The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-08
STRANGE COURTsH|P
. OF TWO C0Av|CTs
4
PRISONERS IN THE PENITENTIARY
BECOME ENGAGED TO MARRY
WHILE SERVING TIME.
ASK PARDON FOR WOMAN
MAN WHO HAS SERVED FULL TIME
ASKS GOVERNOR To LiBERATE
HIS SOUL MATE FROM
PRISON MEsHEs.

Even among the striped-clo ed
unfortunate occupants or the big
white house on oregon hiil there Ii
vein OF romance. and Cupid is APP
parently at work in some mysterious
wireless telegraphtc manner, IN this
prison report, or those, supposed to
be without feelings OF auection, or
entertaining any appreciative mani
festation OF those delicate sensibiii-
lies which respond SO readily to the
tender chores of love.
For the past three years, among
the occupants of the state peniten-
tiary were hichard johnson, colorea,
Of Bristol. ana Laura Taylor, a young
woman sent from old Manchester.
Richards conc uisory visit to Rich
mond was for ID season OF three years.
the direct cause OF the trip being an
order OF court as the result Of a
conviction for felonious cutting. Lau-
ra came over from the Southsioe
on a prolonged trip. the time pre-
scribed being fifteen years. for pois-
oning.
In modern phraseology. Laura and
Richard are soulmates. AS they have
never seen each other, the case Ia
termed fanatically faith soui-mat-
ing" the lovers having conducted
some kind of grapevine courtsnIp. the
manner OF which has been Indefinitely
described. A real basnIuIness is ap-
parent in the love afrair. however.
but there is no doubt that the con-
Wet courtship was certainly conduct
ed In kome mysterious cianoestine
manner unknown to superintenaen,
wood or his predecessor. the late H.
r. Morgan.
Richard Johnson was on Tuesday
afternoon visitor In the office OF
Governor William Hodges Mann
Richard was not clothed In striped
garments nor was he attended by any
uiue-coated CUSTODIAN of the state q
oonstabuiary force. because he ha.
finished his forced visit and was again
at liberty. with the opportunity given
him to get out and saw wood anU
refrain from cutting people.
Richard meekly and basnfully con-
leased to the governor that he was
In love and that the object OF hls
tonder saffection was Laura Taylor
from whom he was separated, as II
were. by a great gulf, but in reality
d high brick wall. The ex-convic,
explained to the executive that II was
mis- intention to be good in the future
and he wanted the governor to par
don the object of mis- affection. SO
that they might get married and start
life anew.
The governor was deeply touch ed
by the tender pathos Of the mans
story and his evident sincere efforts
in behalf of the poor unfortunate
whom he had never seen. yet had
learned 10 love. Richard told the
governor that Laura had served nine
years OF her time and that the sis
years yet to remain away from hin
looked like an eternity and begged
that mercy might be shown to her
who in a moment of madness forgot
to be merciful to a fellow-creature.
Richard learned OF Laura through
brother Of the woman who was
serving a term in the penitentiary a,
the same time the Bristol negro was
working out his three years sentence
Messages were in some manner sent
10 the woman through this brother
and the acquaintance SO strongly
made grew into a friendship that rip
ened into a matrimonial engagement,
the like of which was possibly never
known before.
Johnson was asked IL he still had
the knife with which he did the cut
ting In Bristol. and he said he did
not and that he did not now carry
so much as a spoon, and certainly
not knife. The negro Is confident OF
his love for the woman and 10 abso-
iUtefy sincere. In his intention to mar,
~ her as soon as she ia liberated from
the prison.
Johnson has received a position In
Richmond and is working In a faith
full manner. The governor has his
request for the woman's pardon I'M
der advisement.