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4
Established 1850,
THAT WHICH PLEASES MANY MUST POSSESS MERIT’’-THE CITIZEN PLEASES MANY.
DALTON. GEORGIA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6.1903.
Popular Poetry for the People
$®i
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© Citizen and
and Farm one year, $1.00.
VOL. LI II. NO. 45
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$1.00 Per Annum
PERRY’S SENTENCE
IS COMMUTED
To Imprisonment for Life in
the Penitentiary.
PEOPLE DENOUNCE ACTION
Order Arrived Yesterday and in Day
or Two Prisoner Will Be
Taken to Mines.
Governor Terrell has acted.
John Perry is not to hang to
morrow for the murder of the
showman, John Walker, nor is he
to hang at all for that offense.
His sentence has been commuted
to imprisonment for life, and
within a day or two he will be re
moved to one of the mines where
Georgia works her convicts.
John says he is sorry he com
mitted the crime; that he has
never declared otherwise. He
further says that he believes no
man can slay another without
regretting it. All of which may
be true.
It was not because the criminal
was John Perry that the citizens
of this county demanded his life.
It was because they felt that
unless the just sentence of the law
were carried out human life would
be unsafe within its borders ; and
the general sentiment in Dalton
today is that by his act of commu
tation Gov. Terrell has opened
the gates of invitation to the
murderer and said:. “Kill! He
who sends the assassin’s bullet on
its murderous errand shall not
hang—not while I am governor.”
The people of Dalton were
practically unanimous in favor
of Perry’s execution, and very
vigorous denunciation of the gov
ernor’s conduct has been heard on
the streets.
SHERIFF READS COMMUTATION.
The order of commutation
reached Sheriff Johnson yesterday
morning and The Citizen man
accompanied him into the jail
when he went to notify Perry of
the fact.
“Well, John,” remarked the
sheriff, “I have it here; shall I
read it to you ? ”
“Yes, I guess so,” replied Perry,
“I’ve never heard one read.”
Sheriff Johnson then proceeded
to read the document which saved
John Perry from the gallows, as
follows:
State of Georgia,
By His Excellency, J. M. Terrell,
Governor.
Atlanta, Ga., Aug. 4, 1903.
In Re John Perry.
Application for Executive Clemency.
The applicant, John Perry, was
convicted at the October term,
1902, of the superior court of
Whitfield county of the crime of
murder and sentenced to be exe
cuted.
The Prison Commission having
had under advisement an applica
tion for executive clemency in the
above stated case, recommends
commutation of sentence to life
imprisonment for the following
reasons:
“On the trial of this case there
appeared to be no extenuating
circumstances connected with the
homicide, but the same appeared
to have been committed wantonly
and maliciously, without provoca
tion. Since the trial, however,
reputable witnesses have been
found who make affidavit that a
short while before the killing, de
ceased had assaulted defendant,
knocking him down, and kicking
and cuffing him out of his show
tent, on account of some slight
disturbance which defendant had
created, while intoxicated. The
crime was evidently committed
while defendant was smarting
under the assault and indignities
so heaped upon him, and while no
less murder, yet to some extent
is mitigated by this previous
assault.”
This view of the case is taken
by many hundred good citizens of
Whitfield county, including a
majority of the jury which tried
him, who most strongly Urge this
clemency.
While clemency ifi his case has
heretofore been declined, yet
under the present showing, the
evidence of the previous assault
having been greatly strengthened,
it is now thought that clemency is
demanded.
Therefore in view of the fore-
going facts and the recommenda
tion of the Prison Commission, it
is ordered that the sentence of
said John Perry he, and the same
hereby is commuted to life im
prisonment in the penitentiary.
J. M. Terrell, Governor.
By the Governor:
C. M. Hitch,
Sec’y Executive Dept.
perry’s statement.
When that was finished Sheriff
Johnson remarked:-
“John, here is a newspaper man
who wants to hear what you have
to say in regard to your case.”
“I want him to hear it,” replied
Perry. “I want to say that some
people have told it around that I
said I am not sorry, and would do
it again if I had the chance. I
never said it. I don’t believe any
man in the world ever killed a
man and was not sorry for it.
“Many people have misrepre
sented me, but I have no hard
feelings against anyone for that.
Still, I don’t feel that I have been
treated exactly right. I don’t
think I had a fair trial. Why,
one witness swore that I was lying
on the ground in the tent, but no
other witness said he saw it. That
was strange in such a crowd.
“I have been misrepresented,
and people believed the things
said against me, hut would not
believe what I said. It was Walker
that kicked me out of the tent.
“I am sorry that I ever went to
that show. I was not drunk, but
had a few drinks in me. I did
nothing to cause trouble. I have
studied the matter, and have
thought that maybe Walker was
honest in what he said, but that
he mistook me for somebody else.
“I certainly appreciate all that
my friends have done for me, and
won’t forget them for it.
“I have been mighty nicely
treated by Sheriff Johnson and
Deputy Britton, as I was by Lake
Quillian. I have had all I wanted
to eat, all the tobacco I could
chew and all I wanted to smoke.
“I worried for awhile about
what people said, but after I put
it in God’s hands I quit worrying.
I did’nt fear the gallows.
“Of course, though, I am glad I
won’t hang, and when I go to the
mines I am going to do just what
they tell me to do the best I can,
and am going to try and make a
good prisoner.”
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CRIME.
On the 18th day of last October
John Perry shot John A. Walker,
a Scotch bagpipe player connected
with John Robinson’s circus,
which was showing in this city on
that day. Eight days later
Walker died.
Perry claimed in defense of his
action that Walker had “treated
him like a dog,” in that he had
kicked and beaten him and ejected
him from the sideshow.
Walker declared a short while
before his death that he had never
seen Perry before he shot him, and
that consequently he could assign
no reason for the deed. In the
trial of the case, however, this
statement was not admitted as
evidence, owing to the fact that
at the time it was made Walker
said he believed he would recover.
At the trial, which was held on
October 30, 1902, Perry was con
victed of murder and sentenced
to hang on November 21 following.
An appeal was taken, but the
supreme court refused a new trial,
THE GOBBLE-’EMS. (Dated up from James Whitcomb Riley.)
You better jest be keerful, ’cos they’s danger everywhere;
An’ look in all the cupboards, an’ under every chair,
An’ peek behind the curtains an’ up the chimney flue
An’ investigate the clothes-press, an’ the linen closet too.
An’ you’d better have a shotgun an’ keep it handy by,
An’ if you see ’em cornin’, take aim an’ let ’er fly,
An’ sleep with one eye open, an’ take keer what you’re about,
Or the Gobble-’Ems ’ll get you,
Ef you
Don’t
Watch
Out!
and he was resentenced to hang
on May 3, 1903.
Perry’s attorneys took the case
before the prison commission, who
refused to recommend a commu
tation, but on the understanding
that new evidence favorable to the
condemned had been discovered,
the governor granted a respite in
order that such evidence might be
brought to the attention of the
superior court.
After its introduction before
Judge Fite, that official once more
refused another hearing, and Perry
was for t' e third time sentenced
to the gallows, the date of the
execution being set for August 7
(tomorrow).
Last Friday the matter was
again taken up by the prison
commission, who as a result, took
it upon themselves to suggest to
the governor that the sentence be
commuted to life imprisonment,
which was accordingly done.
This action on the part of
Georgia’s chief executive is very
unpopular in Dalton, and is
strongly condemned by at least
nine-tenths of its citizens.
“FAT” GAITHER
Brought in Sunday Night By Sheriff
Johnson.
Sheriff John Johnson went over
to Nelson, Ga., Sunday, returning
that night with “Fat” Gaither,
colored, who is now in jail here
under an indictment for shooting
Joe Brown, also colored, in this
city last February.
Both Sheriff Johnson and
Deputy Britton _ deserve con
siderable commendation for the
smooth work they have done in
locating Gaither, with whom it
will undoubtedly go pretty hard
when a jury gets hold of his case.
He has made a cripple for life of
Brown, and from facts ascertained
in regard to the affair, the shoot
ing was wholly unjustifiable.
MRS. ELIZABETH LYNN.
Her Life Needs No Pen to put It Into
Words.
The death of Mrs, Elizabeth
McCrary Lynn on Saturday, Au
gust 1, brought keen sorrow to
many hearts made brighter by her
gentle presence and rare goodness.
The crown of a good life is at its
ending, just as the greater radi
ance and beauty of light come
when the sun sets. Then one
thinks of its rising into the pure
loveliness of a new day. There
must be a far lovelier dawn into
which the true soul floats at the
moment of its reawakening.
Mrs. Lynn’s life needs no pen
to put it into words—it was in it
self a strong and cleanly poem,
the echo of whose measures will
sound through years to come
where memory lingers. Charity,
religion and hospitality were
among her chief characteristics,
and most exemplary—most beau
tiful—the firm and serene will
which lifted her at all times above
pain and suffering, holding her
poised on wings of love and faith
until something of her own sere
nity entered into the hearts of
those around her, making them
almost strong in the midst of
anxious sorrow.
Mrs. Lynn had spent the greater
part of her life in Dalton, where,
until her failing health precluded
its active manifestation, her inter
est was identified with the aims of
the First Presbyterian Church.
She was born on September 26,
1846, and was married on January
1, 1868, to Mr. Alexander W.
Lynn, who died several years ago.
Mrs. Lynn’s children, all of
whom were with her at her death
except one, are Mrs. Percy Baker,,
of San Diego,' Cal,, Miss May
Lynn, Mrs. Will K. Moore, Miss
Victor and Messrs. A. W. and
William-McCrary Lynn.
Mrs. Lynn was the sister of the
late Mrs. Fletcher Denton. She
has many relatives in Dalton and
elsewhere.
Her circle of influence was not
limited, even during recent years
of feebleness and suffering; for
there are some lives which, though
unseen, like flowers exhale a fra
grance that reaches to farther
points than many dream of.
But the most perfect blossoming
was in that home circle where
deed, word and glance are treas
ured as “apples of gold in pic
tures of silver.”
IN REUNION
Were the Camps Who Come of Rev
olutionary Stock.
The annual reunion of the sons
of Major William A. Camp and
Mrs. Jane O. Camp was held
Tuesday at the old homestead of
their deceased parents, near town.
The old homestead is now owned
by the youngest son, Mr. John F.
Camp, one of the most popular
citizens of Whitfield county.
This annual reunion occurs on
their mother’s natal day, August
4th. There are seven stalwart
brothers of this Camp family, and
on each recurring 4th of August
they meet under the old roof tree
of their early home near Dalton,
when the fatted calf is killed. It
makes no difference where they
may he, what distance or business
chain them to the oars in other
places, everything is dropped and
all distances bridged in order to
he present at this reunion and
wish joy to the hearts of these men
who sprang from good old North
Carolina revolutionary stock.
Their great grandfather,Thomas
Camp, was bom September 1717,
and died in September 1798 at the
old North Carolina homestead.
He had five sons in the revolu
tionary army and all were in the
battle of King’s Mountain. Their
LIGHTNING FLASHED, «
THUNDER ROARED
great grandfather Thomas had
twenty-one sons and three daugh
ters, and all the Camps in the
South, to the number of not less
than five thousand, descend from
this grand old man.
One of the twenty-one sons was
“Aaron,” the grandfather of the
subjects of this sketch, who lived
and died at Ringgold, Ga., and his
son, Major William A. Camp, was
the father of these seven at the
reunion.
He was a major in the Confed
erate army and served with dis
tinction—losing both eyes in the
last battle of the war, Fort Tyler,
West Point, Ga., April 16,1865,
which battle occurred seven days
after the surrender of Gen. Lee at
Appomattox, Va. Major Camp*
lived nineteen years after the sur
render, dying on the old home
stead and was soon followed by his
Christian wife and mother of these
seven boys. •
At this reunion there answered
to the roll call, R. O. Camp, 59
years of age, Wilton, Ala.; T. B.
Camp, 57 years of age, Warren,
Ark.; L. A. Camp, 55 years of age,
Columbus, Ga.; J. O. Camp, 53
years of age, Jacksonville, Ala.;
W. A. Camp, 51 years of age, At
lanta, Ga.; E. J. Camp, 46 years
of age, Anniston, Ala.; J. F. Camp,
43 years of age, Dalton, Ga.
Whitfield county is proud to
have within her borders again
these men of her by-gone days,
and wish them many happy re
turns.
Mr. W. A. Camp, of Atlanta, is
compiling a history of ancient
Thomas Camp, and his descend
ants.
And Water Has Poured In Tor
rents on Dalton,
MISS PEARL BISHOP
Severely Injured by Lightning,
While J. E. Sanders Also Re
ceived Painful Shock.
AT PLEASANT GROVE
The S. S. Convention Was In Session
« Last Saturday.
The Whitfield. County Sunday
School Convention met at Pleasant
Grove August 1, 1903.
In the temporary absence of
President M. D. Smith the meeting
was called to order by Rev. E. W.
Way.
After the reading of the Scrip,
ture lesson and prayer, the min
utes were read and the roll called,
to which seventeen schools re
sponded.
The reports showed an enroll
ment of 1,504 pupils attending
Sunday school.
First Methodist (Dalton), Pop
lar Springs, Harmony and Keelers
were ably represented by young
people and children.
Then dinner was announced,
and a bountiful feast was served
to a large concourse of people.
The report of the committee on
nominations was as follows: Pres
ident, Rev. M. D. Smith; Vice-
Presidents, R. A. Rushton, A. J.
Miller, J. F. Wilson, W. W. Sey
mour and L. N. Dantzler; Secre
tary, Miss Fannie Vamell; Treas
urer, J. L. Palmer.
There was a lively contest for
the banner, participated in by the
following schools: First Presbyte
rian (Dalton), Cumberland Pres
byterian (Dalton), Poplar Springs,
Harmony, Keelers, and Grove
Level. This was one of the most
charming features of the occasion,
and, in the language of Rev. H.
J. Ellis, each school came “mighty
nigh getting the prize/” but as
only one could get it, Prof. T. L.
Bryan, in a short and humorous
speech, delivered the banner to
Poplar Springs.
Then the convention was dis
missed and thus was ended one of
the most largely attended and suc
cessful conventions in the history
of the Association.
Fannie Varnell,
Sec. S. S. C.
Electrical storms and pyrotech-
nical displays have been numerous
in Dalton the past week. Light
ning has flashed and thunder
roared, while Jnpiter Pluvius has
opened the floodgates of the sky
and poured down deluge after
deluge.
Several serious accidents have
occurred, the principal one being
the case of Miss Pearl Bishop, an
employe of the A. J. Showaiter
Co., who today is practically help
less from the effects of a stroke of
lightning, which injured her last
Saturday night.
Miss Bishop was standing at a
bureau near an open window
when the flash came. The bureau
was literally torn to pieces, the
mirror being completely shattered
and a piece of it cutting her face.
She was herself dashed to the
floor and was for some time in a
state of unconsciousness. Since
then she has been practically help
less, being unable to walk without
assistance. Her right arm hangs
inert, with apparently no life in
it, while on the upper part it bears
a round blue mark about the size
of a silver dollar, with a puncture
iu the center.
Mr. James Sanders was another
victim of the lightning’s vindic
tiveness, although his injuries did
not extend beyond a severe shock
which lasted several hours.
Sunday afternoon, seeing the
storm approaching, Mr. Sanders
stepped into the yard to arrange
the pipe into his cistern. He held
a nail and a piece of wire in his
hand, to which the lightning was
attracted. The current ran up his
right arm and down and out at his
feet, and the shock sustained, the
effect of which was painful and
benumbing, lasted until late in the
evening.
Almost simultaneously with Mr.
Sanders’ experience a large oak
tree on West Hill was torn to
pieces.
OLD VETERANS
Hold Election of Officers for Ensuing
Year.
Joseph E. Johnston Camp, No.
34, U. C. V., at its regular an
nual election day elected the fol
lowing for its officers for the en
suing term:
S. B. Felker, Capt. Commander.
A. C. Gunz, 1st Lieut. Com.
John Sansom, 2nd Lieut. Com.
Fred Cappes, 3rd Lieut. Com.
Joshua Roach, 4th- Lieut. Com.
J. H. Stanford, Adjutant.
J. H. Hill, Q. M. and Historian.
J. A. Lowry, Commissary.
Dr. S. J. McKnight, Surgeon.
Dr. J. A. Graham, Assistant
Surgeon.
Rev. Wm. McNabb, Chaplain.
Rev. J. M. Stansberry, 1st Asst.
Chaplain.
Rev. J. C. Lynn, 2nd Assistant
Chaplain.
Joseph Bogle, Treasurer.
T. P. Freeman, Sergt. Major.
Henderson Renfro, Officer of
Day.
B. K. Hix, Color Sergeant.
G. W. Stafford, Vidette.
A. J. Calhoun, 1st Color Guard.
B. W. Echols, 2nd Color Guard.
J. C. Cruw, Bugler.
Annual Reunion.
The annual Fincher reunion
will be held next Saturday at the
old Fincher homestead.