The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1909-09-08
GOV. WOULD NOT INTERFERE
MITCHELL MUST SERVE HIS SEN
TENCE IN THOMAS COUNTY.
Refused to Approve Prison Commits
siOn's Recommendation, and No
titled Sheriff of Action.

siOn's Recommendation, and No
titled Sheriff of Action.
ATLANTA, Ga.-Shortly before 1
o'clock Governor Brown announced
that he would not approve the rec
ommendation of the prison commits
sion that the sentence of William
H. Mitchell of twelve months on the
chaingang be lessened to twelve
months on the state farm, and ap-
proved the sentence of Judge Roam,
who tried the case.
Executive Secretary Blackburn i'm
mediately telephoned to Sheriff Sin
gletary of Thomas county that the
sentence of Judge Roam would stand,
and later wired that Mitchell be
taken in custody.
Worked All Night.
Governor Brown spent practically
all of Tuesday night reading the evil
dence in the Mitchell case. He took
the papers with him to Marietta, and
it was $3.50 o'clock Wednesday morn
ing before he retired to snatch few
hours sleep before beginning the
regular days work. When he ar
rived at the capitol Wednesday he
had arrived at no decision.
There were one or two points on
which Governor Brown wanted to
satisfy himself and once these were
cleared up he acted.
1t has been a strenuous time for |
Governor Brown. Scarcely an hour
in the day for the past several days
that he has not received kilograms
from relatives or friends of Mitchell |
or Miss Linton. The delegation from
Thomasville, who came up in behalf |
of Mitchell, remained over in the |
city Wednesday and several of them |
called on Governor Brown. Friends
and relatives of Miss Linton also
called.
Decision Was Surprise.
Governor Browns decision came
as a surprise. Those who had fol-
lowed the case thoroughly felt sure
that Governor Brown would not is
sue a pardon. They thought, how
ever, he would allow the recOmmen-
dation of a twelve-mOnths' sentence
on the state farm to meet with his
approval. OF the legality of this SEN
tence there was considerable doubt, |
and it was this matter that Governor
Brown wanted additional light on.
The action of Governor Brown
puts a final period to one of the most
remarkable cases that ever took
place in Georgia-one that stirred
political and social centers of south
Georgia to the core. Mitchell's
friends exhausted every resource to
save him from the disgrace of con-
Wet stripes, but their efforts have
been in vain.
What Governor Brown Said.
Governor Brown, in his order de-
nying clemency to Mitchell, said in
part: Should the clemency asked
for in the present case be extended
there is grave danger that it would
bear fruits of sorrow in every sec
ton of our state. 1t would set an
example pernicious beyond compare,
an example embodying a daily me-
aAoCC " NCOi Sid NOu1au1OOus IL
would say that we have one law for
the rich, another for the poor; one !
law for the highly educated, another !
for the ignorant; one law for the !
classes, another for the masses
Furthermore, while the pardon |
ing power conferred upon the execu- !
tive is practically unlimited, yet it
must be held in mind that it was the
manifest intent of those framing the
constitution that it should be exer-
cised in such manner as would not
impair the confidence of the people in
the purity of the fountains of JUS |
tice, the courts, or weaken the foun-
dation upon which society is built"
Like a Man Mitchell Hears Fate.
Townsville, Cav. H. Mitchell
was in bed when word of the action
of the governor in his case was re-
eeived at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon.
He showed severe disappointment,
but made no statement, except to
say:
"Well, I'll take it like a man, hard
as it is"
The entire family is FRUSTRATED by
the news, but are glad that the gov
ernor declined the recommendation
of the prison commission, and let
him stay in the county as first SEN
fenced.