The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-12-27

granted clemency to seventy-nine
persons in the penitentiary, on the
chain gangs in the various counties
throughout the State, and including
three to whom pardons were granted
to restore citizenship. The offences
range all the way from murder down
to minor infractions of the law. The
persons to whom clemency was grant
ed will be released tomorrow in time
to eat Christmas dinner at home.
Chester Kennedy Free.
Probably the most interesting case
in the whole batch is that of J. Ches-
ter Kennedy, white, of Barnwell, con-
victed of the murder of a man by the
name of Ussery, and sentenced to life
imprisonment in the State penitentia-
ry The killing of Ussery occurred
during a carnival week in Barnwell,
and excited much interest throughout
the State. Two negroes are now serv-
ing life sentences for this same of
fence, and one of the reasons as
signed for the pardon of Kennedy by
the Governor is the difference in
statements of these two negroes, on
their two trials and since, Kennedy
having been convicted largely on
their testimony.
Alex Farrell, a white man of Flor
ence county, convicted in 1896, along
| with a woman, for the murder Of q
man, was paroled. The woman was
previously granted clemency by, a
former governor.
Samuel Randolph Way, of Column
bia, who conducted drug store On
Main street, and was convicted. .ac,
obtaining money under false pretense'
from his wife, was pardoned.
Robert Chestnut Paroled.
Robert Chestnut, of Orangeburg, a
white man, convicted of killing a man
concerning domestic relations, was
paroled.
Louis Cantrell and Charles M.
| Gaines, of Oconee county, convicted
along with Charles L. Angel, OF the
murder of a farmer of that county,
and sentenced to life Imprisonment
in the state penitentiary, were pa
rolled on the condition that they
leave the State within twenty-four
hours and never return. Angel was
paroled last year.
A record was set in the number of
persons receiving clemencyN at one
time when Governor Donaghey, of
| Arkansas, exercised clemency in $50
cases last week. The number receiv-
ing clemency at the hands of Govern
or Blease this Christmas is the larg-
est number ever turned loose at one
time in the history of this state, and
is double the number turned loose at
any one time by the Governor here
tofore.
Those Receiving Clemency.
The following is the list of cases in
which clemency was exercised:
Samuel Randolph Way, convicted
at the January 1911 term of court for
Richland county, on the charge of
false pretenses, and sentenced to one
year Imprisonment in the State pen
itentiary, without labor, and to pay a
fine of 500. Pardon granted Decem-
Der "a, 1912.
A. L. Pitman, convicted at the Sep
tember, 1911 term of court for Green
vile county, of assault and battery of
a high and aggravated nature, and
sentenced to six months imprison-
ment in the state penitentiary. Par
don granted.
j. w. Gregory, convicted at the
May, 1912 term of court for Union
county, of housebreaking and larceny,
and sentenced to two years impris-
onment; pardon granted.
w. N. Powers, convicted at the
June, 1911 term of court for Will
liamsburg county, of bigamy, and SEN
fenced to nine months imprisonment.
Pardon granted December "a, 1912
for the purpose of restoring him his
citizenship, he having served the SEN
tence imposed.
j. Chester Kennedy, convicted atl
the July 1909, term of court for
Barnwell county, of murder, with
recommendation to mercy, and sem
fenced to life Imprisonment in the
state penitentiary; pardon granted.
S. W. Stockman, convicted at the
August, 1907, term of court for Lex
ington county of manslaughter, and
sentenced to seven years. imprison-
onment in the state penitentiary.
(Paroled May 13, 1917. Pardon
III