The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-03-29

that John j. Jones, the slayer of
Abe Pearlstine, of Branchville, cher
ished that he might get a pardon
vanished today. when Gov. Cole. l..
Blease refused to interfere with the
verdict IF the Court, which was that
Jones shall serve ten years and one
month at the State penitentiary.
Pardon refused. March 81 1911,
Cole L. Blesse. Governor" are the
words written across the back of
the petition i'm Governor Blease's own
handwriting. The announcement of
the refusal was made early today at
the Chief Executives office.
In statement this afternoon, Gov.
Blease indicated why he refused the
Jones petition. THE petition had no
business being presented said the
Governor. 1T was premature , No
! indication was given whether or not
a later petition would meet with
favor. Governor Blease is not in
clined To pardon prisoners without
some reason. despite the criticism to
the contrary he has received.
n pathetic letter from Mrs. Pearl
stine. a petition that the pardon be
granted from S. MCGOWAN Simkins,
reading clerk Of the House Of Rep
resentatives; letters from lawyers
and refusal of Solicitor Hildebrand
to recommend. with the absence also
OF favorable recommendation on the
part of Jude Memminger constitute
| part of the records i'm the pardon pc
ttion refused by the Governor.
Solicitor Hildebrand wrote that
the case was on appeal TO the Su-
preme Court: that the defendants s
counsel themselves say that the pc
tition for a pardon is premature,
therefore. he does not recommend
Executive clemency.
] Mrs. Pearlstine asks If life is so
cheap in this State that one may
commit such a dastradly crime as
that with which Jones is charged
and yet 20 free.
:. MCGOWAN Simkius, reading
clerk TT the House, from Edgcdeld.
presents tnc petition for pardon. lie
sars he does so from a Humanitarian
standpoint and not with any pecu-
| mary benefit in view. 1t Is strik-
ing that the main petition does not
come from the county in which Abe
| Pearlstine was killed.
Mayor Williams. of Branchville.
writes that he wants Jones pardon
ed as he felt that the man was kill
ed in defence of his own life.
In the Jones petition there was a
letter from Senator Applet, asking
the Governor to not grant the pc
ltlon Tor pardon. Letters from the
attorneys asked that hearing be
given II pardon were contemplated.
There are other letters. but they
are not Of much significance in view
of the fact that Governor Blease to-
day refused to extend Executive
| clemency to Jones.
Jones was sentenced February
Tor the killing of Abe Pearlstine In
the Branchville postoflce. The sem
tence Is ten years and one month.
L GnVprnnr
consider a petition for the pardon OF
| w. Il. Avant the man who, with DR..
G.. o. Bigham. on September Is,
lSOs, killed Dr. Bigham's young wife
on MurrelPs Inlet. twenty-five miles
from Georgetown, and who, with Dr..
Blgham, after being sentenced to
serve three wears and six months in
the State prison. escaped. The two
men left the country before the ap-
peal had been concluded in the Su-
preme Court and have never been
under arrest, except for the short
| time Avant was IN the penitentiary
FOR safekeeping and was released on
habeas corpps proceedings Govern
or Blease told the lady who came to
ask for Avants release that he
would not consider the petition un-
less the man were given up and
placed under arrest.
The young wife of DR. Bigham was
Killed just 1T dusk, and the men
'ia'med that they called to her and
the ohioct' would not answer. so
NVtat fired and Mrs. Bigham fell
over and died in a few minutes. The
case attracted much attention i'm
georgetown and throughout the
state.
Governor ilcdse today parolcd
during good behavior Homn JaD,ns