The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-07-26
TURNED HIM LOOSE
SOLICITOR WELLS NOT HEARD
IN THE MATTER.
Telegram Announcing Intention to
Pardon Surprised Even Friends Of
Governor 3lease.

The Florence Daily Times puo-
lishes the following relative to the
pardon of R. L. Bazin, of that coun-
ty, who was convicted of the killing
of Lotion Poston, at Blossom School
house, in lower Florence County, on
the night of January %, 1910. and
was sentenced last November to
three years Imprisonment for man.
slaughter.
The following remarkable tele-
gram was received at Florence We'd
nesday by the solicitor, who showed
it to several who were interested in
the case, and one Of them made a
copy of it, from which copy the
Times obtained a copy. It is need
less to state that the telegram was
surprise even to those who knew
Governor Blease:
Columbia, July 1S.-Hon. W. H.
Wells, Florence, S. c.: Your wire
Mr.. RagsdaIe hera. Will wait your
arrival if you desire to come. Am
frank to say, however, that pardon
will be granted. Answer. (Singed)
Cole L. Blease, Governor.
This remarkable telegram related
to the pardon of young Bazin, who
was sendenced at recent Court for
killing Poston. In behalf of BaZin q
petition has been circulated and
number of men in the county signed
it, being assured in their own minds
and conscience that Bazin was suf-
fering wrongly for killing which
had not been intended, but accident
al, to a great extent, and done in
the defense Of his person from
man who had pushed the fight on
him.
There were, however, a number
who thohght differently, and they
started a counter petition, and the
Times is told that the signers were
the majority of the people in the
neigh borhood where the killing oc-
Cured. Neither petition has been
seen by the Times man, though ask
ed to sign both Of them. 4 number
Of signatures to the counter petition
were secured Wednesday, and the
Solicitor was urged to take it to
the Governor and combat the state
ments of the attorneys for Bazln,
who were doing energetic and faith
full work for their client, fully con-
vinced that they were right in their
efforts to prevent him being punish
ed.
It seems that in the matter there
is a great difference Of opinion as to
the evidence in the case, and there
seems to have been Ia great deal of
family feeling involved, and much
5eclouds the evidence, so that it is
hard to assure ones self just what
is right in the matter. In the trial
Messrs. Ragsdale and Whitley. the
attorneys for the defence, did not
out up any witnesses, but relied on
the position that the State had not
made out their case, and they con-
tend that the charge of the trial
Judge, Ernest Gary, was practically
an instruction for verdict Of guilty.
The case is one of the most nota-
BILE in the county. The two men be-
came involved in row at a school,
entertainment In their section, and,
meeting outside the school house,
blow was followed by stab with
knife, and in few minutes Poston
was dead. Both men belonged to
well-known and influential families.
Solicitor Wells did not go to CO.
!umbia with the petition, after re-
ceiving the telegram, nor did anyone
20. Even the Governors supporters
were astonished at his position.
A telegram was received Thurs
day announcing the pardon Of 'Bazln
by the Governor in accordance with
the telegram of Wednesday.