The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-12
MAY \ Y FREE ::
JACKSON.
His Mother still Here 10 See
the Governor.
THE STORY OF Of HIS HIS: CRIME.
The Mans Acconp;ice Only Given
Five Years--The Killing Done in
Heat Of Passion and Was Not
Premedltaled.
THE STORY OF Of: HIS I: CRIME

The aged mother OF John jackson, the
Washington county white man sentenced
10 the pertentiary for life for conspiracy
and murder Is still In the city, and VIII
endeavUr 10 SEQ Governor Montague ai'u
plead for the pardon OF her son. Inc nc
casc is one that appeals powerfully 70
those who know the story Of the crime
and the punishment ,of the two men jointly
indicted for tho Killing, and as q conse-
ouenccl OF the sympathy felt for the man
many OF the court officials and proml-
nent men OF Southwest Virginia have
united In the petition for pardon.
Y Hon. Preston W. Campbell, OF Abing-
don, who was counsel for Samuel Denni-
son, the man Jointly Indicted for the
crime, which was the killing Of wat
Leonard on the road near Bristol In 1897,
is In the city, and yesterday gave q re-
porter for Tho Tlmes-Dlspatch an a (,
count OF the case. He Is not here IN
behalf OF Jackson. and is not among
those enlisted in the effort 70 secure
the mans pardon. though he, too, THINKS
That the Governor would not err In grant
Ing clemency 10 this man.. whose associate
In crime has served his five year SEN
,encc and been free for a year, while
jackson must drag out his days IN prison.
leaving his invalid and almost helpless
ana hopeless wife at home and his aged
mother grleved at the hard fate OF the
son. A2 y. y , !. !, =.
According to Mr. Camphell's rccoll"c-
itdon OF the testimony In the case. sam
Dennison and Wat Leonard ha q NJ ssrifl
.n,,arre, in Bristol the day OF the killing,
growing out OF the attentions tofs Denhl-
son to young woman who lived 81 at
Leonardo homer Jackson did not flgure
il he quarrel at all. and had no interest
in The matter save as a friend ci Denni-
sons. That evening they started home
ward along a country road. driving
wagon. On the way they were overtaK IKE
BY Leonard and his brother. also IN .. -
wagon. The quarrel OF the afternoon was
resumed By Dennlscn and Leonard, anu
4 fmally Jackson, Dennison's friend, De-
- 49, {, IN Vowed in personal encounter
wfth Leonard. the brother OF Leonard
yand Dennson looking on, but taking no
mart. In the fight Jackson drew Bar
low knife and stuck Wat Leonard IN the
heart. killing him. W The killing was ~
the heat of passion and BY 5Jackson,t"n !,
had ~ motive for murder, being merely
4 friend OF Dennison. with whom Leonard
hn d nuarreled. The strongest testimony
} against the two men was that OF tne f."o
women at a spring along the roaosloe'
who testified to having heard -JaE en- s,N
saw. Nv ell see Eli "a lSA
,en or words to that effect. me Two
non were indicted jointly for conspiracy
TO murder Leonard. They elected TO I. oe
tried lsepnrately. ackson was trlea ITS :.
md The Jury brought in verdict " OF !,
lilly az murder In the first degree ana
death "a the penalty, Meanwhile, pc
fore the case had been finally disposed, or
nv the higher courts, Dennison was trleo'
Mfr Campbell defending him. he was
convicted OF manslauehter ana gwen
term OF five renr- IN me rrn or1sI,
,rha case ~ Jackson was taken to the
Court Of Appeals, which found no error
and would not Interfere with the verdict
Tho case went up on the record alone
and the bench merely passed upon tnh'.
After FDennison had been given Z but hve
years, though indicted Jointly with JACK jag,
son for the same crime. Governor ly!er
COMMITTED the sentence OF JacksonI1o 5111 rs
imprisonment The ;gallows had been
erected In the Jail yard and the day OF
doom was nigx when the respite came
Then the Dennison verdict was announced
and the Governor did not deem It tight to
hang one man and let the other 20 WITH
a B, fve-year term, and so committed the
sentence OF jackson to imprisonment.
Jackson is said to have been simple
countryman OF good character previous to
this crime. The killing was apparently
done in the course OF fight, and not with
generalization
Jackson was defended by Colonel John
G. Summers and D.. F. Bailey, while
Commemorative Attorney p ], Daven-
mort was assisted in the prosecution by
Congressman William F. Rhea and VS..
Hamilton
There are many who think the man
should he granted a conditional pardon
L.. -. or soo CT tod
nennison has served his term and been
frec yenr or more, 153't }8ts ~ lA $50