times.
Few Philadelphians of the younger
eneration-comparati few, in fact
of any generation-know that eX- May
or Stokley, who died a few days ago,
had son. who in 1870 was convicted
of murder in the first degree in Mime
sofia. The homicide was committed in
Duluth, the Zenith City of the Great
Unsalted Seas. The Northern Pacific
Railroad was under construction. 1t
was projected and financed by jay
Cooke, then the leading banker of
Philadelphia and one of the leading
bankers of the world. The Northern
Pacific was practically a Philadelphia
enterprise. Many Philadelphians, in
Guiding young Thomas H. Stokley,
went to Minpesota to help build 1t.
They went in a body, with the expec-
tation, if not the promise, of being en-
ployed as civil engineers, bridge build
ers, surveyors, chainmen, timekeepers,
clerks and what not. When they reach
ed Duluth at the head of Lake Su-
perior, and the Eastern terminus of
the railroad they did not find the EN-
ployment they expected. The Eldora-
do they were looking for was not there.
many of them had been schooled in
the Philadelphia Volunteer Fire De-
partment. They had run wild de ma
chine" and were ready to fight on the
slightest provocation, or with no prov
ocation They got to drinking and I'M
dertook to run the town. The citizens
objected, and many fights ensued. One
day riotng was general over the city
and a young resident named Northrop
was stabbed to death. IT was SAID
that he was taking no part in the at
trays, but was passing quietly by
group of the Philadelphians, when one
of them sprang out and plunged dirk
into his heart.
Young Stokley was accused of the
crime He was indicted for murder in
the first degree and put upon his trial.
In spite of all the legal ability and
skill. that money and political influ-
ence could command he was convict
ed. The penalty was fixed at life inn
prisonment, and he was sent to Still
water to undergo his punishment.
His friends never believed him
guilty In physique Tom Stokley did
not resemble his father in the slight
est degreee. He was short and slight
of build thin-chested, narrow-should-
cred and hatchet-faced. His nose was
long and thin, his eyes close together.
small and dark. His appearance was
insignificant and rather effeminate,
but he was said to be strong and wiry
and not averse to a fight
In Philadelphia, Mayor Daniel M.
Fox, Democrat was nearing the end
of his term. Mr.. Fox, was personally
very highly esteemed, but his admin
istration had become so unpopular
that it was certain he would be sue
ceeded by a Republican, and public
sentiment pointed almost unanimously
to William S. Stokley as the man. The
conviction and sentence of his son,
though kept as quiet as possible here,
were not only terrible blow to him
and his friends for personal reasons,
but were considered likely to endan-
ger his political future. The boy must
be pardoned. Charles O'Neill, for many
years a member of Congress from the
Second district of Philadelphia, was
selected to bring it about. He not only
knew the then Governor of Minnesota,
but they were personal friends. Mr..
ONeill was a persuasive talker and
an untiring worker. Armed with the
strongest letters that the most in
fuential men in Philadelphia could
write he went to Minnesota. He car
ried with him present of $1,000 to
the elder Northrop, which he gave
with such tact that 1t was accepted.
He told Mr.. Northrop that Mr.. Stok-
y,
position his son was in deeply SYM
pathized with the father of the dead
boy.
"He," said Mr.. O'Nen, lis rich,
while you are poor, and he has sent
you this present, not with the hope of
lessening your sorrow, but as token
of his sympathy and a slight compen-
sation for the loss of your sons serv-
ices
Mr.. O'Neill got petition for young
Stokleys pardon, signed by hundreds
of citizens of Minnesota, including
many of the jurors who tried him, and
the father of the murdered man. This
with his letters, he presented to the
Governor, with the best arguments he
could command and the strongest per-
sonal appeal. But the Governor was
obdurate, and positively and finally
refused to act Mr.. O'Neill returned
to Philadelphia, defeated and discour-
aged.
Young Stokley was pardoned the fol-
lowing year.
The inside facts of how this was
brought about were known only to
four persons. Mr.. Stokley himself was
ignorant of them to the day of his
death. They are published here now
for the first time. The four persons
were:
ThomaS a. Scott, then vice president
and general manager of the Pennsylva-
MA Railroad Company.
Alexander T.. Mcclure, practicing
lawyer Republican politician of ma
tional fame with great influence in the
state. and SCOTS most intimate friend.
John w. Gcary, Governor of Penn
syivania, and
Horace Austin, Governor of Mime
sofa.
Time had passed since Mr. O'Neilrs
unsucce saful mission to Minnesota IT
was October, 1871. Mr.. Stokley had
Just been elected Mayor of Philadel-
following january. His friends felt
that MS son must be pardoned before
that event. / believe there was then
no personal acquaintance between
Stokley ano Mcclure, but A. Wilson
Henszey then a state senator repre-
sentirg the Second Philadelphia dis
trict, and close friend of Stokley,
visited Mcclure, laid the case before
him and said:
This boy must be pardo1e.i Eefore
Stokley is inaugurated If anybody
can accomplish it yen can. Will you
do it?"
replied:
I'm try
Scott. while then nominauy vice
president, was really the controliing
mind II the Pennsylvania Railroad