The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-06-07
PARDON OF MURROW
Greensboro Record Criticizes
the Governors Action.
The High Point Enterprise and Monroe Journal
Defend the Governor, and the Record
Has R.i9indsr.

udS w JlUucIs
The pardon of young Murrow of Gull
ford county, has been the subject Of
much criticism. The case was a fragrant
one where the prisoner had been adjudged
guilty of carnally knowing a female child
under fourteen years of age. He was sen
fenced to seven years on the county roads.
The Governor gave out as his reasons for
the pardon the following statement:
THE prisoner is pardoned at the re-
quest of more than three thousand citi-
zens of Guilford and Randolph counties
and upon the certificate of physicians
that his health has been greatly impaired
by imprisonment, and that longer con-
finement will result in his death. The
doctor makes affidavit that prisoner is
a wreck; that he has disease of the heart
which incapacitates him from work, the
heart being greatly enlarged. He has
become almost entirely blind in one eye,
while the vision in the other eye is
greatly impaired. The crime with which
he stands convicted is horrible one and
justly deserves the severest punishment,
but it is not believed that either justice
or public opinion requires the death pen
atty in this case and it appears to be
certain that longer confinement will lead
to this result. 1t also appears that the
offence committed by prisoner was done
several years before his indictment, and
that he was not indicted until after he
had married. His conviction and impris-
onment have brought to wreck his young
and innocent wife, who from a strong,
heal hos e
fering until she weighs today only eighty
pounds. 1t seems to me In view of all
the facts and circumstances that justice
has been met and the hour for mercy
has come
Commenting on the pardon, the Green's
boro Record had the following editorial:
No one who has kept informed was the
least surprised when it was announced
that Governor Aycock had pardoned Ros-
eOe Murrow, convicted and sentenced to
seven years on the roads for most helm
Gus offense. He has served almost two
years. We say the well informed were
no. surprised, for Governor Aycock's rec
ord in the pardoning line has distanced
that of Governor Russell, who was abused
world without end. His limit viii be
reached when no more applications are
nor files his reasons. here they are:
1.-THE Record then quotes in full the
reasons printed above-Editor.1
The ground for a pardon some time
ago was the health of his wife; we
were led to believe she was dying by
inches and could not live. She seems to
be alive yet. Further, when this peti.
ton was hled she was visiting in James.
town. 1t was said she was there con.
sulting q physician. AS to the Illness and
health of the prisoner, time viii show
The people Of this county thirst for nc
mans blood, but they do want justice
This was a case where the ruined or
phan girl was entitled to some consid-
Grafton. The prosecution told Governor
Aycock that they were not bent on keep
ing Murrow on the road; that if the de-
fence would make some provision fol
the girl they would be content; they pro
posed that this money be placed in the
hands Of the clerk of the court or any
guardian with stipulations that not one
cent of it was to be used except for hel
and her child The sentence Of Judge
shaw, before whom the case was tried
was that he could pay a fine of $4,000
81 800 of it go to the girl, or go to ths
girl, or go to the roads for seven years
Time was allowed him to decide. He
said he would go to the roads for life
rather than pay her a cent? As sooI
as the case ended it was predicted what
would be the policy of the defense
pardon. He has got it and got it just
as he intended, without paying a cent
to the girl he wronged. If his health
was so bad he would have been willing
to have paid something to the woman
he thought more of his money than lax
did of his health. He has pulled the WOO
over the head of the Governor and i
no doubt now laughing in his seeve. The
people of this community feel they have
been outraged and they will not be slew
TO forget it. They do not thirst fol
vengeance but they love Justice"
Thereupon the High Point Enterprise
expressed its views as follows:
"Those who think that Governor Ay
cock exercises the pardoning power too
freely are about as numerous as those
who say that he talks education too much
In looking over some of the reports o.
Governor Vance and Governor Jarvis We
find that they too had to do similar work
to that of Governor Aycock and did il
very freely. We doubt seriously if the
proportion OF pardoning now is as large al
it was under Governor Vance In those
days matters of an executive nature were
not talked so much as now and there were
scores OF pardons issued of which the
public knew nothing. All just ones in the
light OF the facts, we believe. 1t is very
easy to criticise especially ON matters o
this nature, but it seems that the Govern
or would have better opportunity O
judging such things with the evidenc,
before him, than the average critic VIII,
knows only what he hears from his neigh
Dor who may be prejudiced one way o.
another. We forget that it is as mucl
the duty of a Governor to interfere some
times, as it is for him to keep his hand
off. The Constitution gives him thi
power this duty. and it is incumbent upol
him to exercise it. Not that every sen
tence comes to him for final hearing
but it may be brought to him. TIL