The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-25
PLEA OF CHILD
RESCUES FATHER
Governor Grants Christmas Par
don to Man Who Was Serving
Life Sentence.
JOY IN ONE HOME TO-DAY
John Jackson Had Good Prison
Record, and Denied Himself
for Loved Ones.
JOY IN ONE HOME TO-DAY


lprisoners little daughter, and finding
that the mans record Of ten years In
the pcnitentlnry was good. Governor
Swanson yesterday granted an absolute
lpardon to John jackson, white, who
Twas serving 81 life term for the killing
lof Walter Leonard IN Washington
county in 1897. The two men became
lcngaged In q fight and Leonard was
KILLED. Jackson was tried, convicted
Iof murder in the first degree and sem
Ilenced to. hang. Governor Tyler COM
muted his sentence to life iinprison-
ment. Of which term he has served
tnhout ten years. He left his wife
land six little children in his mountain
lhome, and they have struggled to make
ends meet. while the prisoner denying
himself. worked overtime and sent all
his little earnings to his family. He
corresponded regularly with his loved
ones. and held out to them the hope
that some day he would merit par
don and be allowed to return to them.
His pardon came in the nature of a
Christmas gift, and at this hour he
is perhaps in the bosom of the family
| he has not seen in ten long years.
When Jackson's little daughter
wrote the Governor n short time ago,
pleading for her father us Christmas
present. His Exccllency took UP the
case at once, and finding 1t a worthy
one, he readily granted the pardon.
! Governors nensons.
I In giving his reasons for his action,
1.-The Governor reviews the case In the
following interesting manner:
This prisoner was committed to life
imprisonment many years ago. He
has served about ten years. Immedi-
ately after my Induction into office
petition was presented to me for his
pardon. have delayed acting on this
case with View of ascertainlng def
lnitely whether this was worthy case
for executive clemency. An eXamlna-
| ton has convinced me that the case
| is a most worthy one. and the prisoner
has merited pardon. His conduct
has been without blemish in every re-
spcct during his Incarceration. He has
taken great deal OF interest in Sun
day school work, and has shown a
splendid moral character in this re-
spect. He has very III wife and
number of poor children at home need
ing his care and aid. During the ten
years lie has been in prison. after.
working ten hours {: day regularly for
| the State. he has worked overtime
constantly, and all of the money he has
received from this source he has re-
mtted to his family. a prisoner who
lean thus evince such stamina of char
ncter is worthy of having another OPP
portunity in life. The attorney en-
lpoyed by the prosecution to prosecute
lthis prisoner recommends pardon, and
says jackson has been sufficiently pun
|ished for the offense committed. Nu-
lmerous petitions have been filed show
ling that previous to his conviction the
Iprisoner bore an excellent character,
and was worthy and reputable citi-
zen. The Superintendent of the Pcni-
Itontiary is most earnest in urging
Executive clemency In this case. The
lpetition for pardon was numerously
|signed by well-known citizens who
bore testimony to the former good
character Of the prisoner
Az to Other Cases.
Referring to his action In committing
the sentence OF G. G. Buchanan, of this
city, who was convicted OF forgery and
sentenced to two years In the pcniten-
tiary, the Governor said the commuta-
ton had been recommended by the
| trial Judge. the Commentaries ar
torney and the persons whose names
the prisoner is alleged to have forged
In the case Of B. f. Hobgood, of NOR
folk, who was pardoned on Monday
the Governor says the petition was ear
nestly pressed ny commemorative Al,
torney John G.. Titton. who prosecuted
the case. Hobgood was serving year
In the pcnitentiary for grand larceny
Have Moved Out.
All the officers occupying commit
tee rooms in the basement Of the Capt.
| fol have moved out In anticipation OF
| the coming session of the LeSlsla'ure
except Labor Commissioner Doherty
and Colonel John w. Richardson, Reg
lister of the Land Office. Ihey WIZ
both move their offices next week into
the southern wing Of the Cap1tol, on
the basement floor.
All the offices at the Capitol and
Library Buildings We're closed yester,
1ay afternoon, and will not be opened
until to-n4orrow morning. Most Of the
otiicials ana clerks Will remain IN the
i city for Christmas, but some have al
raa,,v gone to their homes. Among the
later are Corporation Commissioner z.
r. Prentis of Suffolk; Hon p; 9: = Es :;
! gleston, of Charlotte, ana NJ. = ~
Hawkins OF Halifax. ~. o,,
The Board OF Directors OF tne PEN
tertiary has created the position ,sas o,ec ~
clerk at the state Farm, ,, ama nue. 70 mn
|