Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1916-07-31
CASE Oct. E. STRIPPING !.
Former Chief of Police Of Danvllle
Liberated

| Atlanta, Ca, July 31-Thomas I'd
gar Stripping, who served as ehie
of police of Danville, Va, for almos
| four of the fourteen years tnat nj
was an escaped convict, has beer
granted full pardon by Governor
Nat E. Harris.
Since the first day that "Chiet X
E. Norris" of Danyille, was brough'
back to Georgia to resume his lie
sentence as Stripping, influential at
tempts were made through three State
administrations to have him pardoned
All these failed, however, until Gov
ernor Harris went to Milledgeville, in
July, 1915, to inspect the State Prison
Farm. While there one of Stripling's
eight children, a girl Of six ran to him
in the prison grounds and bashfully
pleaded to "Please let my papa out,
because he is sick, and we all need
him so bad" The incident touched
the aged Governor, and he promised
"to send your father back to you
some time during his term I
STRIPPING, on November A, 1897,
shot and killed WI. Cornett, his
neighbor in Harris County, Ga. He
fired through a window of Cornett's
house. He surrendered at Columbus,
Ca, a few days afterward, and even
tually was found guilty and :sentenc-
ed to life Imprisonment,
STRIPPING testified at the trial-and
it was corroborated-that Cornett
had insulted both his wife and mar
ried sister; that Cornett had threat
ened to kill him, and that, when pass
ing Cornett's house the night of the
killing, he could not restrain himself
from shooting when he saw Cornett
passing a window with light in his
hand. He claimed self-defense, as he
said he believed "It was either Cor
nett's life or mine some time"
He escaped from the Harris Coun-
ty Jail when his case was awaiting
the outcome of an appeal. He re-
manned hidden about two months at
the home of his uncle in Harris
county and then made his way to
north Carolina, where his wife join
ed him in 1899. Under the name Of
R. E. Morris, he did different kinds
of work in several towns for a num-
Der of years. Finally he was en-
ployed by the Southern Railway as a
special agent. That work took him to
Danville, where he had been about one
year when he obtained place on
the police force. Nine months later
he was elected chief of police.
STRIPPING has said there were two
men in Danville who knew his life
story, but they remained silent.
Finally a man well known in Harris
county saw him, and soon afterwards
reports as to Stripling's whereabouts
were heard. These reports seemed to
w. w. Smith, a.private detective, to
warrant investigation. He obtained
requisition papers from Governor
rown and proceeded to Danville.
Smith established the Identification
beyond doubt.
On March 4, 1911, the Danville
Council was to elect a chief of police
and it is said STRIPPING was practi'
cally assured of reelection, notwith-
standing some opposition had arisen
because he killed young white mar
who had resisted arrest, killed negro
who was attempting; to rob his home
and shot another negro while re-
sisting arrest. He was eXonerated Of
blame in each case.
'On the afternoon of March 3, how
ever, Smith presented the requisi.
ton papers to Danville authorities
STRIPPING was confronted with th'
fact, and admitted his identity
STRIPPING requested the Mayor ant
members of Council, who at that TIM
were unaware of his plight. to NEE
that night, as he had an importan
statement to make. Before the bod.
that probably would have elected hin
chief for another term the next nigh
he stood handcuffed and told the stor,
of the shooting of "Bill Cornett, o
his escape and movements during tn
nearly fourteen years of freedom. H
still wore his uniform when place
in jail in Georgia. :"
| DEATH NOTICE