The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-11-29
PINK FItANkLIN'S CASE

EFFORTS q II no HAVE HIM PARDON
an WILL SOON BE MADE:
The Appeal in the Case to BE Aban.
doned and Gov. Ansel Asked 70
Turn Him Loose.
il There seems to be an effort on the
part 81 some white people. Of more
OF less prominence in Columbia ito to
save Pink rankin, who brutally
shot down and murdered in cold
blood Constable Valentino some years
ago near Cope, from the just punish
ment for his crime: The State says:
..Thats GOV. :Ansel viii be asked 70
pardon Pink, Franklin or to commute
his sentences og death to life impris-
ocnment is practically certain should
there be an adverse decision In the
last appeal. The case: Of Pink Frank
lin is IN the. hands OF white attor-
neys!!:f Hesas now represented. by
! Claude Sawyer iof Aiken and Benz:
Hagood Of Charleston. The negro
attorneys. Moorer and Adams, haze
been withdrawn. ~. !
There is an appeal before the SUI.
preme court to have "a new trial for
FRANKLIN on the grounds Of after-dis-
covered evidence. Franklin was con-
victed in Orangeburg county several
years ago on the charge Of Killing q
constable by the name of Valentine
He was, sentenced to hang. An ap--
peal was taken to the supreme court
and the verdict Of the Orangbure
county court. was affirmed. .>
Next the case was carried to Unit
ed States supreme court to settle
constitutional question as to jury.
The appeal was returned by the Unit.
ed State supreme court and the SUI
i5preme court of South Carolina order
ed that a new day, be set for the exc
lc,ition of Franklin. Later the at
torneys for the negro appeared IN
the Orangeburg county court and
asked that q new trlal:be granted on
..ths plea. OF after-discovered evil
,dence. This was denied and another
was made to the supreme court
The State goes on to say that It is
expected when the case is called this
week that the attorneys will an
nounce' that the appeal has been
abandoned. and that then petition
for pardon will be filed with Gov.
Ansel. The State, q short time ago,
published "a long. editorial in which
1t claimed that Franklin killed the
constable in defense Of his home. /.
Then came the announcement that
the two negro lawyers in the case
wasiito abandon 1t and their places
taken by white, lawyers. This. &C
cordins to The State. has been done,
but instead OF the white lawyers
pressing the case on the pretense Of
after discovered evidence theory. it
Is announced that they will abondon
that plea, withdraw the case from
the Supreme Court and petition Gov.
Ansel for a pardon for Franklin.
Was the white lawyers employed
in the case for this purpose, instead
OF presenting the socalled after dis
covered evidence to the Supreme
Court? There has been great deal
of quibbling in this case on the
part OF the negro lawyers that had
It in charge before the white lawyers
appeared on tho stage and pushed
: the negro lawyers behind the cur
tain. Now the white lawyers are
to use their persuasive eloquence on
: Gov. Ansel.
e. There are some things connected
with this case that the public would
like to know. First OF all, who has
!. inspired this great interest In behalf
Of negro murderer who ought to
have been hung years ago: Second
and from whence will come their foe {!
Thirdly, why did the white lawyers
abandon the socalled after discovered
evidence. take the case out Of courE
and petition Gov. Ansel to pardon
their client if he is not guilty of the
murder
This paper has no particular de-
sire to see anyone hung, but it be-
lieves that: should Gov. Ansel IN
terfere In this case and save this
murderer from the just punishment
of his crime, which is the infliction
Of the death penalty. he would be
doing grave injustice to the people
of this whole country and particular
ly to the people who live in the sec
ton of county where Franklin mur-
dered an officer of the law, khile
IN the discharge Of his duty and we
beg him not to do so.
All the subterfuges In the world
can't destroy the fact that Frank
lin Is guilty Of an atroc1ouS murder,
for which be should be hung. Too
many murders escape punishment,
and we hope the law will he allow
ed to take Its course In the case Of
Franklin. If he is to be allowed to
20 free. it will be an incentive for
L. f,> MI,