The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-06-04
CASE
AGAIN BEFORE
PRISON BOARD
Convicted of Murder, He Fled
and in Another City Be-
came Police Chief.

ATLANTA, June 3.--It Is said that
the prison commission stands two to
one against n pardon for Edgar strip
ling. The two who oppose pardon
q are understood 10 be Commissioners
Rainey and Patterson; Commissioner
Il. F.. Davidson is understood TO ia
vor pardon.
Some months ago the voluminouB
record in the case was sent to the
governor at his request so that he
might study the presentation of facts
and the pleas upon which the petition
for pardon is based. No new petit
ton has been filed since the indict-
ment at the state farm last summer,
when u little daughter OF Stripping
was promised by the governor that n
pardon would sooner or later be
granted.
On previous occasion the com
mission recommended a pardon, but
the then Governor Joseph NJ. Brown,
refused to grant It. There has been
great deal or argument and discus
sion OF the case both within and with
out official circles.
StrlpllnG's Case.
Stripping was convicted many years
ago In South Georgia OF the murder
OF 4 white man named Cornett and
was sentenced and his case was APP
pealed to the supreme court. While
the case was pending on appeal there
was TAIL delivery in which Stripping
made his escape. II any real efforts
were made to ind him It was without
success Finally his family left Mus
cogee county and appeared TO drop
out of existence. So far as has been
shown no effort was made to trace
them.
Cornett, II was alleged, was L bad
character and dangerous. He lived in
4 little cabin on the outskirts OF the
town. One night while he sat before
the fireplace in his little hut. unlac-
ing his shoes preparatory to going to
bed he was shot to death through .
window in the side OF the room. The
body was found tho following morn
ing. but no trace OF the man who had
killed him.
Search was Instituted and Strip
ling himself Joined in the search. Sub
seQuently Stripping surrendered and
admitted that he had killed Cornett.
giving as his reason that Cornett had
offered an insult to a female member
OF his family. Cornett, us was brought
out in the evidence, had made re-
marks rejecting upon the character
Of members OF Stripling's family, par
ticularly a sister, and II is said that
he had also made threats that he
would kill STRIPPING II Stripping re-
sentcd what he had said about his
relatives.
w.. ,f,.r 81. So,,b raroIGpo
Jail delivery Il man was located in
little Virginia city, who proved to be
Stripping. y travelling man recogniz-
ed him and reported the fact to the
Georgia authorities. Stripping, after
living for years in half hiding in the
state Of North Carolina and other
places, finally located at Danville.
Va, changed his name to Morris. -
was appointed to the police depart
ment. and at the time Of his arrest
was chief OF police. He had made a
good citizen, and, as Chief Morris.
had raised u large family, his wife
having Joined him, and was well
known and well regarded throughout
that section. As an officer he had
made good record.
When confronted with q warrant
for his arrest he admitted that he
was Stripping and he came back 70
Georgia without a reQuisition, He
had tried to live down what had oc-
Cured in Georgia years and years
before and believed he had succeeded
in doing so.
Efforts 90 Get Pardon.
He was sent to state prison to COM
pleto the life sentence imposed upon
him BY the trial court and sustained