The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1913-12-13

Applying
forPardon

Or. E. c, McKowen is again an ap-
plicant before the Board of Pardons
for pardon, having been sentenced in
May, 1910, to life Imprisonment for
the murder of Edward X. Judson, an
inmate of the State Insane Asylum at
Jackson 1t is claimed that certain as
poets of the case have changed since
application was made in December,
1911. Following is condensed report
of the matter in the Times-Democrat
Of Thursday:
Judge Brunot of Baton Rouge was
the trial Judge. The case was sent
from East Feliciana parish to East
Baton Rouge because of the feeling
against DR.. McKowen at the time. For
several months previous to the muir
der of Judson, many of the most prom
inent people in East Feliciana parish
had been receiving unsigned letters, in
which prominent men were accused Of
gross immoralities. Suspicion rested
on DR.. McKowen, and, in fact, he was
indicted in United States District
Court short time prior to the muir
der of Judson.
Judge Brunot, who formerly refus-
ed to recommend DR.. McKowen's par
don because he did not believe then or
now that tuberculosis was sufficient
ground.
1T was stated Wednesday by Judge
Rrunot that he told the friends of DR..
McKowen that he would never consent
to recommendation for his pardon
unless he could feel sure that DR.. Nc.
Kowen is now sane man, one. that
should have liberty and feel and know
the responsibility for his acts.
Accordingly, Judge Brunot appoint
ed for himself lunacy commission,
comprising Drs. Duchein, Tucker and
McVea The commission went to An
COLA, where DR.. McKowen is confined,
and after searching examination of
the DOCTOR reported in writing to Judge
Brunot that it was their unanimous
opinion that DR.. McKowen is absolute
ly sane.
Judge Brunot said that the trial of
the case showed that DR.. McKowen
committed most unnatural crime.
Judson was killed at night. DR.. Nc
Kowen, according to witnesses, drove
probably twenty miles with the body
or at least something, in a buggy. The
body was found at daylight at the road
side, and there were evidences that
chemicals and fire had been used in
an effort to destroy it. Judge Brunot
said that if the plea of insanity had
been made in the case, 1t was his opin-
ion that DR.. McKowen would never
have been sent to the penitentiary.
"The main argument for a pardon
for Dr. McKowen was presented by
State Senator Beall Of counsel for the
defense. He said that he made per-
sonal investigation of the physical sur
roundings of the killing and was con-
vinced in his own mind that plea OF
insanity should be entered, and so ad-
vised DR.. McKowen. Dr. McKowen
turned down the plea. He intimated
that he would kill himself rather than
go to an insane asylum, was the stale
ment made by, Senator Beall
when the first application for o
pardon was made, DR.. McKowen was
! fearful for his life because of pulm0,
nary tuberculosis. Since the refusal of
the pardon, however, Dr. Mckowen
has been assigned to duty at Angola,
and it was frankly stated by Senator
Beall that his physical condition has
greatly improved. He is still afflicted
with the disease however, and, If par
doned, he will remove from the Stats
to locality where climatic conditions
are supposed to be better for consump1
tives Gee 1ah
"One of the most important things In
the presentation of the application for
a pardon was a letter from c. Harri
son Parker of the Board of Control Of
the Louisiana State Penitentiary The
, pardon is recommended, and this prac
tically sets a precedent, as only once
before has such letter been author
lied by the Board of Control.
. ''The letter shows that DR.. McKow
. en- was made a hospital steward in ;
. levee camp and that he underwent &C
tual hardships in the performance o
duty. He was the only physician 70
miles around, and he was subject t
all of the hardships of paid pract
toner. In the prosecution of the wor
laid out for him his health became in
paired, and it was necessary to sen
. / franfiuund IN M co fwo /