Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-06-20
DE Mountaineer' S
Pardon
By John B. Csrrington

| WY " AAPkAheSNh WI
The following incident is youched
for by weil-known lady OF Louis
vile. KY, who is niece of ex-Gov
Luke Blackburn OF that state, during
whose administration 1t occurred. Gov.
/ Blackburn was a blum, whole-souled,
kindly man, who made such free use
+, OF his pardoning power as TO gain con
siderable adverse criticism from his
political enemies. lie appointed as
warden OF the penitentiary man OF
his own kindly instincts. On GER
tain morning in early spring a raw
boned young mountaineer presented
himself at the penitentiary and asked
! TO be shown through the institution.
The warden, who was rather attracted
to the young fellow s open face. took him
through in person. explaining the vari
Gus details of prison life. When the
| inspection was over, the young fellow
said:
"Hev you got anything else In this
here town worth lookin' att"
! The warden directed him TO the cap
itol. the state arsenal. and the famous
, old Frankfort cemetery The young
I man thanked him. shok hands. and
{ turned away. In moment he came
back with the question:
| What time do you close up here?
We close to visitors at five o'clock"
said the warden. Come back If you
find time"
Wal. 1 reckon ] WILL" said the
; young fellow.
| A few minutes before five he ap-
peared at the warden's private office.
After some desultory conversation
the warden excused himself. saying
that II was time to close up.
l Il reckon III stay with you awhile"
said the mountaineer
I You cant do that. my friend" said
the warden, this isn't a hotel" and
he gave the young man directions as
to desirable stopping places.
I "Oh, | reckon III stay here" inter-
rupter the mountaineer; you see. 1
promised Jim / would"
/, Who is JIM
/ oh he's the sheriff up our way.
Here's my papers,"
II
sherifs commitment papers, which
testified that the bearer, Bill -. was
committed to the penitentiary for two
years for malicious shooting.
l Why" gasped the warden, these
papers seem to be made out in due
[ form. But tell me, when did you do
the shooting, and why did not the
sheriff bring you here in person."
. Wal, you see, it was thiser way.
| One night about three months ago
some of US fellers got little gay
up there in Hazlan. and got to shootin'
round permiscu's. Jim kinder butted
in, and as we wuz a-shootin', why,
some of us took q crack at Jim.
kinder had the bad luck to pot him.
OF course, Jim's an old friend o mine.
and | felt awful bad when | found
out next mornin' that I'D put a bullet
through his leg. Jim had pretty
hard time of 1t. and when l went
round to see how he was a-gittin' on
he tole me as how he was laid up
and couldn't put in his crops, and like
as not his wife and kids would go
hungry before long. So jest tole Jim
to arrest me SO A. he could get the fee
outer it, He said he reckoned Id have
to come down to Frankfort by myself
II he did, seem as he wuzn,t fit to
travel tole Jim that wuz all right.
jest to fix up the papers and l would
come erlong peaceable like. So here
| be-"
Well" said the warden, 1T looks
like a plain case. reckon III have
to lock you up"
Sure; that's what Il come here
| fur"
That night the warden went over to
the governors ONCE and laid the case
before Gov. Blackburn. At the con-
! clus;on the governor burst out:
Il BY God! Warden, that's an honest
man. The state Of Kentucky can't af-
i ford to keep such as he locked up in
\ the penitentiary. I'll write him a
II pardon"
The pardon was duly written and
signed, and the next day the noun
taineer was on his way back home
I'm durn glad OF it," he said. in
telling the warden good-by. because
now I'll get back In time TO finish
lookin' after Jim's crops fer him
Operator Got Busy.
/ Al Washington the newspaper cor
respondents are telling the following
/ story about Representative Walter
prou.ntox of Tennessee. Recently he