Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-02
CHAPTER XXI-Continued.

Grey had great wealth and many power
full relatives and friends. and he made a
desperate fight. He employed the most
skilled criminal lawyers that the state
affords and they used every technicallty
and evasion allowed by the law. But the
plain facts of the murder were there. II
was an assassination because OF jealousy
and the jealousy was for woman not MS
wife. The overwhelming tide OF pubic
opinion was against Grey. Murder was
too common. and the public conscience
was ashamed and aroused. So gross a
case as this should be punished. and the
Jury after brief delberation brought in a
verdict of murder in the first degree with
the punishment OF death. An appeal was
taken at once. but the judges VINO sat
then on our highest bench We're a stern
set of men. and it was known in advance
with absolute certainty that the appeal
would be rejected.
Grey's fate seemed sealed. and despite
| myself write it here with shame-l
felt a thrill of joy Alicia would be a
widow ard | might yet win her honestly
and fairly, as a man should win Wonl-
an But the thrill soon paaSsed. as 1t
passed in the first instance in Louisville.
when recognized the facts. Alicia would
not be won In any such way, and l could
do nothing now but wait and let events
occur without me. Little | knew the
problem that was soon to be set before
me. We We're now in the depths of win
| ter and the Legislature had convened
again. forcing from me the utmost at
tention, although my mind. In spite OF It
self, would wander elsewhere. | was OPP
pressed, too by a question that grew
more serious from day to day. AS soon
as Grey was convicted I was besieSed
with petitions for his pardon. The gov
ernor Of the state may pardon any Grim
| inal he chooses. and he need not give
any reason unless he choose.
| All OF Grey's great wealth was eNerted
In his behalf. and it raised up for him
many friends who were willing TO work TO
save him. The petitions poured IN to me
| and delegations came to see me. often
their suggestions became personal. l
was reminded by indirection that | my
! self was none too white: l, too, had a
black past. 1t was intlmated to me
more than once that l probably had my
| own share in this tragedy, gossip mad
| credited me with the love of George
Grey's wife-that scene in the hall could
| never be forgotten-and it was not the
worst thing in the world that man
losing his wife should turn to another
| woman. Mercy had been shown to me
| then why should not | show 1t to another
when now. of all times. it would So
| we'll become me? Something was said
| about him who was without sin throw
| ing the first stone. 1t was urged that
| Grey was i'm state of intoxication. men
! tally irresponsible. and that Harrison
| himself was full of blame.
| I listened to all the speeches l READ
all the petitions. passed over the slurs
| upon my self and the insinuations against
| my motives and always shook my head
If I could have spoken for myself alone
| should have pardoned him, because he
was Alicia Grey's husband. and because
| loved Alicia Grey. But l was the gov
| ernor of the state, and it was an afro
cious murder 1t seemed to me absoiuteie
| without palliation and jury had so said
| [ must say so. too
| But it cost me many terrible moments
gossip and a portion of the press rakeo
| up my past again. the hideous tale thar
! T would profit by this mans execution
was started and grew. Once again ! was
a storm center. but Guthrie and Warfield
and Judge Wharton, men to whom
| could speak my intimate thoughts, coun-
| seIed me to stand firm and l refused 10
yield Moreover, the bulk of the state
| was behind me.