The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-03-22
MRS. CARSON'S CASE.
Story of the Crime and Of Her Ell
forts to Secure Pardon.


forts to Secure Pardon.
Fannie Carson has not been with
out hope in her prison life. Eight
years after she had been sentenced,
Ia petition was presented to Governor
Hayward, and her pardon was then
refused.
Governor McSweeney, in 1902, also
efused to pardon Mrs. Carson.
liter seven years another petition
as presented to Governor Ansel.
rhaps there never was a petition
pardon presented that pleaded so
auently for the release of a pris-
bteter upon letter from prominent
citizens of the community we're pre-
sented. Only those who have seen
the many petitions for pardon that
are presented to the governors Office
can realize the difference between
most of them and the Carson petition.
Some Of the letters were most pa
thetic and in pleading tones begged
for clemency.
These letters had their weight. The
board Of pardons, at the January
meeting, recommended the pardon,
and since then Governor AnSel has
had the matter under advisement.
After citing the history Of the case
in many details, the board gave its
reason for the recommendation The
recommendation concluded:
Boards Recommendation.
"Because of the enornity of this
crime, the board has with some hes
itation reached their conclusion. In
consideration, however, that the pc"
titioner is woman Of no marked
strength of mind or character, that
her husband was addicted to drink
and was at times harsh, if not cruel,
in the treament of his wife, that she
had fallen under the influence of a
crafty and designing man, who had,
X by his intrigue, secured her conf
dence, if not her affection, and by his
stronger will largely dominated and
controlled her conduct, that shortly
after the execution Of the crime Of
which she was only an accessory, she
repented and voluntarily gave testi-
mony, without which it may have
been impossible to oonyict the prin-
cipal in this terrible crime and that,
too, without outside inducement and
even without the promise and hope
Of immunity, that she has already
served fifteen years Of imprisonment,
during all Of which time she has been
not only obedient, but has so con-
Quoted herself as to impress the Of
fcials in charge that she is now an
humble and peniteut woman, that
from the testimony Of the attending
physician she is now a physical
wreck, and that longer confinement
will only hasten her end, the board
are Of the opinion that she has sufi-
ciently suffered the penalty of her
guilt, that the majesty Of the law
has been vindieated, that the ends
of Justice have been satisfied and
that mercy should now prevail"
Governors Reasons.
In nearly all pardon petitions it is
customary for the governor to en-
: EIdorse on the back Of the petition
|either the words 'Epardon granted
pr ''pardon refused" or words in
Iicating simply the action taken, but
b the Carson case Governor Ansel
jas written out his reasons for grant
hg the pardon.
The official statement is as follows:
The State of South aCrolina, Exc
eutive Department, an re Mrs. Fan
ME Carson, petition for pardon. The
petition for executice clemency in
this case was fled with me In No
vember, 1905. Since shat time I have
gotten reports from from tAe solicitor
and superintendent a{sllt of 8he peni6esnll-
tiary as to 1the the ease, sna As TO The
behavior Of the pjsssttaattiioner While in
the penitentiary.
Judge Earle, who tried the case on
circuit, died a few years back. At
ter hearing argument of counsel on
behalf Of petitioner, on two separate
occasions, I referred the petition
and papers, together with the former
petition fled with my predecessors,
to the board Of pardons I'M January,
1910. The board Of pardons, after
carefully considering the case, rec
commended the pardon of the petit