Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-10-26

oIlpl0Q dnO NUN way
Savannah, Ga, Oct. Ex-Governor
Joseph II. Brown has again been petit
tionel 10 pardon Thomas Edgar Strip
ling. alias Morris, convicted, escaped
and recaptured murderer, one time
chief OF police OF Danville, Va, and
now confined in the state peniten-
tiary for life in expiation OF his
crime This time the petition comes
not in the form Of a voluminous roll
backed by scores OF signatures and
legal p.eas-this last petition is sign
ed by one man only. and the only
plea that accompanies II is the one
Invoked by the little winged god Of
love.
r. T. Youngblood of Tallulah Falls,
80 years Of age. implores the gov
ernor 10 pardon Stripping, not a.one
for Stripling's sake and the happi-
ness Ct his family. but in order that
he-YCungblood may claim as
bride Stripling's young daughter Ruth
May. who acknowledges that she
loves YounEblood but, because of a
previous promise 10 her father, refuses
to marry a. long as he wears the
stripes Of a felon.
As Stripping is himself a compare
lively young man, and as his sentence
Is for life. there is hardly any hope
for the happiness OF Youngblood and
his sweetheart unless the heart of
the governor IS softened into grant
ing Stripping a pardon II Stripping
lives out his allotted time in prison
the girl Will long since have become
an old maid. Miss Stripping declares
positively she will not wed without
the cCnsnn Of her fathe,, or unless he
Is released.
The story OF Stripping is that Of
modern Jean Vatican. He killed VIII
liam J. Cornctt. a neighbor. in Mus
Eogee county. - years ago. because
Of an alleged insult TO his sister. a
young married woman. Cornett was
shot through the window of his home
at night while he was preparing for
bed Stripping plead that he was justi-
fed in the killing because his vic
tim, Known as a desperate character,
had threatened 10 shoot him on sight
He was convicted and sentenced to
life Imprisonment Stripping was al
ready married. and the father of two
children. both girls.
Shortly after his conviction Strip
ling made his escape He remained
I'm hiding for some time, finally GO
ing north into the Carolinas and Vir-
ginia. In the course of time he To-
Gated In Danville. where he was Joined
by his wife. Later he was elected
TO the police force. and finally be-
came chief OF police His family in
the meantime had Increased from two
20 10. the youngest being twins He
led a circumspect life during all OF
these years. and had come 10 be re.
garded as an exemplary citizen. There
had never been any intimation that
his past was under a cloud. He was
known in Danville under the name
OF Morris
Two years ago a sharp eyed little
man dropped of the train at DanviTe
In his possession were requisition pa
pers from the governor of Georgia
upon the governor Of Virginia. and
formally honored by the latter. for
the arrest OF Stripping. alias Morris
escaped murderer. Stripping was con
fronted in his Office He made no de
NAL that he was the man wanted
He was brought back 10 Georgia. tried
and rescntenced TO complete his un
expired term. He had been at libcr
~ II years. For five years he hat
been NJ the head Of the Danvills Do
lice force. His wife and family ar,
now living with relatives in Georgis
and working for his ultimate reloas,
and return 20 them.
Ruth May is the second child. ant