Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-03-04
A GEORGETOWN THE KENNEDY CASE

A GEORGETOWN THE KENNEDY CASE
Having heard that the petition
which was presented to Gov. MOnta-
que on the 18th of February last, ask
ing a respite for Johu Kennedy, and
which was signed by nearly all of the
clergy of this city has not been under.
stood, l wish now to inform all who
are interested in the subject, just how
that petition happened to be drawn,
signed, and presented to the Governor.
In the afternoon of the 10th, it became
known here that the Supreme Court
had decided that there was no ire.
gularity in the proceedings under
which Kennedy was to be hanged,
and it was the general opinion that
the execution would take place early
the following Friday morning. l had
been on the street and whilst there.
was approached by several gentlemen
of whom, as now recoIlect, were the
Rev. Mr.. Hullihen, of Trinity Epis
copal church, Mr.. ]. Fred Effinger,
Mr.. J. w. Splitter, the Hon. Edward
Echols, and possibly some others, who
having heard of the action of the Su-
preme Court. discussed with me as to
whether there was anything that
could now be done whereby the boy g
life might be saved. All seemed very
earnest and very anxious. To all to
whom talked that afternoon, l held
out no hope; there was but one day
left in which to do anything, and
frankly stated that had done all that
l believed could do, and from my
view there was now no opportunity to
save his life. Later in the afternoon
in the Beverly Club several gentlemen
were discussing the impending execu-
ton, when Dr.. Carter Berkeley re-
marked that he believed if all of the
ministers of the city would unite in a
request to Gov. Montague asking a
respite, or probably be said commuta-
tion, be thought it would have great
weight. but nobody proposed to have
them do SO, to get up any paper, VI
get their signatures. This was about
all that TRANSFERRED at the Club. About
half past six O'Clock l started home
with the hlde0usness of the execution
heavily upon my mind.
stopped in my Office in the Spectator
building and there began talking
with Mr.. A. s Morton, my associ-
ate on the paper. He asked me if there
was not still something that could be
done. l had been imp essed with the
idea advanced by DR.. berkeley and
.old Mr.. Morton of it, but said I could
only ask for respite, that never in.
tended signing or sending any more
petitions to the Governor for commu.
tatlon, and that as for myself l want
I'd to go totally and forever out of the
petition business. Mr.. Morton, how
aver, said that il would prepare a Pc
,ltion of the kind had indicated, be
would himself 60 and see the minis
'ers OF the town, and if be could pro.
cure their names, would 90 to Rich
nond and personally present the pc.
,ltion to the Governor. l consented,
and then and there framed petition
which Mr.. Morton afterwards put in
type, and he went to see the clergy
men. About 10 0 clock that night Mr..
Morton came to my house with the
signatures of all of the ministers whom
ne had been able to find. except that of
the Rev. Mr.. Wood of the Baptist
church, who had not signed, not
because he was not in hearty accord
with any effort to save the life OF the
boy, but because of the phraseology of
,he petition. Mr.. Wood was the
spiritual adviser of Kennedy, and 1
1eemed it most important to have his
signature. so called him up over the
,hOne late that night and soon found
lis difficulty. Mr.. Morton then went
20 Mr.. Woods house, and Mr.. Wood
With some slight modification of the
'aper as to him, which he wrote below
he names of the other signers, added |
lis name, and Mr.. Morton that night
vent to Richmond with the paper, and |
he next day presented it to Governor
who by virtue thereof, |
granted the prisoner a 80 days respite.
l learn that there are various rumors |
float with reference to that paper |
which are calculated to do the persons |
with it harm, as we'll as
arm persons who had no connection |
With it. l have heard a report which |
3 to the effect that the paper was
hatched'' in the Beverly Club, and |
hat it was gotten up to win bets on
he hanging, made by members of the
Tub, and that the ministers whose
ames were signed to it were duped
ato signing it by not knowing of it's
and its real purport.
This in substance, if not in words, is
hat l have learned has been circulat-
d in town about it. Nothing could
9 more untrue. The facts are that
o persons save Mr.. Morton and my
IF knew that the paper had been
rawn until he presented it to the
ergymen for their signatures. No
ember of the Beverly Club, except
yself, ever saw it, none of them ever
lard of its real contents until long
ter its mission was performed. I'll
I'd nothing to do with any bet made
the Beverly Club or elsewhere, L
aver heard of bet of the kind being
ade in the Beverly Club, and do not {
'lieve that one of that kind was ever
ade there. There was nothing in s
9 paper intended to deceive, there '
Is nothing about it that could have q
ceived any one, and do not believe
med with more purity of intention e
sincerity of purpose. The other S
'ries in regard to the paper I will Fl
t detail, they are as baseless as the o
e mentioned, and | leave them to n
Dir fate. 8
write this simply to place the min
ers. who l believe were moved by =,
rciful impulse, in their proper light. 8
to inform them and the public Of e
real facts as to the preparation of :
petition, and if there be any 4
ense in making such an effort as I
. Morton and myself made in pro-
ing their signatures for the purpose
espite, we are willing to abide its
sequences. R. s. TURK.