Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-08-31
Number of Prominent Witnesses
from Thomasville and Adjoin.
ing Sections Appear Before
the Prison Commission.
CONGRESSMAN HOWARD
FIGHTS AGAINST PARDON
L.torneys for lie DEFENDANTS As:
sert That Mitchell Would Die If
He Were Compelled to Work
on the Chain Gang.

The prison commission Monday MORN
ing began hearing the petition of WI
liam H. Mitchell. OF ThomasvilIe. for
Communication of sentence Of i2 months
in the chain gang imposed on him By
Judge Roam on the charge Of assault
and battery of Miss Lucille Linton
which took place about year ago in
| Thomasville.
The hearing attracted a large crowd
Of persons from ThomasviIle and south
Georgia. Prominent among those who
appeared in behalf of Mitchell were
three members of his class at Emory
Judge John s. Gambler George Tcaz-
ley, of Canton and Warner Hill. member
of the railroad commission.
Mitchell was represented by Reuben
H. Arnold and Thomas Eason. former
member of the prison commission. Tia
state was represented by Congressman
W.. NJ. Howard and Robert Lee Avery.
of Atlanta
Among those who made statements
\ In Mitchelrs behalf We're: Judge Charles
p. Hansell. Ii. w. Hopkins. John Dekle,
of Thomasyille, Stanley Bennetr. OF
Quitman. and Judge John s. Gambler.
, MANY PLEAD FOR MERCY.
closing. Mr.. Eason spoke first, de sun-
mitted a yoluminous petition for comnu-
| tation signed by many citizens OF fhoin-
| asville and by nine jurors; staten1ent
| frcm the county physician that Mitcheli
was physically unable to undergo "A SEN
| tence, and letters from Congressman
| Brantley, Hon. j: L. Hand, Judge .oseph
Bennett and others asking for ccmrnu-
tation of sentence.
1 a., aCF.e he. rrf4F
en- and the unfortunate matter brought
to a close.
Judge Charles p Hansell OF Thomas
vile, made the first statement. he said
he thought Mitchell should be pardoned
He did no think him guilty. he was Ia
\ n1iliar with Mitchell's. Handwriting and
was certain the letter HritFere a. MsHe
Linton was not written BY hiuE He
stated he had known Mitchell for years
/ and il he had committed this crime he
/ had done something entirely foreign 70
, his nature and could not have been men
/ tally responsible. He had always been
| devoted to his family.
IF Mitchell did this thing he was GER
tainly crazy at the time" said Judge
Hansell.
Judge HanseIl stressed the verdict or
the jury which had eliminated the charge
! OF attempted rape. For the technical
jcharge of assault no such sentence as this
had ever been imposed before, he stated.
He thought the proper and just thing to
commute the sentence to an ordinary
fine.
WAS MITCHELL CRAzY7
H W. Hopkins, of Thomasville. said he
had come to Atlanta of his own volitiCn.
and at his own expense.
''Since early manhood I have been
given every position in my county I have
ever asked for. 1 have been mayor for
! nine years, county solicitor and county
Judge. / mention this merely to ILLUSTRATES
that the people of my section have conn-
dence in me. For IS years have known
William H. Mitchell / have never known
man of purer life, of higher Integrity
or greater truthfulness. In a connmu-
nifty of this size a mans life Is an open
book. Up to this unfortunate affair there
has never been a word against him.
IT am right from the bedside of this
defendant. From childhood he has been
a sufferer from kidney trouble He has
had to take large doses Of morphine to
allay his suffering. He Is now in a criti-
cal condition. Even II he were guilty ]
think ii would. be cruel to impose this
sentence"
Mr.. Williams asked II work on the
chain gang would endanger his life.
II can say to you, gentlemen" said Mr..
Hopkins. that before God I believe II
William H. Mitchell had to serve oh the
chain gang 80 days he would be placed
under the Sod was the reply.
He said the jury in bringing in the
verdict thought fine would be imposed
and had no idea of a chain gang sentence
being given. Mr.. Hopkins secuted at the
notion that Mitchell or whoever had COM
mitted the offense had any intention OF
the crime Of rape. The locality and all
the circumstances. he said. precluded such
an idea.
JOHN DEKLE'S STATEMENT.
John Dekle. of Thomasville. Endorsed
the statement made by Mr.. Hopkins. He
had known Mitchell all his life. and he
had never known aught against him He
referred to MitchelPs wife. mother and
three children and said they should be
spared the disgrace OF the sentences, He
thought Mitchell physically unfit to work
on the road. and If he did. death would be
the Inevitable result.
Stanley Bennett, of Quitman. stated
that his presence was unknown to Mitch
ell; he had come as friend to do what ne
could. Thirty years ago he had gone to
school with Mitchell and had kept In close
touch with him since. The ofEense was
out of all proportion to Mitchell's charac-
ter 1t was out Of reason that a man
whose life had been exemplary for IS
years should suddenly depart from the
path of rectitude.
Thirty years ago Mitchell came 70
Brooks county and carried away one Of
Brooks county's fairest daughters his
bride. Had he not Leen the right sort Of
a young man he could not have won her."
said Mr.. Bennett.
COLLEGE MATES APPEAR.
Judge John S. Gambler said that he APP
peared before the commission together
with other members of the college class
of Emory college of which Mitchell and he
were members. to plead for mercy. He
said Mitchell was the most popular mem
Der of that class. All loved hirn- He did
not recall one act of VIII Mitchelrs dur
ing that time that would not bear the
closest scrutiny.