The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-01-06

in which Major wood comments, THE
only thing can say is that smith has
made us a good prisoner"
The petition TO the Governor has
a very lengthy preamble in which are
set down In detail the goings and
Jennings OF smith. the persecution by
questions bic detectives and such like"
4Ae number and character OF positions
held and the manner in which he was
aired from time 80 time at the In
stance OF the detectives. and the mis-
deeds OF later years after he got up
against St" and forged some checks
to secure funds with with to send
his sick wife TO California. The period
covered in the recital extends from
1859 until he was arrested and con-
victed here for the forgery for which
he is now serving time. The petition
closes with there paragraphs:
Wants Fighting Chance
The foregoing facts are told with
a degree of humility and shame in NO
far an my dishonest acts are recited
and no one could have greater re
morse of conscience for those past
ffIfgdeeds. And when | inform you OF
these errors can you not In a measure
imagine the heartaches occasioned my
poor loving and devoted little wife =?
assure you her suffeTings as q CON
nigh drained her heart.
II want to do right. and God In nv
witness that I will. even at this late
day. II given 'fighting chance How
ana ! to get this opportunity to start
10 make good II not protected from
these human hioodhounds In the shape
of detectives? Can a man do right live
straight, when bounded. Prosecuted
and driven from one honest position
of livelihood 10 another by a set Of
questionable detectives and such like
These people can and will continue TO
trail me from pillar to post Ii some
halt Ia not called to their persistency,
do not wish to convey the idea
That ] countenance dishonest methods.
nor other acts of law breaking, but do
insist that | have been at times forced
to obtain bread and meat by dishonest
acts due solely to these detectives.
II ann heartily and thoroughly tired
OF wrong doing and hope you may
see you way clear to allow me the
opportunity to remain in the State and
prove my ability and determination TO
become good and altogether law
abiding man for my remaining days.
viii subscribe 10 any conditions you
4nag deem aecessary To require as TO
d future conduct. and show you and
all ether good citizens that / have in
rns the material for making good and
staying good
The petition viii receive considerA-
sion by Governor Stuart, and IL is
likely that Investigation will be made
70 confirm or dirproye the allegations
made by the prisoner. Smiths wife.
who IN said 10 be splendid little
woman" is in Richmond. She attract
I'd much sympathy when the case OF
Smith, or Salyards. being tried
here and after hts conviction and SEN
ernors ONCE n number of times, seek
ing audience in behalf OF her husband
and IL was the intention OF Smith, as
vet forth in his communication to the
ssoyernor to have HIS wife personally
convey that document 10 the execu-
tive. Major Wood, however, sent the
petition through otfieiai channels, il
being customary for all such papers
10 go from the penitentiRry to the out
side world through the Office OF this
aap@rtnts ndeut.
Mrs. Smith is expected to appear
before Governor stuart in behalf Of
her husband and to support hts plea
that he be allowed TO remain in this
stat protected from persecution, ana
TO have a chance to live right
Tells OF HE Downfall.
Smiths statement covering his
career begins with Isea. when after
entering college he met and became
n chun OF Arnold Buthene, whose |
father was IN the banking business
Three years later Smith met Bethune
s4n Chicago and was induced by the |
latter 10 travel with him. Buthens |
'sMid he had fallen heir to a large |
sexsns
IL developed. Smiths story corr
tinnes, that Buthene had dAbblsd in :
Mspcka and lost $40 geo Of the banks
sf4oneg. Buthene was arrested and
&GaIfh with him Buthene was SEN
tence1 20 four years ana smith set az
liberty within e few days but dis
Rsmxed and ruined Detectives he
Mmg4 insisted that ne knew where
some OF the banks money was and
sIxaB bounding him.
lie went 20 Cedar Rapids ia be-
ssmFae cashier and hookkweper At the
Grand Hotel and thre dayR later waa
Sired. detectives having told the
manager who he wac he says he was
MFreeted by the chief of police who
lest him ard Turned higa loose with
sas evfhtr@ that " ne aid uot leave
s0wE he would be beaten 20 death
srs irsr8stc Him.
4s&6 WAS cIerk 81 THE Htod-
.laFsb titpNn, lo~a ito
wAs FayeauRea by detective Hnd avs
iHtcr-r he couid
a& N#s ttr dstettEsss. fsr after
sAneksa@ half.day al Ulaahfook.
49, NN @3@h discharged
HhNm gof thr@e muntha hH aAemra .
3N snHA i&r svnt to Netnbeck Iowa
A@HAt3a afnptoF ueNt tH "a restaurant
hha wighlu three n4ohkhs pgsassaed
AAfs*a gu&sfsa5 Then along came Do
8@ssaA0a un8 tie @hH atwehaFKsd ffe
Aasa paNltpna 2BccaaNlvely o. otiwevu
Mmtsfiep aUa NAveFlf lows. thfouEh
KawslampH ~ detectives
18@ anfsf became manager 81 this .
44AI sasthtBs HSar& af Rock island a..
I'll lie worked on She HeMtaler and .
ssEaaaF 81 u@s MeinsH aaa aH fha 80
xsaAl tslspsgsA sud ether ns~aparsra.
nasss 81 ie@s aBg throuRh me lmHuence
.xf aefeNtiNea
So Waa employ ea 81 ~ ~ collier
Al asmr#ns and. @sftias alenw sell.