The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1918-08-09
G0LERNOR WRITES
Of PLEA FOR PARDON
Knock ABOUT Notes Head
Makes Its Appearance in
Hampshire Review.


Z Back In the days when John J. Corn
NOll was q country editor practicing
law 70 make a living and politics as a
recreation he used TO write each week
Cor his newspaper, the Hampshire Re
view, q very interesting collection Of
0emi.editorial articles which he called
Knock About Notes. They we're writ
ten % odd times-On railroad trains,
a hotels, IN the woods or fields but
never In the office. 10 quote his own
description OF how they were done
and they we're always eagerly read by
the faithful subscribers OF the Review.
Since Editor Cornwell became Cover
nor CornWell the Notes have reap.
psared on one or two widely separat-
ed occasions. This weeks issue con.
tnins an installment which is OF such
"a unusual character that The West
VirEinian is going TO take the liberty
10 reprint it here in full:
Few people understand what a great
number OF applications for pardons
are pending before the Governor all
the time. There are more than thou.
sand population in the state peniten-
tiaYy and the number in the county
iailS, since the quart'amonth prOhibi-
ton statute went into effect, is fully,
IN the aggregate, 1000 all the time.
Many OF the jail cases are technical
violations, the victims good workers
With wives and children who clamor
for their release. In these war times
much leniency is justified, but TO pre-
vent being imposed upon requires law
ful investigation and then mistakes
are unavoidable. But from the peni-
Tertiary come the applications and the
appeals that cause the most serious
thought as to what one should do.
Many conVicts write the Governor ana
write frequently. The following let
ter, q rather unusual one. may inter
est Review readers and give them Il
glampse Of one incidental problem the
Governor has 10 solve-a mere Incl.
dent IN his daily workout import.
ant 10 the man who went wrong and
who Graves another chance The writ.
Or Of the letter was convicted Of muir
der. sentenced to be hanged and his
sentence was committed:
Moundsvllle, w. Va. July 10, 1915
Hon. John J. Cornwell, Governor Of
West Virginia, Charleston, w. Va.
Dear GOVERNOR have been incar-
eefated IN the state prison for seven
teen years and ten days today, serv-
ing time for a crime. OF which a jury
Of twelve men said that | was guilty.
the judge having no other alterna-
tive, passed sentence upon me accord
ing to the findings Of the jury.
am growing old, another few years
Of confinement will tell their own
story. In event OF a pardon being
granted, in years TO come II will be
Of no use as all Of my people will have
passed away and I will have no place
10 call home. Again, II my case pass
g 10 the point where my friends will
despair Of clemency ever being extend
Cd TO me and cease in their efforts to
obtain the same. the remainder Of my
days will be spent behind the prison
walls; and my final resting place will
be the prison cemetery "a place where
few, II any, ever call to place a flower
upon an unhonored grave). have.
"Over There" son sacrificing his life
ih defense OF his country-and under
the circumstances. cannot offer any
help even by ny labOr-for such are
the circumstances that ! cannot fur
niSh money with which to secure legal
aid In my case. Therefore ! am ask
ing, that. out OF the bigness of your
heart, you may find a way to extend
10 me clemency in the form of a con-
ditional pardon. ] still have the
strength, will and determination to
prove TO your entire satisfaction that
am worthy Of my freedom. II
through the dictations OF your noble
heart, you can see your way clear TO
grant me elemency ] will leave no
stone unturned TO prove to you my ap.
NANll1AlQu VI tue sault ny llNluk n
straight, clean life. | have a clean
record here, have never been reported
since here. and was here long before
prison reform" was thought OF. at
least before It was put into effect
have not one thought. but the best. for
the Judge who pronounced sentence
upon me, not one. II would give he
Joy, indeed to take each OF them by
the hand and assure them OF my heart.
felt wishes for all that is best on
earth, and my sincere prayer for their
eternal salvation.
] have a brother living in Illinois
and that the executive clemency ask.
Cd for may come from your greatness
Of heart, ! will 90 west and never re.
tufn-if so you wish. have suffered
during these long seventeen years and
] know ] have reformed. Some PEG.
pie DO not believe that a lowly con.
Wet can reform, but you know II is
possible.
Enclosed herewith please find a
copy Of q convict's prayer.
With highest regards. | am,
Yours humble petitioner. -
CHARLES --.