The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1915-05-06

dusty sunburned lawn. the barrack-like
facades of the old administration
building and Kentucky state capitol
: frowned on the street and railroad
track. About II, on two sides Of the
Kentucky river, sprawled the town Of
Frankfort; sleepy. more or less dishev-
eled at the center, and stretching to
shaded environs Of colonial houses set
in lawns of rich bluegrass, amid the
shade of forest trees. Circling the
town in an embrace OF quiet beauty
rose the Kentucky river hills.
Turning in to the gate Of the state.
house enclosure, man, who seemed
to be an fastener by the cut of his
clothes, walked slowly up the brick
walk, and passed around the fountain
at the front of the capitol His steps
carried him direct to the main en-
trance of the administration building,
and, having paused a moment In the
rotunda, he entered the secretary's Of
fee of the executive suite, and asked
for an interview with the governor.
Have you an appointment" the Sec
rotary asked.
The visitor shook his head. Scrib-
bling brief note on slip of paper. he
inclosed it in an envelope and handed
it to his questioner.
You must pardon my seeming mys-
teriousness," he said, but II you let
me send in that note think the gov
ernor will see me-"
Once more the secretary studied his
man with slightly puzzled air, then
nodded and went through the door that
gave admission to the executives of.
fee
His excellency opened the envelope
and his face showed an expression of
surprise. He raised his brows question. |
ingly.
"Roughlooking sortr" he inquired |
"Mountaineer?"
mo, sir. New Yorker would be my |
guess. Is there anything suspicious?"
Il guess not" The governor laughed. |
Rather extraordinary note, but send
him In"
Through his eastern window the
governor gazed off across the hills OF
South Frankfort, to the ribbon Of river
that came down from the troublesome
hills. Then, hearing movement at his
back, he turned, and his eyes took in
Il well-dressed figure with confidence
inspiring features.
He picked up the slip from his desk
and, for a moment, stood comparing
the name and the message with the
man who had sent them in. There
seemed to be in his mind some irrecon.
cilable contradiction between the two.
With slightly frowning seriousness
the executive suggested:
This note says that you are Samson
South and that you want to see me
with reference to a pardon. Whose
pardon is it, Mr.. South"
my own, SIR"
The governor raised his brows
slightly.
Your pardon for what? The news
papers do not even report that you
have yet been indicted" He shaded the
word yet" with slight emphasis.
II think have been indicted within
the past day or two. I'm not sure my
SELF"
The governor continued to stare.
The impression he had formed Of the
Wildcat from press dispatches was
warning with the pleasing personal
presence of this visitor. Then his fore.
head wrinkled under his black hair and
his lips drew themselves sternly.
you have come to me too soon, sir"
he said CURLY. The pardoning power
Is thing to be most cautiously used 9
at all times, and certainly never until
the courts have acted. A case not yet I
adjudicated cannot address itself to ex-
ecutive clemency."
Samson nodded.
Quite true" he admitted. "If / an {
that had come on the matter !
IF pardon, it was largely that | had =
70 state some business and that l
seemed the briefest way of putting It," t
Then there is something else? 9
Eyes. II it we're only plea for !
,lemency l should expect the matter t
% be chiefly important to myself. In Q
POINT Of fact, hope to make 1t equally '
to you. Whether you give
ne a pardon in fashion which vio- G
ates all precedent, or whether / sur
'ender myself and go back to trial Q
which will be merely form Of assas- q
Iination rests entirely with you. sir. q
You will not And me insistent" q
Then Samson launched into the
tory Of his desires and the details Of ?
conditions which outside Influences
lad been powerless to rernedy--be. 8
ause they were outside Influences. j
'ome man Of sufficient vigor and COM Q
acting from the center OF Z
must be armed with the II
'ower to undertake the housekeeping, d
md for q while must do work that q
would not be pretty. As far as he was u
personally concerned. pardon after b
rial would be matter Of purefy AGA
emic interest. He could not expact u
o survive a trial. He was ut present 4
bic ta held shs AantAa IN lsAaAp II .