The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-12-01
BRYAN G. PRATT
is PARDONED BY
GOVERNOR MAJOR

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of the witnesses who helped TO con-
| Wet him Of bigamy, Bryan G. Pratt
was yesterday pardoned by Governor
Upon the recommendation of most
Major, after Harry +. Alexander, who
prosecuted Pratt, had appeared be-
fore the executive and made an APP
peal for the prisoners release,
Pratt had been under sentence for
two years in the penitentiary since
last November, when he was convicted
Of contracting d bigamOus marriage
with Miss Frieda McClatchey, a pretty
Cape Girardeau girl. He induced his
bride to go to Advance, Mo-, where the
ceremony was performed while Pratt
lay in bed.
He mad been confined to his room
for several days before his marriage.
Before he had fully recovered, Sam
McClatchey, father of the bride, learn
ed that the marriage was spurious and
went to Advance and had the bride
groom arrested. When she was told
that she had been duped by Pratt, she
denounced him and offered to take the
witness stand to bring about the con-
viction. She was one of the principal
witnesses at the trial
Mr.. Alexander, highly elevated over
the result of his mission, returned
early this morning from Jefferson
City, where he had gone Sunday. He
said he had obtained the pardon on
the strength of a letter which the de-
PENDANT had found after his conviction.
in this letter Pratt was informed that
his first wife, who was living with her
two small children in st. Louis. had
obtained q divorce from him. 1t serv-
ed as evidence that Pratt thought he
vas contracting a bona fide marriage
when he married the second time.
The fact that those who prosecuted
him signed the petition was evidence
in itself that these parties thought
that Pratt was innocent, Alexander
said. These signatures, Mr.. Alexanl
der said, were a great aid to him in
getting his client pardoned.
Pratt, who was in charge of a pro-
motion scheme in Advance, married
after brief courtship. The parents
Of the bride were taken by surprise
when they were informed by the bride
groom that the wedding had taken
place. They forgavc their daughter,
however, only to hear that the new
son-in-Iaw still had another wife. The
cnraged father hurried to Advance and
brought his daughter back on the day
following the wedding.
Pratt was arrested and indicted for
bigamy. A heart-breaking scene was
enacted in the office Of Prosecuting
Attorney, where Pratt was confronted
by two wives. He Rugged and en-
braced his small child which he hardly
knew, for it was only a few weeks
old when he last saw it. Pratt had
practically no defense to offer, except
ing the fact that he had heard his
first wife had been given a divorce by
the Circuit Court in st. Louis. He had
no evidence to substantiate this rumor.
Alexander was the prosecuting at
torney in the case. He said this morn
ing, that while he felt at heart that
Pratt was not guilty Of the charge, he
felt that he should be convicted on the
face of the evidence brought against
him during the trial.
A move was started to get Pratt
pardoned shortly after the trial, and
Alexander was asked to join in this
move. The fact that the girl with
whom he was charged with having en-
tered into a bigamous marriage was
this plea for pardon, Alex
ander said was more evidence that /
Pratt was not guilty of a criminal in
tent, even though he had really viOlat
ed the lew. Miss McClatchey was one |
of the first to sign the petition.
The case had been appealed to the |
Supreme Court. After the pardon had !
been granted Alexander filed motion !
with the Supreme Court to withdraw |
the appeal which, of course, will be !
granted.