I. J. Tomurnson, Esq., Pomeroy, W. T.

Dear Srr:—Replying to your letter of June 15th, 1885, I desire to say
that I have tried to see Judge Wingard, when I visited the city of Walla
Walla, so as to converse with him cuncerning the case of Geo. W. France,
but he was then absent from that city.

However, I have conversed with him here within the last few days,
and, upon his advice, have concluded to have a talk with Mr. France as
soon as I can visit the penitentiary.

I do not think it would be my duty to pardon him, if he is likely to
become a troublesome and dangerous man,

[About all of the ‘troublesome and dangerous” men on the roads of
the border were peaceable citizens, till ‘hus persistently looted, goaded and
driven to avenge themselves, by ring blacklegs in office who are a thousand
times more ‘‘ troublesome and dangerous” to good society ;—they not only
rob and murder men, but they rob and murder their government also, Had
he (the Governor) been honest, he would have joined, or rather taken the
lead in being ‘‘ troublesome and dangerous” to the traitorous gang.| After
seeing him I may write to you again, in case a petition be contemplated by
you. Ido not wish you to go to the trouble of circulating a petition, un-
til I can see Mr. France and ascertain whether he is contrite or revengeful.

Respectfully, W. C. [Mason. |”

“Contrite or revengeful,” he says; “Contrite” for what?
For defending my own life against one of the gang? Which
showed that he belonged to the gang, and would justify and
sanction their crimes at the expense of innocent blood, and
ravage and dance on the graves of his victims. Lvok here !

From the Press, —* The Signal declared that Governor [Mason] at the
G. A. R. Encampment proved himself a nimble figure in the dance, He

out-lasted the most enduring of our Yakima damsels and came up for the
last Waltz, at three o’clock in the morning, fresh as a daisy, although he

ve several
sons living

requiring
ne letter a

would go,
b was diffi-
+ acknowl-
| refer to it
; a club or

1, 1885.

desire to say
city of Walla
», W. France,

last few days,
Ir, France as

he is likely to

the roads of
, goaded and
re a thousand
hey not only
ent also. Had
er taken the
ang.| After
templated by
petition, un-
by revengeful,
[Mason. |”
for what?
? Which
justify and
blood, and

s here !

Tason] at the
b dance, He
e up for the
although he

My REeEteEase. 397

had not missed a single opportunity to agitate his foot during the night. ..
PAE eT: He was a great seeker after partners, and for courtly grace and
continuity it would be difficult to find his equal.”

[Do such, as he, have any conscience? To dance while his victims
languish! ]

“ But now my sword’s my own, smile on my lords:

“Tscorn to count what feelings, withered hopes, strong
provocations, bitter burning wrongs, I have within my heart's
hot cells shut up. To leave you in your lazy dignities.

“But here I stand and scoff you; here I fling hatred and
full defiance in your face.” Curse you !

“ July 21st, 1885.—Doctor and ex-Governor [Links] here;
the Doctor declares that he and his father “ have praised me to
Governor [Mason] and favored my release, and that the Gov-
ernor is favorable to it.”

“*Seatco, THurSTON Co., WasH. TER, August 16th, 1885.
Mr. D. de D..

Dear Sir :—Yours of July 26th and 30th received, and I
embraced the opportunity to reply. Governor [Mason] has not
come around. But he could know my sentiments by examining
them as set forth in my argument and plea (epitome) - on file
at the executive office and addressed to the “ Governor and the
people at large.”

And if such sentiments, or the exercise thereof, is in viola-
tion of any standard of law, or of good morals, or good citizen-
ship, no one has claimed or pointed it out to me, in any partic-
ular. Although I have begged them to do so, or to controvert
its truth as to any pointif they could, (and let me prove it again)
and to “ prescribe a bitter course and rule of life and conduct
than I have exercised, when I would embrace it accordingly.”
But no point has been questioned or denied, or any other standard
of conduct offered.

So you see, don’t you / that the matter does NoT “ rest with
me" at all? Ihave my part as well done as opportunity ac-
corded me, and my distress would permit. Hence it rests on
you, if you please, to proceed to the consummation of your
work there, and the pushing of the same to the end.

And you and other friends can, with safety and propriety,
guarantee my future conduct to be in accordance with the

398 Extracts From Diary Kept 1n Prison.

golden rule. And thus shatter the false reports and idle fan-
cies hatched in the dark, to add to my misery, and which, if
persisted in without rebuke, would drive even an angel to des-
peration or the grave. When they cannot point to any word,
act, or circumstance of my own, wherein they can justify any of
thcir accusations, and do not pretend to to me...

Yours very truly, | Gro. W. France.”

As to a man’s rights, even in a Kingdom. ‘ British Court.” British
Law and Subjects, English Gold Commissioner, at Kootenia, (Fisherville
Camp).

“Tf you had shot him down (an UNARMED trespasser) you could not have
been hurt for it; for any English subject has a right to protect his own castle,
and a miner's claim is his castle.”

He fined the trespasser (who had had the other arrested for assauit)
£25 for trespassing upon and molesting a subject on his own premises,”
—Col. Hunter’s Reminiscences of an Old Timer.

And yet this latter day Mason and Governor holds, that a
full-fledged American citizen should be “ contrite” for even de-
fending fis life on his hard-earned home against one of the
secret gang shooting at him with a carbine! That he was a
tyrant, etc., will hereafter appear by the testimony of others
also.

“ August 18th, 1885.—Court in my county (Judge Wingard)
had seventeen (17) criminal cases ; there being many men here
for long terms with weaker cases against them than the least of
these seventeen ; yet, “the Judge strikes the criminal docket
with a cyclone the first day,” as a local paper expresses it, and
they are all cleared.” But J will do for an example (?) for them
all.

“ September 11th, 1885.—Governor [Mason] is at Walla
Walla picnicing at the fair.

“ September 19th.—Governor [Mason] and the other prison
directors are here ; the Governor introduced one of them (an
odd-fellow) to me, asking me to show to him the papers I had
from Judge Wingard, which I did; he (the odd-fellow)
“thought they were very strong,” and said he would also exam-
ine my papers at the Governor’s office, but he wanted no fur-
ther information from me. The Governor then gave me to
understand that he would let me go “when the Legislature

l idle fan-
_ which, if
gel to des-
any word,
tify any of

FRANCE.”

rt.” British
, (Fisherville

puld not have
Lis own castle,

d for assault)
m premises,”

olds, that a
or even de-
one of the
t he was a

of others

e Wingard)
y men here
he least of
inal docket
sses it, and
?) for them

at Walla

ther prison
f them (an
ners 1 had
bdd-fellow)
also exam-
ed no fur-
ave me to
egislature

My REeEtefase. 399

met in December,” and that he would have done so before but
for objection being made that I “might be dangerous or trouble-
some.” But he refused to say to whom, or give me the ground
of such objection, or by whom made, or what would refute or
placate it. He did not want any information either, or to
“have a talk” as he had written was so important. On leaving,
he shook hands with me cordially (yet so falsely) saying and
repeating it, that “he would be here again before the Legislature
met,” and intimated that he would let me go then.

“Seatco, WasH. TEr., September 20th, 1885.

Mie doa teas Governor [Mason] made a brief call
here yesterday ; but as I intimated to you would be the case, it
had little significance. He is nota frank man by any means,
but reflects dark and hidden influences, which fears the scru-
tiny of light.

He would give me to understand that he will let me go
when the Legislature meets in December................ Revs
Very Truly,

Gro. W. FRANCE.”