Bisbee daily review., 1909-07-28
735e Mountaineer's s
 Pardon
(copyright. by ,. D. I-ippineott co)
By Joha B. C.ninston

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 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 it occurred. Gov. Blackburn was a bluG. whole-souled. kindly man. who made such free uee of bis pardoning power as to gain can- siderable adverse criticism from his political enemies. He appointed as warden of the penitentiary . man sf his own kindly instincts. On . cer tain morning in early spring 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 fellows open face, took him through in person, explaining the vari- oas details of prison life. When the inspection wSs over. the young fellow said:
 Hey y.- ,-s ,n, sAing else in this here town worth lookin' at?" The warden directed him to the cap itol. the state arsenal. and the famous old Frankfort cemetery. The young man thanked him, shok hands, and | turned away. In a moment he came back with the question: What time do you close up here?" We close 10 visitors at five o'clock, " said the warden. Come back if you find time"
 | Wal, I reckon will.' said the | young fellow.
 few minutes before five he ap. peared at the warden's private office. After some desultory conversation the warden excused himself, saying that it was time to close up.
 T reckon I'll stay with yda awhiIe.' said the mountaineer.
 You can't do that. my friend" said the warden, this isn't hotel" and he gave the young man directions as , to desirable stopping-places.
 "oh. reckon I'll stay here" intR rupter the mountaineer; you see. promised Jim would"
 Who is Jims"
 "Oh, he's the sheriff up our way Here's my papers.-
 He handed the warden the regula, sheriff's commitment papers, which testified that she bearer, Bill -, va. committed to the penitentiary for tw< years for malicious shooting.
 Why" gasped the warden, -thes, papers seem to be made out h dus form But tell me. when did you ds the shooting, and why did not ths sherif bring you here in. person. | Wal. you see, it was thiser gzy One night about three months ag' some of us fellers got little ga. tup there in Hazlan, and got to sbcotin round permiscu's. Jim kinder butte, in, and as we wuz a-shootin, why some of us took crack at Jien. kinder had the bad luck to pot him Of course, Jim's an old friend e mine and l felt awful bad when l foun, out next mornin' that I'd put . buile through his leg. Jim had q prett hard time of it. and when l wen round to see how he was axittin' o he toie me as how he was laid u and couldn't put in his crops, and ik as nt1t his wife and kids would z hungry before long. So jest tole Jir to arrest me so as he could get the fe cutter it He said he reckoned I'd hay to come down to Frankfort by mysel If he did. seein' as he wHzn't 1t t travel. l tole Jim that wuz all righ jest to fix up the papers and I woul come erlong peaeeable like So her h he"
 Well" said the warden, it look like plain case. reckn I'll hay to lock you up-'
 Sure: that's what ~ome' her fur
 1 That night the warden vent over { | the governors office and laid the cas before Gov. Blackburn At the col 1 elusion the governor buIxt out:
 By God. Warden, that's an hones man. The state of Kentucky can't a frrd to keep such as he locked up the penitentiary. rn write him 1 pardon"
 The pardon was duly written an 1 Eigned. and the nexf day the .mouI taineer was on his way back home.
 I'm durn glad of it. he said. 1 telling. the warden good-by. "becaus 1 now m get back in time to finis lookfn after Jim's crops fer him