The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1914-07-31
THE RICHEH AND EMERSON
CASES


So much discussion is going ON in
the newspapers, about the attempted
assassination of DR.. J. HI. Mcintosh,
the morning of the day he was to
confront Governor Blease in the
matter of whether or not he had
signed a certificate recommending
the parole or pardon Of one r. A.
Richey, that the average reader is
likely to forget what the Richey case
was. We will give briefly the facts
r. A. Richey of Abbeville county was
tried and convicted by jury OF
statutory rape upon his 14-year-old
step-daughter. 1t was a horrible
and revolving crime upon an limo
cent young girl who was living in
his home and under his care and
protection. He was given long
term sentence in the pen,tentiary.
The case was appealed to tho supreme
court of the state, the judgment and
sentence of the lower court were
affirmed and the culprit entered up
on his term in the penitentiary.
When he mad served only about IL
months of mis- sentence, his lawyer,
W. L. Kichcy. who is also his broth
er and follower OF Governor
Blease, presented petitions. affida-
Wits and certificates for tho pardon
3f the criminal and upon an alleged
claim that ne would probably have
paralysis there, that his healt
would improve f he WIS allowed to
go 1T liberty. Governor Blease per-
mitted him To go free.
We venture tho assertion that
there has been no such tlagrant
abuse of the pardoning power in the
history of the state. except the one
other which we will mention. This
was the case of Emerson. white
man in Anderson county, who. while
debauching the home Of an aged
neighbor in the dead hours OF the
night, was suddenly confronted by
the old father. Emerson shot the
old man dead on the spot and made
his escape. After quite awhile he
was run down and tried in the court
and too merciful jury having rec
commended him to mercy, he got OF
with life sentence in the peniten-
tiary. The case, as usual, was ap-
pealed to the highest court and the
judgment and sentence were affirm
ed. After he had served only a few
years of his life sentence, the par
don mill machinery was put in mo-
tion and although some 1000 per-
sons as against 1000. prayed the
governor not to interfere with the
sentence of the court, Governor
Blease turned Emerson out of the
penitentiary.
Where will it all end? These are
but two OF over 1850 cases of par
don and paroles issued by Governor
Blease during his three and one-haif
years as governor of the state, COW
ering almost every offense in the
catalogue of crime.
1t is true the state will be rid of
Blease, as governor, in less than six
months, but it is a matter of vital
Importance to the state as to who
will succeed him. Is the carnival of
crime to continue in South Carolina
with the approval of It's next COVER
nor? It is for the voters to say on
August 25 next. There are four
candidates for governor who, in
their canvass Of the state, have not
had one word to say on the matter
of lawlessness and the exercise of
the pardoning power. These are
Richards, Simms, Irby and Mullally
all of whom endorse Blease for
the United States senate. The clear
inference, therefore. is that, If elect
ed. the administration of any of
these men would be patterned after
that of Blease.
On the contrary, Clinkscales.
Manning, NJ. l.. Smith, c. A. Smith.
Cooper and Browning have all de-
clared themselves for the enforce
paent of the laws of the state and
against the abuse Of the pardoning
power. So that the issue is well de-
fined and the position Of the different
candidates in relation thereto un-
mistakable. SO it is squarely up to
you, Mr.. Voter.