Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1920-03-04
FARRELL IS GIVEN LEAVE TO ATTEND
 FUNERAL. or WIFE:
Mother of Eleven Dies as Illus. band Starts for
 Pen
OFFICERS DID NOT
 KNOW OF HER DEATH
Convicted Man Said Nothing of News He Received and Sheriff Learned Only After Departure of
 Her Demise

M l.. Harrel, 42 years old. forger last night was on the way back to his former home in Benton to at- tend the funeral of his wife, 36 years old, who died at the Davis hos pital here yesterday morning a few minutes before Harrell was started on his way to the state penitentiary to begin a two-year sentence.
 Harrell was travelling under a fur tough "for reasonable length of time" granted him by Governor c. H. Brough late yesterday Gover- nor Brough declared over the tele- phone last night that he would in vestigate the circumstances of Har- rel's motherless children-there are II of them-and it was probable a pardon may be granted,
 Harrell's wife recently. gave birth to a twelfth child. Harrell at the time was in jail awaiting trial. The child lived but few days, and in the meantime Harrell had pleaded guilty and had been sentenced to
 
 tremely ill, was taken to the Davis hospital and the children were placed in charge of relatives.
 Officers Uninformed.
 Yesterday morning Harrell was in- formed of the death of his wife as he was about ito be taken to Little Rock by deputies from the sheriff's $ office. He, however, maintained his reputation for being eccentric and told the officers nothing about it e@Ae was taken to Little Rock in an GAto by Deputy Sheriff John Gal Win Other prisoners were taken up by Sheriff c. M. Nichol on the morning train, but Harrell had not informed any of them of what had happened It was some time after Harrell was on his way to Little Rock that the sheriff's office learn ed of his wife's death. Harrell stolcally maintained his attitude up- on arrival at the penitentiary and " was only after he had been asked Ethat he admitted he had heard of ms wife's death. Sheriff Nichol de- clared he would have held up the commitment had he known the fact.
 Governor Brough, over long dis tace last night, denied that he had criticized Jefferson county officials m the matter. Sheriff Nichol and ms deputies are not to be criticized at all," the governor declared. "They were not informed of what had hap pened and were merely performing their duties, I am planning to start an inquiry into Harrel's case with a rI that his family of little ones may be suffering. However. 1 have no criticism to make of any Jefferson offlclals in the case, and if, Harrel IS released it will be because his children need him."
 Had Weird Record
 farrell is one, of the most unusu- al prisoners that has occupied a cell at the Jefferson county jail in some .lme. For two years, Harrell. a packwoodsman in appearance, work ca a de luxe combination confidence game and forging scheme on local merchants. Because of his methods It was difficult to find anything agalnst him. Harrell used a tele- phone to reassure a prospective vic- U I1m that check would be presented. ne would represent himself over the phone to be a prominent man, and would inform his prospective victim that he would send check for the purchase of goods. Then he would appear with the check and written order for the articles he wanted. invariably the check would be cash ed' ne would be given his purchases and the change. Harrel kept this e up Tor nearly two years. Recently Sherlff Nichol and Deputy Sheriff SM;cburnett "; warned all merchants of ms methods. In few days liar rel attempted the plan again and was caught.
 Then things happened thick and hanna fasr, Harrel pleaded guilty, was w;th;l uItma over, indicted and sentenced W,snin short pediods' In the mean t1me; ,!,; his wife gave birth to a twelfth can cnr.a which died Later she be- came ne very ill and died on the eve P,,. pl HarrePs departure for Little