The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-06-13
BARNES REALIZES
DREAM Of FREEDOM
Man Who Saved Hospital Hall
Staff from Massacre Freed
by President
HIS PARDON is
UNCONDITIONAL
He Was Under Life Sentence
in the Government
Hospital for the
Insane

Ssy o.
The dream Of freedom that has sus-
tanned Lorenzo ID. Barnes. an inmate
OF the Government Hospital for the
Insane. under life sentence for :nur-
der committed In Oklahoma. came
true yesterday. when President Taft
granted Barnes an unconditional par
don. The case had attracted the at
tention Of officials in the Department
of Justice. attending physicians had
pronounced him cured OF his mental
ailments, and, with many favora BILE
endorsements. his appeal for pardon
was under executive consideration
when Barnes materially aided his
cause on March "a by informing the
hospital authorities OF a plot to kill
several guards in a dash for liberty
by the most dangerous Of the =rimi-
nal inmates.
While the pardon In complete and
unconditional. It probably s:il be sew
erai months before Barnes will leave
the government hospital to return to
his wife and child and home in Okla
homa. On receipt of the pardon pa
pers to-day he will be taken from the
criminal ward and Will be placed In
the noncrfminai class Of patients for
additional treatment for his phyNcal
and mental upbuiiding, so that he
may be in good condition before he
is sent out into the world.
Freedom Is Delayed.
Prison life and the depression incl
dent to his life sentence were the
main causes of mental upset, and this
is TO be eradicated before his fina,
release will have been accomplished.
In every other sense ne will be a free
81 nj ttr1n I've t.
will not be discharged until he is be-
lieved by the hospital authorities to
be fully competent to assume again
his place in the world.
The crime fer which Barnes was
convicted was the murder of a man
VINO had tnsuited Barnes wife and
who, the evidence of the case shows,
had attempted to destroy Barnes
nome and happiness. In final con-
sideration Of the papers OF appeal At
torney General Wiekersham recon-
mended pardon. with the observation
' that Barnes had taken the lie of a
scoundrel. but saved the lives of sew
eral government officers"
After Barnes began his prison SEN
tence friends started a petition for
his pardon. The convictinE Judge
the prosecuting attorneys and mem
bers OF the jury before which he
was tried and signed this petition
| but the horror of hts experience.
broodlng over the ruin Of his domes.
tic happiness, and the rigors of jail
| lie had so worked on him that his
mind gave way, and Barnes was sent
10 the government hospital for the
insane.
Cure Was Rapid.
His treatment at st. Elizabeth
m hny
Barnes soon was considered a model
patient. He was not returned to the
Western prison because Of the action
pending In the appeal for his pardon
and, as he was under conviction for
crime. he was continued in custod,
In the prison ward of the hospital.
Last March. when several of the
most desperate criminals In Howard
Hall formed their plot for wholesale
delivery, they took Barnes into their
| confidence. He learned all the plans
and the fact that the conspirators had
gained possession of steel bars, re-
volvers and other weapons, and that
all guards between them and liberty
We're to be killed without exception
Realizing that his own life would
thereafter always be In danger be.
cause OF being an "informer," Barnes
took that chance and told the au-
thortties of the plot
This heroic action tended to hasten
consideration OF his appeal for par
don. with. further recommendation
attached by DIR. william A. White,
superintendent of the hospital. The
physicians under whose observation
Barnes had come believe that, what
ever offense against the law Barnes
committee his expiation has been
complete.
Barnes Discusses Case.
When told OF the plot to escape
barnes says. II knew I should be
marked as an informsr. ! had then
no thought of influence on my appeal
for pardon, but was thinking OF the
suffering that would follow the kill
Ing OF innocent men in the break for
Freedom.
ITO those who sought my pardon
would say God forbid that any favor
should come to me at the expense
of my pitiful associates. God forbid
that the pardon should come to mo
against His will on any human ac-
count.
THE men who convicted me later
Joined In asking for my pardon. The
man I shot insulted my wife. khe
10 q Christian woman and, in all the
trials that have come to her since
that day. she has raised and schooled
our baby and has maintained her
faith and integrity"
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