The Lakeland evening telegram., 1917-11-02
was sentenced to death for being a SPY

case before the secretary of war. Mr..
Stanton made an investigation of the
case and decided that the sentence of
the accused was deserved and must
be carried out.
the president.
Mr.. Lincoln during the war was re-
garded By those high in command as a
stumbling block to military discipline.
So tender hearted was he that he
could not refrain from interfering in
army and such persons on the Con
federate side as were caught SNUG
Cling contraband goods or information
into the south. Often, where the ac-
cusauons were clearly proved, the pres
ident would defeat justice by par
don. 1t is related that Secretary Stan
ton, to whom was given great power
to thwart this interference on the part
Of the president, on presentation Of an
order from Mr.. Lincoln in behalf Of
some luckless individual would tear 1t
up, thus declining to respect it. But in
this case the president overruled the
secretary and ordered new trial for
the condemned man.
The hopes that were raised in ALL
mon Vaughan by this interference
were doomed to disappointment. The
officers of the court, refusing to per-
NIT their feelings to influence them,
returned a second verdict of guilty.
Again the president was appealed to,
| again he ordered another trial, and
again the same verdict was returned.
| Naturally these three trials con-
sumed great deal of time, and when
the last verdict was 1eturned the
spring of 1865 had opened, and the
end of the war was in sight. Senator
Henderson refused to be discouraged.
There was one means Of saving George
Vaughan's life that had not been util-
lied. President Lincoln possessed the
/ pardoning power in such cases, and
| the senator resolved to make an ef-
fort in that direction.
| Visiting the White House, he OBJ
tanned access to the kind hearted pres
ident and solicited a pardon for the
condemned Confederate, urging. the
fact that the war was practically over
and such an act Of clemency would
60 far to bringing the Confederates of
Missouri back into the Union fold.
"See Stanton" said Mr.. Lincoln, "and
tell him that this man must be re-
leased"
II have seen him." replied the sen.
ator, land he will do nothing"
See him again." said the president,
"and If he will do nothing come back
to me-"
Again Senator Henderson sought the
iron secretary. who set his square
jaws and refused to interfere with the
verdict of the court martial. Had
Allmon Vaughan known of this fna
effort to save his brother from an ig
nomnious death and Of the shadow
that VS. then hanging over the only
man who could save him he woult
have l"$t all hope.
1t WIS the 18th Of April, 1866. Sen
ident 10 report the issue of his fina
effort with the secretary of war. TIL,
senator was shown to Mr.. Lincoln.
private room, where he found hin
dressing for the theater.
"Mr. Stanton will do nothing" sail
Henderson. There is no hope"
Mr.. Lincoln shook his head; theI
without word. he seated himself al
a desk and, taking up pen and paper
began to write.
No other such scene fraught with III,
and death occurred during those darl
days Of war. Placed on canvas by al
artist It would be: The long, gaun
president, sitting ut his desk about Il
write pardon for one Of his coun
try's enemies, his face wearing an ex
preston Of magnanimity. Near by
would stand the senator, silently won
dering what the writing would be ant
hoping for victory Overlooking til,
president is the Shadow Of Death, wear
ing q mingled expression Of disappoint
ment and n-disappointmen
at being cheated out of one victim
satisfaction at the certainty Of secur
ing far more important one In tn,
man who was robbing him Of the other
When Mr.. Lincoln had written few
lines he handed the paper to the sen
ator Henderson scanned It with ,
look OF mingled pleasure and triumph
1t was pardon for George Vaughan
and an order for his release.
Having expressed his gratitude Il
Mr.. Lincoln the senator hurried 10 tn,
telegraph to fash the good news tc
Missouri, relieving the strain on tn,
condemned Confederate and gladdeI
the hearts of his brother and other.
who loved him.
But the president, shortly after this
act of mercy, descended to a car
riage and was driven to the theater
and while sitting In his chair, possibly
thinking rather of the life he had spar
ed than the play, was sent to his Ions
home by one who thought he served
the same cause as the man he had par.