The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1903-08-21
B GIVES Y ]! HIS e b
: for ts { pard don1ing F:lstc hor Lott but
Governor z I1ny. HeyWard Declines s. M
TO ANSWER Any CRITIIUjTIisIM,,s (jIB
la!e.s Ho Was s1AI'l Moved to az he Did
on Account Y tho ADVICE SsiS:
OF Prominent: 81 s.s s5s3 !
People.

Tue State ednesday Mr.. 6 u. II ST
B.oatwright of Ridge Spring criticised {
the governor for, his action. In pardon. !. I:
Ing Fletcher Lott who was convicted q,
OF murder In Saluda county !; iii 9O2.. IS; ~
MIR. Boatwrlght charges that! :: ov.lf
HeyWard's action in this case Is round ~:
~ ly..condemned by ;tbe best citizens OF
our town and county.n Mr. Boat. q
wright goes on to say that Lott walk !.
ed mile after having had a difIiculty5'
with tho man he afterwards killed ~
got his shot gun, walked back tos the
house and deliberately fired upon the
murdered man. s
The people Of this communicative
writes, cannot see how the governor
could parcon this negro without max Il
Ing inquiry Of the community where
the murder took place. Your CORES.
pondent cannot find man who knew
anything about a petition being cir
culated III Lofts behalf" ina
THE GOVERNORS REASON.
The State, says Gov. Hayward de-se
olined to talk Of the matter Wednes-
day, but at the. suggestion of his
friends the following reasons sswere
made pubic-the reasons which, ac-
ccording TO the constitution, must be
inscribed on the records to be submit.
ted to the general assembly next year:
Fletcher Lott-Murder, with sssre-
commcndaGion to mercy; Saluda
county, May term OF court of general
sessions, 1900, before Judge w. o.
Benet. The petition for the pardon s
was signed by @. B. Latfitte, former {
intendent; A. r. Williams, w. IT. Il:
Durham, former wardens; +. .NicbSii:-,lis5
son, former clerk of town counoii OF
Ridge Spring, where the. crime was
committed. The petitic.i sets forth
that Fletcher Lott was charged at, the
May term, Saluda county, 1900, for 4
killing Till Ar66imus. The petition
sets forth further that at the time of !:
said killing they were officials in the
town of Ridge Spring, and were famil-
lar with the facts and circumstances
OF said killing; that the defendant,
FLETCHER Lott, was horribly cut across
the face and neck before the fatal shot
was fired, and under all the circum-
stances believe that he has been sufIl IS
GENTLY punished and earnestly recc M
mend the exercise of the parloning&
power, and recommend that; the 4 par 4
don be granted at once: 9sS
In addition to the peti ionioI these
toYnn nthsials, H HOp.sB c. Caugh ghInaIl n
road cnrhmi ssioIle iii end oTsinE
The petiti ion I've
petition
time and know him TO be paacea BE q
quiet and hard working am familiar
with: the above case and join in theFs
above Petition" Fl ~
Z B. W: Crouch; Esq, makes the fol- d
lowing statement: II was clerk OF q
court for Saluda county when Fletcher
Lott was. tried at the May term Of L
court, 1900, for the killing Of Till Arti-
mus and made the testimony in that
case. Fletcher Lott was convicted OF 4
murder with Il recommendation to
mercy and sentenced to life imprison- T.
ment In the State penitentiary. In my
opionion he has been punished sufIi-
clently and / earnestly recommend
that yonr eXcellency exercise your par
doning power in his behalf. He was
dangerously cut in the face and neck
before, according to the testimony of
some of the witnesses, the fatal shot
was fired, and more cases have gone
free"
Hon. J. W. Thurmond, circuit
solicitor, made two recommendations
as follows: i recommend the pardon
in this case, the only homicide case in
which I have ever favored pardon. &:
See reasons on petition signed by the
intendant and wardens OF Ridge
Spring."
He further recommends: I am sat-
lsfied that the law has been vindicated
In this case. Have considered the petit
tion and the facts OF the case very
carefully, and feel that it is my duty
that the prayer Of the petitioners be
granted. Fletcher Lott was badly cut
in the combat that resulted in the
death OF Till Artimus, and had good
reputation for peace and ORDER"
Hon. w. G. Benet, presiding judge,
makes the following endorsements: II
concur with the solicitor"
Pardon granted Aug. 10, 1903.
Wholesale Poisoning.