Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 January 1912 — PARDONS AN HONEST NEGRO [ARTICLE]

PARDONS AN HONEST NEGRO

Governor John Slaton Thinks Twenty Years Enough for Man Who Conr fessed Murder. wr- ' Atlanta. —Nearly 20 twenty years a convict is considered by Governor John M. Slaton as punishment enough for a negro, who, after committing a murder and fleeing from the state, paid hiß own railroad fart back from Mississippi to the scene of the crime and confessed, expecting to be hanged for his trouble. In the case, that of James Fbster, sent up 20 years ago from Early county, thl governor has granted a full pardon. Twentr-four years ago. Seaborn Sheffield, a wealthy planter, who lived alone, was found dead while at the supper table. There was no clew to the murder, and the crime remained a mystery until four years later.* While court was to session, Foster came to the sheriff and stated to him that he was the murderer. The negro had fled to Mississippi and remained there four years. He said his conscience drove him to return and con-fess,-and he said he expected to be hanged. The negro claimed he had been forced to kill Sheffield by the latter’s two sons-in-law. who feared he would divorce his wife. The negro was given a life sentence, but the white men he implicated were acquitted. The negro has been an exemplary prisoner, and Governor Slaton thinks he should be rewarded for Confessing the crime when h« was in no danger. The pardpn of the negro was urged by Justice Powell, of the Court of Appeals, who Is a nephew of the murdered man.