Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-02-25
PASTOR AND SONS
WIFE ASK PARDON
FOR SON IN PEN
Rev. S. R, WaIdron, Baptist
Minister, and His Daugh-
ter-in-LaW Seek SignerS
on Petition

The Rev. S. r. Waldron, Baptist
Clergyman, of Mexico, n. Y, and the
young wife of his only son also a
clergyman of the same faith, are in
Atlanta in furtherance Of 4 remark
able mission that has carried them
20 many cities and which will take
them to many more before it is COM
pleted.
The two visitors are seeking sup
porters to a petition which they will
present TO the president of the Unit
ed States praying executive clemencY
for the younger clergyman, the Rev.
c. H. w ,ldrOn, of Windsor, VT, who
began a fiCteen-year sentence last
April at the Atlanta federal peniten-
tiary after having been adjudged
guilty Of a violation Of the espionage
act.
In view of certain circumstances
surrounding THE origin of the case.
it's course through the courts and
the severity Of the sentence, the
father ana the wife of the imprison-
ed minister are undertaking to enlist
the sympathy and interest OF repre-
sentative men in various parts of the
country, whose names will appear
upon the plea asking PreSideTt VIII
sons consideration of the facts.
My ,0n's misfOrtunes arose en-.
ti"eIy from a petty church row
states the e.der DR.. Waldron. There
was no hint of ro-Germanism, slack
erism, o. treason embodied in the
charge vndCr which he was ultimate
ly found guilty 1t all started when
my son accepted the teachings OF
What is known as the PentecoStal as
semblies, a religious faith much more
prevalent in New England than here
He Withdrer~ from his passionate ana
when more than half Of his congfe-
cation followed him, bitter disSen-
sion was precipitated.
''While this feeling was running
highest. NV son happened to come
INFO nOssessiOn of a few copies of a
radical pamphieE outlining the views
of 2. conscientious Objector, and gave
half q dozen or moro to frIendS upon
their requests While the lea1iet was
unquestionably radical II h ii1ii bG ieer
issued by a responsible pubuShlnS
house and thousands had been cir
cuIated without objection. e
INV sons limited distribution OIL
the pamphlet was made the paSIS Oh
charges alleging violation Oh tne eS
pionage act. He was 1lrSt trie sI ~
RratfIeboro, VI. Some Of the 1aclS
concerning the church trouble came
cut during the trial and the case
resulted in q miStTjal after the jury
had bean out twenty-three hours;
"He was then tried at burlington.
All evidence except on one count
fha+ Dprtaining to the pamphlets,
Two others being dismissed, SPECIFIC
charge was excluded and verdict OF
guilty was returned A sentence OIL
fiftpan wears in the Atlanta peniten-
tary was pronounced, our motion 70
appeal the case denied and my son
sent Immediately TO prison.
at was stated that my son was
to be made to serve as an example
and as a warning to others. res
timony bearing on his past unlln-
peachable record, the church hs-
sension, the presence of many young
men of his passionate on the pattie
fields Of France, the fact that the
pamphlet III question was based n
ScriDt1lra1 teachings. had been rec
commended by various religious pub
licatiOns and had never before
brought prosecution, We're barred.
MY sons imprisonment means
separation from his wife and us
five ear-Old daughter. If it is the
will of Cod my daugnter-in- law and
[ viii De rccCnciled to his fate. Eut
we do not consider that this is prov
en- until we exhaust every resource
within our power for rightinG what
we consider a miscarriage OF JUS
tice.
DANGEROUS enemy aliens in Amer
lea, paid German spies, draft resist
ers. mercenary opponents OF the
| government. have been punished
/ with sentences of a year or eight
cen months in the Atl2nIa prison.
| Last week at Rome, Ga, three men
who opc- iy refused to register for
military duty, a position my scr
never dreamed of taking, were sen
| fenced by the federal judge to terms
! of one. two and four months. My
| son. whose ancestors fought for
| American independence must serve
| fifteen years.
1--WE have already enlisted the
| sympathy and active assistance OF
numerous educators, attorneys, min
| listers, publishers and other men OF
high standing in their professions
and we firmly believe that when oul
petition is presented to President
Wilson upon his return from Paris
! that he Will give due consideration
! to all the facts in the case, only {
few of which l have touched upon
here"
EIRE COST $4,000
Fire in the plant of a hame manu-
featuring plant at Chattanooga
Tenn, last week caused loss OF
| $4,000.
Boy KILLED Bx CAB
George Dear, a messenger boy was
killed in Atlanta Saturday when he
was thrown from his motorcycle
| directly in the path of a street car
. He died INSTANTLY.