The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-24
WIFE PLEADS FOR
 HUSBANDS LIFE
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 sent to the board what she had in the way of argument, Mrs. Duncan opened her talk. She told of the fact that eight of the grand jurors who had indicted her husband and signed a petition for his pardon, and that several hundred citi- zens had asked the same thing, which lists of names she presented for exam ination. She placed much confidence in the letter of Mrs. KirAley, however, as tending to show that her husband was not guilty. This letter was read by the members of the board. It was as fol- lows, addressed to the governor:
 'In behalf of Frank Duncan who is to be hanged the 18th, for the supposed murder of my beloved husband, George w. Kirkley March 27, 1900 I feel it my duty as Christian woman to tell your honor my husbands statement was this: the man Frank Duncan that was with him did not do the shooting, and that is all I can say.'
 The letter was signed by Mrs. George w Kirkley and witnessed by George P. Jones. Mrs. Kirkley's residence is given as No. 1929 North Sixteenth street. The letter was written in masculine hand and signed by Mrs. Kirkley in trembling and rather broken hand
 PitlfuI Scene.
 Mrs. Duncan then presented "a number of other letters, one from N B. Gwinn, who had been a member of the trial jury, saying that he wished to see Duncan saved from the gallows and that he was one of the men who stood out for, no heavier punishment khan life imprison- ment.
 She said that Dunoar*s poor old mother was dying almost and had not been told that her son was going to be hanged until the last few days. From time to time as she was talking her body would be shaken with sobs and tears would fall like rain down her cheeks. Surely no party of men ever had & more pitiful case to deal with Not one of them but believed the penalty attached to the case was just and all felt that the law de- manded the death sentence. But every man of them stood with barred head be- fore the persistent love and energy of this woman. Her tears were like sharp pointed knives in their hearts and it would be a very. safe guess that every one would have given much if he had been able to have given her some hope.
 After her story was told and she had resumed her seat, Attorney-General Will son saids '~What shall we do, decide at once or take the case under advisement? ?' Colonel SowelI thought the latter course best ana 6Fs nlCDaVlQ dgreeQ- NrS. Duncan was then asked to retire and call up the capitol by phone at o'clock. As she walked out she called Secretary of State McDavid to speak to him privately. It was later learned that she plead with him. as he was a Birmingham man, to help her in every way he could and to do something to influence a favorable de- cision if he saw any, way to do so.
 No Interference.
 After the members of the board were left alone tho evidence was gone over and within half an hour the announce ment was made that there would be m favorable recommendation, the language of the report to the governor being:
 Many citizens have petitioned for a commutation of this mans sentence and q few letters have been presented for lour consideration. After carefully con- sidering all of it we do not find sufficient evidence to authorize us to recommend that the verdict of the court be interfer- red with. We. therefore, decline to ma <e favorable recommendation
 This was signed by all the members ot fhe board in their official capacity.
 Governor Not Talking.
 The last man seen was the acting gov ernor. Aftcl leaving the presence of the pardoning board Mrs. GuDcan had gone in to make a, last plea to hii.- She had implored him by all he held sacred to thelp her, and then gone only few yards sbeiow the capitol building to await the