The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-12-20

and trustworhiness ana his very long service. recommend that he be freed from his duties in the mines and given
 "A parole is ordered. dependent on his future law-abidinE conduct"
 ;. P. Cook es Pardoned-
 Seldom fin recent years has there been a murder trial which was more prom inently in the public eye than that of J. P. Cook, of Jefferson county, who shot and killed Dr. John Payne at
 Payne, 1t developed in the trial. had destroyed the home of the man who later killed him. From evidence brought out at the trial. 1t appeared Texas. stating that the condition of his health demanded it. In his absence, Payne betrayed Cooks wife. Return inR to his home. Cook entered his his
 Al the time of the trial intense in terest was aroused throughout the state Cook was eonXicted, oT murder January 1902. and was sentenced to twenty-five years imorisonment. Yes terday his pardon was the first on the list of prisoners of eight who. received fin the case. Governor Jelks said:
 'In this case the Board of Pardons after carefully going over all the pa bers, endorse upon them as follows:
 
 P Cooks application for pardon. They have statements from reliable sources supporting such conclusions. and are of opinion that Cook was betrayed. wick edly betrayed by Payne, w"o was his family physician. and pretended to be his friend. Payne's conduct was of 9 character to arouse all the indignation in any one having a knowledge of it. Under these circumstances, Cook being a simple minded and confiding man. when he came in possession of all the facts, slew Payne by shooting him with a pistol. Under all the circumstances. should be pardoned. We. therefore, re- commend such action and trust it will be done"
 One of the oldest prisoners in the State penitentiaries. If not the oldest. until yesterday, was Dave Ogletree, a ne~ro from Pike county, who. October al. 1878, was sentenced f1 the Circuit Court of that county to life imprison ment for conviction of the crime of carnal Knowledge of child.
 ogletree was charged with attempt ing to commit his crime upon five year old white child. At the time there were threats of violence, but the prisoner was permitted to be punished by legal trial. His conviction was speedy, and for nearly thirty years he has bee9 a prisoner in different peni. tentiaTies of the State. During that time his conduct has received the com mendatiop of various convict wardens:
 It has been said that during his life he has "diEged enough coal to cover ten acres oe ground ten feet deep" As a prisoner he has had several acci- dents In the mines. breakl2g one leg twice. and on one occasion having both legs broken. Tke pardon was recom- mended by the Board of Pardons, and granted by the Governor with the following statement:
 T take very great pleasure in grant. ing to Dave Ogletree full nardon. He has been ip the service of the State for nearly twenty years. During all of that time he has had a oood record. All of the wardens who have had to do with him recommend him hi@hly. I am sure they will all be interested to know that after this long service to the State-many years of faithfulnesS that he is now to be allowed to spend the balance of his days-what few remain to him--in freedom. Referring them to the recommendation of the Board of Pardons, and making that recommendation part of this en- dorsement. 1t Is ordered that pardon issue."