Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1904-02-26
Friday. February rs, 1904
RESPITE FOR JOHN KENNEDY.

Undue credit has been given the
SPECTATOR in it's efforts to obtain
from the Governor of Virginia com
mutation of the sentence OF John
Kennedy from death, to life in the
penitentiary. The SPECTATOR as such
has made no fight, its sole effort has
been prompted by the desire OF the
great masses Of the people OF the
county whose wishes are always re-
spected by the SPECTATOR, and who
do not allow themselves to be carried
away by sentiment, but whose voice
when raised In behalf of any issue
means what it says. Born and reared
in this county, as we have been, and
being intimately associated with the
people who have made it the greatest
county In the State, we know what
our people mean when they speak,
and IL there be those who cannot I'm.
derstand them 1t Is because they are
not of them, or have not been long
enough amongst them to know that
they do not act from impulse on any
grave question. The people of this
county have high sense OF justice,
they are never afraid to punish when
they feel that it Is right to do 80, even
to death, but on the other hand they
are generous. They are not willing to
hold youth to the same account as
mature manhood, they are not willing
to punish the ignorant with that &C.
verify that they mete to the Intelligent.
II one man has been unfortunate and
has not had moral training, and an
other has been fortunate and has, they
are more ready and willing to forgive
the ignorant one than the one who
knew better, but still had sinned.
In the ease of John Kennedy this
was the feeling of thousands Of our
people, and we knew 1t. The terrible
weather which prevailed prevented
many of these people from an oppor-
tunity to sign petition for commu
tation, SO we did interest ourselves in
this boy behalf, but not for self glo-
rification nor for profit, but to serve
the people of this county in a way we
knew they desired, but which they
themselves were powerless to perform.
Never since liberty dawned upon the
land has there been moment when
the generous impulses Of the people Of
Augusta could be quelled if there
were occasion for the expression of
them, and whilst John Kennedy Was
unknown to them, they had heard
that an ignorant, friendless boy had
committed crime and had been SEN
fenced therefor, who. were he man,
they would have left to his fate, their
high sense of justice interviewed and
they who could do 30 asked the Gov.
ernor to extend mercy. 1t was not the
SAECTAToR that did this, it was the
people of Augusta whose voice Was
raised In mercy and charity, and to
save the county the terrible spectacle
of public hanging.
We knew the people of this county
did not want another hanging added
to the list. But three have occurred
in the county under judicial process,
SO far as we have learned, and nobody
is proud Of these, certainly there are
none who would be proud Of hanging
q boy Punishment Is one thing, ven
geance is another, and no people know
this better than those who compose
the manhood and womanhood of Au
Rusta county. There are some, we
know, who are willing to let the SEN
tence be carried out, but we have
heard of none, and we hope none live
who clamOr for this boys life.