CHAPTER XVII.

Prison experience, continued.—My personal efforts and that of my friends
for my release from the Bastile, for some kind of a trial, and for only
a respectful hearing.—The result, ete.—‘‘ Truth wears no mask, bows
at no human shrine, seeks neither place nor applause, she only asksa
hearing.”’—Letters of my wife ; governors, judges, and various other
persons, and correspondence. —Petitions, recommendations, etc., etc.,
how they were treaied, etc., etc.

SOON after my arrival at Seatco, I addressed a letter to the
Governor, giving him a concise statement of my case and situa-
tion. I begged him to investigate the matter, and gave him
reference as to the same, so that he could do so with very little
trouble. I also asked him to state to me what showing and
proof and kind of petition he would require to release me.

But he would not even answer my letter.

He was a Freemason ring man, so what did he care for me
or mine, so long as none of the secret brethren complained ?

I was bringing into the gang seventy ceuis a day besides
my labor, and my home and family were being ravaged ; which
condition of cruel persecution and pillage was entirely satis-
factory to his Excellency (?).

I had approached him in a very civil, open, frank, honest
way, without any mystic signs or middleman of secret intrigue
and corruption. I simply wanted a respectful hearing, and for
him to correct a brutal, corrupt, and hellish outrage, which by
his official oath he was sworn to do. Yet he spurned me even a
hearing! His time being about out, it was not thought possi-
ble that another such as he would be appointed. He had been
in office when the infamous, brutal swindle of a contract job was
done, and the Seatco Bastile established ; therefore it was not to
be expected that he had any heart, humanity, or sense of
justice.

“You disdained an’ ~ wunced my justice, and turned. aside and
wounded with a stab my honest pride—to repress the manly swelling in
my breast.’’

As it was thus evident that nothing good could be accom-
(415)

\

ne atc ai SN ts

See SRR ae

316 SrrUGGLING FOR LIBERTY.

plished with him, my friends delayed getting up petitions until
the new Governor would take his seat. This was the “ Galli-
nipper,”’ who was soon afterwards appointed, but he did not
arrive to assume the office until late in October, (1880).
Meanwhile and afterwards, my wife and others wrote as
follows :
‘‘Homz, July 26, 1879.

Dear Huspanp :—I received your letter last night; your advice is
good as it always is, and has always been, and I will try very hard to pro-
fit by it; but there are many disadvantages to contend with, more es-
pecially to be obliged to borrow money to save our home from being
swept away, and all of us left homeless ; but your attorneys shall not have
our home they tried so hard to get; they, who undertook to defend you,
and extorted all of our means, and then gave you away without even an
effort to save you. Those whom I have talked to about it say, that ‘of
all the trials they ever heard of, this beats anything yet;” not even one-
half of your witnesses used. Itis the most unjust affair ever recorded,
and if the Governor could only get to know the whole truth, you would be
sent home at once. Neighbor after neighbor speak of the injustice you
have to suffer, and say that you were ‘‘such a good neighbor ”’ to live by.
Even Mr..... exclaimed, to a company who were discussing the outrage
you are suffering: ‘‘I am an old man, and can say that I never lived by
a more honest, upright man, and kinder neighbor than he, and he was the
same to all as he was to me.”

And, my dear husband, there is not that person living who can say
ought against you, and tell the truth ........... cee cece cee eee
but do not blame me, George, and when you think of it, ‘‘ think tender-
ly of me, for I am travel-worn—my feet are pierced with many a thorn
when dreamless rest is mine, I shall not need the tenderness for which I
long to-night.

If I should die to-night, you would call to mind—with loving thought
some kindly deed my icy hand had wrought—some gentle word my frozen
lips had said—errands on which my willing feet had sped. The memory
of my selfishness and pride, my hasty words, would all be put aside, and I
would rest forgiven of all to-night.”.. 6... ee EFrte.”

** August 5th, 1879.

.... [just received your letter. Children are all in bed, and I am here all
alone to-night ; would to God I was with you..... Mr. S..was here to-day,
he says that every one says that your attorneys did not defend you at all;
he says come to him and he will work with and assist me in making th
truth known to the Governor. And Mi. B.... told me the same, P....
and H... are very warm friends. I have a good deal of confidence in
Mr. S... for he is a very smart man and well posted in law, and his
advice is the same as yours; ... had you got justice you would have been

yns until
ay Galli-
did not

wrote as

379.
- advice is
rd to pro-
more es-
rom being
ll not have
fend you,
ut even an
, that ‘of
t even one-
- recorded,
1 would be
justice you
to live by.
he outrage
er lived by
he was the

ho can say
ink tender-
hny a thorn
pr which I

ng thought
my frozen
he memory
side, and I
EFFIE.”

879.

am here all
ere to-day,
rou at all;
making ths
@ Pio
hfidence in
w, and his
have been

THRILLING CORRESPC’ DENCE. 317

cleared at preliminary trial, but they don’t go according tolaw here. ... . I
enclose children’s pictures. . . . I can only say be your own dear self, and you
will be all right; ... write often, for if you expect me to live, you must not
forget that I live only on cheering words from you; your letters to me are
as some life-saving boat to a drowning man,.. . and now good night. ‘We
miss thee at home, yes, we miss thee—there lingers one gloomy shade
round me that only your presence can light.’ Your loving wife,

EFFie.”’

‘* Home, September 28, 1879.

Inez and Clyde have been sick, and May is unwell. I am abont the
BOYD OV etorscts ie, dre o's oi schevrarseatarotes ated suet ecaiery aiguare ‘Leave me not yet—leave me
not cold and lonely; leave not the life that borrows from thee only, all of
delight and beauty it hath. Tell me not time (whose wing my brow has
shaded), has whithered spring’s sweet bloom within my heart. Ah, no;
the rose ot Lvve is yet unfaded, though hope of joy, its sister flower,
depart. Juesve me not, my human teacher, lonely and lost in this cold
water of curs. iieaven knows, I need thy music and thy help, still to be-
guile me on imy weary way. To lighten to my soul the cares of duty, to
charm my wild heart inthe worldly revel—lest I too join the aimless, false
and vain. Let me not lower to the soulless level of those whom now I pity
and disdain. Oh, fly pot to Heaven, or let me share thy flight.’.........

RTPA ARLETRLEIR Od acu Lee AU GEHN SVR ERT cu lPETREIE:E DOPE N THCPLATST CAKE ETACELER aD EDOM ore ToR aa fae EFFIE.”’

“* October 29th, 1879.

...-L have been very sick. I am so tired, and worried to death nearly,
....I only hope to live to circulate petition, and to succeed in seeing you
home once more, and if I fail, death will be a welcome messenger. I
alm so tired of seeing cur property going, that we worked so hard for.....
RCNA TOTS SY Lie OE a TIC ee ea TT a EFFIE.”’

‘¢Homer, November 3d, 1879.

My Dear Huspanr :—% wrote you a few days ago, but this being
Sunday, I thought I wou'd write you a long letter, I am getting better,
but gain strength so s'ow... Tam ‘yell enovgh to walk out to the granary.
Clarence has goue tochurch +. 't) Varrie....I found Mr. J.... the same true
friend—upholding you in everything. .... I will get Mr. B....[an eye wit-
ness to the fight] to sign a statement, same as he told Mr. B...., Mr.
H.... and others after the fight. And will also get them to send a state-
ment of the same; will also have Mr. and Mrs. H.... send to the Governor,
what Mrs. [Jumper] said [Jumper] said when he left the house with his
gun [to murder me]. I will also get people here to write to the Governor
that they believe Mc .. swore to a lie as to you having threatened [Jum-
per], as many have e< :ressed themselves so, and he tells different and con-
flicting stories yet alo’ it. [This was the only neighbor not on my
petition]. L.... told ia right after the fight that ‘it was a mystery to

STRUGGLING FoR LIBERTY.

318

$2 $$

him why the first shot did not kill us both,’—and that at his (Jumper’s)
second shot, ‘Myr. France would never have known what killed him, if I
had not struck down the muzzle of the gun, as it was aimed past me at
his heart.’ B.... also told the same story, and he told me that you ‘ was
not to blame, that you did just right,’ [which is the verdict of all who
know my case, except thieves and members of the gang]. ........ The
children are all well, but Clyde has been sick. Inez is a great, big girl and
pretty as a picture—hair just as curly. May is growing very fast and is
almost boss of the place. Clarence is also growing fast. You would hardly
know me. I am so poor—am very tired, and as you see very nervous. I
expected to beable to see you this fall, but money is so scarce [the brutal
traitors and thieves were spending it for whiskey and other vices]. But
I will be there after you some of these days—soon as I can get around to
einhase alereverette tore wiscerenes Your /ovine wife, EFFIE.”’

oME, February Ist. 189°,

My Dear Hussanp :—Everything hus been a whirl of excitement and
trouble......... I have been so sick, and mother was buried a week ago
yesterday...... and failure to raise money when due, all combined.......
Judge W. will not now sign petition, as he and the Governor are enemies;
and says, that ‘ tosign it, while he is Governor, would only prolong your time,
as he would pay no other attention to his signature in your favor.’ ........
I can speak above a whisper only part of the time. The children are well

and having a big play....... Your own loving wife, EFFig.”’
‘Home, April 4th, 1880.
sabes cai beanbserene Mr. N.... sends me word that he had written to you [the

letter was squelched, as was vsual] and says that he will use all the influ-
ence he has in your behalf. Mr. H.... says the same also..............

‘* Home, May 4th, 1880.
ie ....George, I now hope to see you soon, if all things are as we now
expect....I wishI could just step in for you to-night. Babies are all asleep
and well—Clarence and May started for school to-day....We think that
Judge W.... will now sign petition. [Note.—But while the Judge said
he would not oppore my pardon at any time, he maintained that ‘ it was
no part of his business to solicit any man’s restoration, that this is the
Governor's province, and for him to exercise whenever it appears proper
to do so.”’].... Enclosed find locks of Clidie’s and Inie’shair. Also copy of
letter from Bro. O.... and Mr. H.... with his petition, the other has not
CGMS VOU. ei cites rivers njasionys Errige M. France.”

SLE MT esa ‘* April 1st, 1880,

My oup Frirenp GrorGe.-—Enclosed find petition of such represen-
tative men of Ulster county, N. Y., who knew your father’s family of their
own personal acquaintance; and our representative in Congress then secur-

2 ont
Eo eget eEe
Sct eee naa NE MRE eed

sme a

—$—$—$——

Fumper's)
him, if I
ast me at
you ‘was
yf all who

ig girl and
fast and is
uld hardly
ervous. I
[the brutal
ices]. But
; around to
EFFIE.”

[Reo
itement and
a week ago

wre enemies;
ig your time,
*) ee

lren are well

1880.
to you [the
all the influ-

1880.
e as we now
are all asleep
e think that
} Judge said
that ‘it was
t this is the
years proper

Also copy of
hther has not

France.”

1880.
ich represen-
mily of their
is then secul-

THRILLING CORRESPONDENCE. 319

ed some signatures, outside of Ulster county, that I don’t know, except by

reputation.

I would be glad to do anything in my power for you, knowing that
you were always right when here, and we have no doubt as to the situation

of the affair out there.

Do not get discouraged ; an honest man is the noblest work of God.
And any man who attempts to live honest, must meet just such trials and
difficulties as you have gone through, unless he will consent to buy his
peace.

Knowing your strictly moral and honest habits and disposition from
childhood, I feel there must be some way for you to be restored.

Judge Westbrook said, he thought the President had the pardoning
power of a territory. Anyway, if pardon is denied by the Governor, have
petitions returned to you for future reference. [But the blackleg Govern-
ors would never do this. |

If there is anything I can do for you, please make it known and it shall
be done, if possible.

Still hoping for the best, I remain your true friend,