The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-12-20
25 PARDONS ARE
ISSUED IN ONE DAY.
Governor Makes Merry Christ
mas for Is Prisoners
]. P. COOK IS AMONG THEM
Man Who Killed DR.. John Payne at
HiIIman Three Years Ago Goes
Free On Showing Made
to Board.
]. P. COOK IS AMONG THEM

The governor today pardoned or paroled
twenty-five prisoners in the service of
the state, among them J. P Cook who
killed DR.. John Payne at Hillman three
years ago 1t is shown to be the opinion
of the pardon board that Payne betrayed
the confidence placed in him by Cook and
disturbed his home. as a result of which
he killed him. The pardons are issued at
this time to allow the prisoners to be
released in time TO get home for Christ
mas. In other words, it is the Christmas
present of the governor TO the unfortu-
rates who have found favor with him. He
has granted clemency to LOG this year, less
than any governor who has ever been
in the office. save Lieut. Coy. r. NJ. Cum
bingham.
The full list follows
Henry Johnson. Mobile county con-
victed November %, 1904, for robbery, and
serving seven years. His release is recon-
mended by the court officers. He was a
mere boy when convicted
Emerson Headen, Talladega county, life
sentence given in 1897, for murder. 1t was
claimed that the shooting was accidental.
Beatrice Kelly, who was killed. stated
several times before death that the shoot
ing was accidental.
victed May g. 1901, for murder and sent
up for thirty years. Others who were
with her have long ago ben paroled.
Robert Rutledge, alias Robert Rutland.
Randolph county; convicted August 30,
1905. for robbery and sentenced for ten
years. This boy took a pistol from two
other boys and threw it away. 1t is not
now believed that he intended to keep 1t,
but to get it out of their hands.
Savannah Smith, Gilmore county; con-
victed November 6, 1902, for larceny and
given six years.
George Cook, Tuscaloosa county; con-
victed October 3, 1890, for murder and
serving life sentence. The board of pardons
recommends his release and thinks he
has paid for his crime.
Jerre Hardy, EtoWah county; murder,
convicted April 81, 1889, and sent up for
life.
Charles E. Brannan, Mobile, serving
fifteen years for murder.
Levi Coleman, Choctaw, mansaughter,
convicted October 3, 1904, and sent up for
eight years. He killed another man for
mistreating his young daughter. The trial
judge writes of this case: This man
would not have been convicted If he had
been white man.
Dave Ogletree, Pike county, carnal
knowledge convicted October p, 1878 and
sent up for life, The governor says he
has made a model prisoner for twenty
years.
Nelse Hogabrook, Bibb county, violating
prohibition law, sentenced September 4,
1906, twenty-six months.
j. p. Cook, Jefferson county, sent up
January. 1902 for twenty-five years for
killing Dr. John Payne at Hillman.
Jordan Johnson, Montgomery, murder
and sentence of life April IS, 1887.
Mark Dunning. Jefferson county, serving
since August 27, 1889, life sentence for
robbery. II seems that he really took
$3.60 according to the statement of the
governor.
Dee Golson, Autauga county, sentenced
November 5, 1908. for murder. Dee seems
only to have been an accomplish, and was
a man of good character. Many citizens
asked the governor to pardon him. He
has a parole.
Will Lamar, Autauga county, murder
and sentence January, 1893 for murder
in the first degree, term being twenty
years. He is now practically helpless from
iifirmity.
Arthur Haynes, Calhoun county, SEN
fenced fall of 1904 to three years for man.
slaughter. He is allowed his liberty ahead
of time because of good conduct.
Scion Moore. Barbour county, sentenced
May 3, 1901, to twenty years for murder.
Mary Lou Eubanks. Pike county, SEN
fenced March, 1902, for placing obstruc-
ton on railroad track, given ten years.
Arch Frazer. Russell county, sent up
spring, 1895, for twenty-five years for
murder.
Roy L. Slaughter. Mobile, manslaughter
and sentenced spring 1905 to two years
for hard labor.
Willie Hobson. Walker county. shoot
ing across public road, fine of twenty
days and costs.
Matt Cooper. Etowah county murder.
sentenced December g. 1891. for life.
VIII Bulger, Tallapoosa, sentenced
March %, 1891, for life for murder.
A. s. Gerald. Montgomery, murder. SEN
fenced October 10. 1900 ten years for MUIR
der. Gerald is a son of former Chief Of
Police Gerald. and there has been much
local pressure to have him released.
The Cook Pardon.
OF the pardon of J. p Cook the gov
ernor says:
y. p Cook-In this case the board of
pardons, after carefully going over all
the papers, indorse upon them as fol-
lows: The board have under eonsidera-
ton j. p. Cooks application for pardon.
They have statements from reliable
sources supporting such conclusions, and
are of opinion that Cook was betrayed,
w!ckedly betrayed. by Payne, who was
his family physician, and pretended to
he his friend. Payne's conduct was of n
character to arouse all the Indignation in
any one having a knowledge of it. Under
these circumstances Cook being a sim
pie minded and confidng man. when he
came in possession of all the facts. slew
Tayne by shooting him with pistol I'm
der all the circumstances. the board is
OF the opinion that Cook should be par
dc ned. We therefore recommend such ae-
ton, and trust it will be done .