The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11
Che Governor on CridI A Dream--By "darry Lorrequer," Montgomery: Ala.

sidU of it, including the judge who tried her husband and the solicitor who prosecuted him, accompanied by many letters, directly and indirectly inform ing me what . rich, influential ana prominent man MT. A. was and how much 1t would inure to my ambitious political aspirations to pardon him. said, NO, madam. Your husband, with out provocation, in cold blood, killed his fellowman. He trampled under-foot the laws of God and of his country and
 because he was rich and powerful and his victim poor, he thought he could buy out the law and go unwhipped of justice. He was tried by a brave and painstaking judge and was convicted of murder. I admit to grant this par don would be of worldly benefit to me. but I must remember that 1t Is sa- cred trust have in charge. and can not, must not, issue Q pardon to your husband or in any manner interfere | with the execution of the law
 'The next was Mrs. B. Her husband, | a kindly disposed man but of quick temper. had in a sudden encounter kill | ed his antagonist. He was good hus- | band, father and citizen. but reserved | and unsocial. which made him unpopu- lar in the community in which he lived. He was tried for manslaughter con-
 victed and sentenced to the penitentary for ten years. An examination of the evidence satisfying me that there were grave doubts if he was to blanc in
 bringing on the difficulty, I gave him, what the jury did not, the benefit Of the doubt, and, turning to her. said:
 Madam, 1t Is doubtful if your husband ought ever to have been convicted. He has been more than sufficiently punish . Q
 'sThe next was Mrs. c. In this case.
 her husband had burglarized a dwell- ing house in the dead hour of night, had been caught with the stolen goods in his hands and a pistol in his pocket,
 ready armed to commit murder if detected in the perpetration of his crime He was given fair trial and
 on conviction was sentenced by the judge to only five years in the peni-
 tentiary said. Madam your hus-
 band was justly convicted. he is bad.
 dangerous citizen. I have no sympathy
 whatever to indulge in this case and
 pardon is emphatically refused.
 The fourth and last was Mrs. D.
 She was a poor but intelligent woman and of unmistakable refinement. Her
 husband was a we'll disposed man, but
 slave to the demon drink. In a drunken frenzy. crazed by liquor. he
 had struck and almost scalped her.
 He was tried by the same judge, who had given the burglar a five years sem tence, but at the time of his trial the
 entire community was aroused. woman
 hood had been outraged. the judge, l regret to say, with his ear close to the ground had caught the rumble of public sentiment and on conviction of the man, rendered sentence on him of imprison- l. fxy years. I too felt indignant at the great injury done her and said No. l cannot interfere in this matter. the scar on your head tells a fearfully sad tale and twenty months Imprisonment
 for the man who inflicted 1t, is short enough"
 Twenty monthss merciful heavens! Governor, did you say twenty months2 Why the sentence was for twenty long years. He has already been in the penitentiary for more than twen- ty months. It is true he struck me, but think of the crying in- justice of sending him to the peniten- tiary for twenty years and depriving
 me and his children of his help. during
 all that time. for one blow and that
 given when he was crazy with drink. If he had killed man, under the same circumstances, his sentence would not
 have been SO long. The wrong done
 by my husband was more against
 me than against the State. I have really and truly forgiven him and ask you to pardon him.
 Why madam said, there must be mistake about this. I know men are fallible and we. that are 'drest in a little brief authority are very apt to act the part or the angry ape and play fantastic tricks, but to send your husband to prison for twenty years for putting that scar on your. forehead Is a piece of judicial tyranny. It re- minds me, well, never mind what it reminds me of. 1t does not concern you. Where Is your husbands attor- ney? the other ladies who come here for pardons were accompanied by their solicitors He had none, ne pleaded guilty Where Is your pe- titionT She said. I have none. I asked good many men to sign a De- tition, but they said No! let the brute stay in prison. he is where he be- longs,' and yet Governor know that many of these men had by their con- duct inflicted wounds on the hearts Of their pure and faithful wives. deen. CT than mine. wounds which will last until the heart ceases to beat and the eyes are closed in death; they had stained their souls with sin which will last until the stars are plotted out and the Armament furled-which will last forever end forever unless effaced by true repentance and the mercy of God The wound you see on my forehead