The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1905-07-28
PLEA FOR MERCY
IN TAYLOR CASE
Petition Presented by 500 Women TO
the PaFdOnins Board.

The following is the full text of the
petition for mercy presented to the
Board Of Pardons last week in the Tay-
lor case, and which was opposed in a
legal argument by B. S. Liddon, and
turned down by the board
To His Excellency, N. B. Broward,
Governor, and the Honorable Board
of Pardons, of the State of Florida:
We, the undersigned wives, mothers
and daughters. of the State of Florida,
respectfully represent, that we are
more closely and continuously identified
with the homes and children of the
State than any other class Of citizens.
We sre vitality interested in the peace,
honor and happiness of the homes Of
our people. The wives and mothers
who have the bearing and training of
children within the sacred precincts of
their homes are entitled to, and must
receive, our sympathy and cooperation,
to the end that their holy mission shall
be fulfilled; and whatever menaces the
peace and honor of that home be avert
ed or removed.
We respectfully represent that Mrs.
Laura Taylor, wife of Walter l.. Tay-
lor, whose petition to the Board of Par
dons for clemency has been refused, is
the mother of five dependent children,
viz. FitZ William, son, nine years
old; Carrie Taylor, a daughter, seven
Frank Taylor, a son.. five years old;
Jack Taylor, a son, three years old, and
Hugh, a baby, one year old; and by
reason of their tdnder years are entire
" helpless Their father, Walter L.
TAYLOR, is dependent entirely upon his
daily earnings for their support, and be-
cause of the unfortunate trouble in
which he is involved, these earnings
have been largely drawn upon in the pay
ment of attorneys fees and other ex-
penses rendered necessary in his defense
for the past three years. His little
home. now occupied by his family, is
now incumbered by heavy mortgage
of twelve hundred dollars, as shown by
the records of Leon county, Florida,
almost the entire vaihe of the place,
which amount is now three years past
due and on which he is compelled to
pay eight per cent. interest, semi-an-
nually. The support of his family, and
the heavy expenses mentioned, have
completely exhausted his every re.
source, so that whenever the husband
and father. Walter L. Taylor, is taken
from his innocent and helpless wife and
little children, they will necessarily be
without any support whatever, save and
except whatever the earnings of the
mother might be, whose burden in the
care of nursing babies renders it impos-
sible for her to provide for herself and
little ones.
We do not dScredit the integrity of
our honorable courts, nor do we wish to
be regarded as insensible to the neces-
sary punishment of crime; but we are
not oblivious to the fact that human
tribunals may err, and penalties some
times are excessive; and in all cases
passing the ordeal of human judgment,
Justice should be tempered with mercy.
We believe, from the records, and
from trustworthy information, in the
case of the State of Florida against
Walter L. Taylor, that the judgment of
the court rendered upon the finding of
the Jury that tried the case and which
also recommended the accused to the
clemency of the court, is excessive and
much beyond anything contemplated by
the Jurors, and fraught with unneces-
sary hardship and disgrace. The in
nocent wife snd FIVE children must in
cur and forever bear the odium attach
ing TO the accused husband and father
If he suffers this unreasonable and
odious penalty; and besides, there are
many honorable kindred of this wife
and her family, and a large circle of
upright and worthy friends, who share
with this family the humiliation and
pain that must Inevitably result to them
should Walter l.. Taylor be consigned
TO penal servitude in q convict camp.
The idea is painful and revolving to us,
and we do most earnestly and unreserv.
edly demonstrate against so awful and
crushing a calamity TO befall the inno-
cent and suffering wife and helpless
children.
We believe that whatever Of wrong
Walter l.. Taylor has committed, has
already been atoned for in the suffering
and heavy expenses already endured by
himself and family.
We do not desire that the infection of
this excessive penalty shall forever
operate as a barrier and insurmOuntable
obstacle to the peace and reconciliation
of the PARTIES intimately related to the
one faction or the other involved herein. |
We believe that the pardon Of Walter
I. TAYLOR, or the merciful Communication
Of the sentence inflicted in his case will
vo far towards the ultimate reconcilia- |
ton Of parties now at variance because
Of this unfortunate affair.
We are not partisans, nor do we de-
sire to further any other feelings but
those Of peace.
Therefore, in furtherAnce Of humanity |
80 20 Unrbaoru0 tha lnffiaaf |