Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-03-12
MAJOR HASTINGS
LONGS TO QUIT CELL
Learned Convict, Brother Of Ex-
Governor, Now 78, Hopes He
Won't Die in Prison
MOVE FOR PARDON ON FOOT

Once conversant with seven Ian
guages, he sought u e highest the world
could offer in music. in artand in litera :
ture. He Travelled in many lands. inter-
preting, studying. seeing and hearing
the best. Once his blue eyes sparkled
with eager JOY over exquisite paintings
by old masters, his broad shoulders
Strengthened and his chin lifted as he
listened to the music Of supreme artists.
Now, as he walks the whitewashed
stone corridors of the Eastern Peni-
tentiary. with snowy head bowed and
blue eyes dimmed, his sole ambition is
not to die in prison.
Major William II. Hastings, Civil
War veteran, member Of one of Penn
sylvania's old families end one
time member of many elite clubs, will
be seventy nine years old nest June 20.
On June 10 he will have served eight
years in the penitentiary OF! charges OF
attacking his nephew, Ross A. Hickok,
of Harrisburg, and resisting arrest.
His sentence calls for three more years
in prison.
Eight years ago the trial in Harris
burg, where his brother, Daniel IL.
Hastings, had served as Governor Of the
commonwealth, created some sensation.
But with his conviction the furry of in :
terest died down and the major was
forgotten. Only the penitentiary Off :
cials and visitors and his fellow
prisoners have realized his existence and
become interested in his case.
The highway robber whom he has
been teaching Spanish, the Italian
burglar whom he has introduced to
English literature, the other prisoners
with whom he is sharing his store oi
knowledge, have learned to love him.
He has won the friendship of visitors
who are allowed in the cells. Some OF
them have reminded his former friends
throughout the state of his existence
and efforts are being made to obtain
pardon for. him.
Members of the Women's Relie'
Corps. G. A. r., with Mrs. Claire
Pawling in charge, are working for tmt
pardon and have home in readiness a.
soon as the major can be released. IL
the meantime he spends his days read
ing and writing, taking his daily walks
up and down the long, narrow corridor
into which his cells open, and talking
with his fellow prisoners.
Major Hastings served on Genera
A. l.. Pearson's staff during the Civi
War. He Is a member of the Genera
Meade Post No. l. G. A. r.. At on'
time he was member of the Cnior
League, Pen and Pencil Club. unior
Republican Club, Young Republican
Club and the Five O'clock Club, and h
was made life member of the Friends
Seaman Society
For years before his arrest and con
viction he had tried to collect none!
from his brother, the late Governor
Hastings, which he said was owed him
When Governor Hastings ignored hi
| demands, the major sent out 1000 let
| ters to family friends and clubs, in
closing a statement of family finance
and alleging all sorts of political ant
personal scandal against the then Gov
ernor Hastings. After his brother
death. Major Hastings tried to collec
something from the estate through tn
governors son-in law, Ross Hickok
| And it was because of this alleged deb
of 500 900 that Major Hastings shot a
Hickok in 1913. After he resisted >ar
rest four policemen filed charges agh hins
him in addition to that filed by Hickok
He was sentenced on five counts.