Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1916-07-30
MADE
MAN BY GOV.
HARRIS PARDON

ATLANTA, Ga, July 29.-T. f.
STRIPPING, the famous Georgia convict,
was pardoned early Saturday after
noon by Governor Nat E. Harris. This
brings to an end long political ques-
tion which has been prominent in
Georgia since the administration CT
former Governor Joseph NJ. Brown.
On several ocasions it has been
reported that Governor Harris was
about to pardon the well-known con-
vict, but the short announcement
came Saturday.
The pardon by Governor Harris is
direct result of a promise made to
Stripling's little daughter at Milledge-
vile, when the governor went to in
vestigate teh incident last year in re-
gard to the cutting of Leo NJ. Frank,
another convict. 1t is said that the
governor told the daughter that he
would pardon her father before lie
left the executive chair. Governor
Harris now blows up part of the thur.
der which has been used against him
by some of his opponents.
The order of Governor Harris com.
muting the sentence of Stripping to
present service, which has just been
signed, is one of the most interesting
documents ever issued from the exec
utive Office, and the case itself is prob
ably the most unique in the criminal
history of the country.
The governor opens the order witt
a review of all the early facts of the
case, which case has attracted atten-
tion all over the United States. Strip
ling, often referred to as a modern
Jean Val Jean, killed W. j. Cornett in
Harris county, on September 4, 1897.
and was jointly indicted on a murder
charge with his brother-in-law ]. T.
Huff They were tried together and
jointly convicted, and each was SEN
fenced to serve for life in the peniten-
tiary, Both appealed for new trials,
took their cases to the state supreme
court, and while the appeals were
pending in that court Stripping made
his escape.
Going to Danville, Va, Stripping Sc
cured a position on the police force
and lived there fourteen years under
an assumed name, rising from rank to
rank, until finally he was promoted to
the position of chief of police. Being
by chance visitor from
J eorgia, Stripping was brought bacG
to Georgia on a requisition issued by
the then governor and was sent to the
state prison farm at Milledgeville to
serve out his life sentence.
Before beginning his sentence Strip
ling applied to the prison commission
foi pardon, and the same was IMAM
imously recommended by the members
then composing the body, namely: The
Clement A. Evans, Wiley Williams a1d
T. E. Dawson, the latter of whom is
now chairman of the commission. The
was transmitted to
Governor Joe NJ. Brown and by him
denied. In July, 1915, Stripping re-
moved application for pardon and tile
prison commissioners were divided or
the question. E. L .Rainey and T. E.
Patterson recommended the applica-
tion be denied, while r. E. Dawson re-
affirmed his former position in favor
of granting pardon.
Governor Harris, reviewing the mer-
its of the case, says that Stripping kill
ed Cornett is admitted, and the appli-
cation for pardon is based on extern
uating circumstances surrounding the
killing and newly discovered evidence
aid developments since the trial. The
technical case of murder was proved
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