The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1904-03-28
SISTER MAKES
PLEA FOR MERCY
Begs That ]. W. ShOckIey be
Given a Chance,
SPEAKS OF HIS EARLY LIFE
PRESENTS A TESTIMONIAL OF
PREVIOUS CHARACTER.

ERCY for James Mcpherson
wi ShockIey, confessed slayer Of
Amasa L Gleason and Thomas
Brighton, the street car men. is earn
estIy besought by his sister. Mrs.
Eliza Poe. in a letter to The Herald.
In words which ring with anguish she
appeals to fathers. mothers. sisters and
brothers to show him compassion. She
begs that those who administer the
laws may temper justice with mercy.
The letter, which was received last
evening, is as follows:
Belle. No. March q, 1901,
Editor salt Lake Herald:
Dear Sir-I send you this letter-an ap-
peal 10 you and the people OF Titan Tor
Mcpherson Shockley. Kind friends ana
neighbors have written you on the sub
ject. but they have not told you-they
cannot tell you-what my parents, my
sister and myself are suffering. Please
publish this and the enclosed appeal Tor
his srief-stricken family. and as II Is a
case of life and death. humbly beg OF
you to publish IL immediately
Appeal For Brother.
People of Utah: I take this. the only
way possible. TO address you, and would
to God i could take each Of YOU by the
hand while Z appeal TO YOU for mercy IN
behalf of my poor. errlng. misguided
brother. James Mcpherson Shockley-
Fathers. who have your sons with you
possibly they have escaped the tempta-
tons. the snares and the pitfalls Of the
world; God grant it may be SO. Pause for
a moment and think OF this father here
in Missouri, whose only son is at your
mercy.R This father strOve both by eX-
ample and precept TO guide his son IN
But the boy wandered away from home
and its blessed influence and strayed
from the paths of right.
Mothers. who day by day see your sons
around you and can lie down at night
and know that they are safe from harm,
think of this mother whose only son.
though stained with sin, is still the dearly
beloved child. She still feels for him that
mother-iOve. a love that abideS and en-
I dures. than which there Is no greater,
and which none but mothers can IullN
| realize.
Each and all who have a brother know
what my sister and I feel at this time.
he is young and there is a hope that il
\ his life is spared he may. by right living
/ in the future. atone for his sins
May God in his infinite wisdom move
\ your hearts with compassion. and may
! he put il into the minds Of those who
! have the administration OF your laws IN
/ their power 10 temper justice with mercy,
| is the prayer Of his heart-brOken sister,
Accompanying the letter is the fol-
/ lowing:
Belle. No. March "A. 1904.
/ We. the undersigned, desire to make a
few statements relative 10 James Nc
PheTsOn Shocloley, whom you have IN Gus
! tody-
! 4 statement written ard signed by Rev.
G. n. Logan DIR. J. NJ Owens and G. D.
| Underwood cashier of Belle bank. has
already been published in salt Lake City
/ That statement gave a sketch Of his
family and of the high esteem In which
they are held here. and in this statement
We shall speak only Of the young man
| himself.
We do not seek to justify his crime
but we think that a wrong impression
has been made In the minds of the people
and we sincerely desire to let you know
the truth in the matter We have lived
neighbOrs to his parents since his early
I childhood and can truthtuily make tins
following statements:
As child he was bright and quick "a
learn. and as he grew up he was Ia
| VOrite with his teachers. SchOOlmates and
companions At school his department
as shown by reports given him by nj:
/ teacher. was good. He was never VIC
ious boy. and while he sometimes engaged
in boyish pranks or tricks, even these
I were of such a nature as to exhibit trait;
common TO boys. and were not in tn
least indicative Of inherent wlckedness o.
| crime.
knowing these to be facts. we think Il
Justly due. not only his family, but thu
young man himself to let il be known Il
the people Of your state, and we senC
! this. kindly asking you TO publish IN
! same in your paper, and as If Is a cas-
of life and death, and as his trial come!
you to publish it at your very earlies
/ convenience.
, Most sincerely yours.