The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-08-06
Escaped Convict, Who Worked
Up to Police Head, Now
PaPrdOned.

ATLANTA, Ca, Aug. 5.-The COVER
nor OF Georgia has granted pardon,
full and complete, to Thomas Edgar
Stripping, who, as an escaped convict,
with a life term for murder hanging
over his head, made his way toward
the North some years ago, began life
anew and rose to the position Of chief
Of police Of Danville, Va.
In that position, pursuing criminals
and shooting down several who tried
to escape, Stripping himself success
fully eluded detection until one day
man from his old home county CHANGED
to stop in Danville and recognized the
law officer Of the thriving little Vir-
GINA city as the fugitive from Geor-
gia justice. But this man did not de-
liberately betray his neighbor of for
mer years. However, the weight Of
his discovery was too heavy to bear
alone. He told some friends, and
eventually the story came to the ears
Df private elective who did the rest.
Efforts to Get His Release.
Since the first day "Chief R. r. Nor
ris." Of Danville, was brought back to
Georgia to resume his life sentence as
Stripping, strong efforts have been
made to obtain his release.
All these had failed. however until
Governor Harris went to M!lledgevile
to inspect the state prison farm, While
there one of Stripllng's ten children,
q girl of 6, rushed up to him on the
prison grounds and made a childish
plea.
please let my papa out" she said
because he is sick, and US all need
him so bad"
This seemed to touch the aged gov.
ernor and he told the child:
Go and tell your papa that | will
Set him free"
Stripping on September 4, 1897, shot
and killed W. j. Cornett, his neigh
Dor, in Harris county, Ga. He fred
through a window Of CoTnetts home.
He surrendered himself at Columbus,
Ca, few days aftorward, and even
tually was found guilty and sentenced
to life Imprisonment.
Feared for His Own Life.
Stripping testified at the trial that
Cornett had insulted both his wife
and his married sister, living in the
same neighborhood; that Cornett had
threatened to kill him, and that when
passing Cornett's house the night of
the killing he could not restrain him
self from shooting when he saw Cor
nett passing window with light In
him hand. He claimed self-defense,
as he said he believed ut was either
Cornetts life or mine some time"
While in the Harris county jail while
awaiting the outcome Of an appeal,
Stripping and a colored man held 70"
murder escaped.
Stripping remained hidden about
two months at the home Of uncle in
Harris county. He then venned out
and made his way to North Carolina,
where his wife Joined him in 1899. I'm
der the name of R. Z. Norris he did
different kinds of work in several
towns for a number Of years. Finally
he was employed by the Southern rail-
way as a special agent. That work
took him to Danville, where he had
been about one year when he obtained
a place on the police force. Nine
months later the escaped convict was
elected chief of police
Knew of His Past Career.
Stripping has stated since his re-
turn to Georgia that there were two
men in Danville who knew his life
story, but they remained silent He
said that on two or three occasions he
saw other persons whom he believed
recognized him. Finally, man well
known in Harris county, saw him, and
soon afterward reports as to Strip
Hng's whereabouts we're heard. These
feports seemed to w, w. Smith, priv
ate detective, to warrant investigation.
He obtained requisition papers from
Governor Brown. Of Georgia and pro
ceeded to Danville Smith established
the Identification beyond doubt
On March 4, 1911, the Danville city