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Editorial
April 18, 1901
Ottumwa Semi Weekly Courier
Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa
What is this article about?
The editorial advocates pardoning Delilah Fails, serving a 20-year sentence in Iowa for murdering her abuser Jerome Kern, deeming her conviction a miscarriage of justice due to his betrayal and abuse; she has been a model prisoner since 1897.
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OCR Quality
98%
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Full Text
PARDON DELILAH FAILS.
If the editor of the Courier was governor of Iowa, Delilah Fails would be pardoned as soon as the proper papers could be made out and the signature of the governor could be affixed to the same. This young woman is serving a twenty-year sentence in the Iowa penitentiary for the murder of Jerome Kern, an old man who betrayed her in her early youth, and for a number of years subjected her to satisfy his brute passions. Delilah was taken to the penitentiary in December, 1897, and since that time has proven herself a model prisoner.
At the time of the conviction and sentence we expressed the opinion that it was a miscarriage of justice. It is true that Delilah Fails committed murder, and human life should be held sacred. But there are other things more sacred than life itself, and of these Delilah Fails had been most ruthlessly robbed by the man whom she killed.
If the editor of the Courier was governor of Iowa, Delilah Fails would be pardoned as soon as the proper papers could be made out and the signature of the governor could be affixed to the same. This young woman is serving a twenty-year sentence in the Iowa penitentiary for the murder of Jerome Kern, an old man who betrayed her in her early youth, and for a number of years subjected her to satisfy his brute passions. Delilah was taken to the penitentiary in December, 1897, and since that time has proven herself a model prisoner.
At the time of the conviction and sentence we expressed the opinion that it was a miscarriage of justice. It is true that Delilah Fails committed murder, and human life should be held sacred. But there are other things more sacred than life itself, and of these Delilah Fails had been most ruthlessly robbed by the man whom she killed.
What sub-type of article is it?
Crime Or Punishment
What keywords are associated?
Delilah Fails
Pardon
Murder
Iowa Penitentiary
Miscarriage Of Justice
Abuse
Model Prisoner
What entities or persons were involved?
Delilah Fails
Jerome Kern
Editor Of The Courier
Governor Of Iowa
Iowa Penitentiary
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Plea For Pardon Of Delilah Fails
Stance / Tone
Sympathetic Advocacy For Pardon
Key Figures
Delilah Fails
Jerome Kern
Editor Of The Courier
Governor Of Iowa
Iowa Penitentiary
Key Arguments
Delilah Fails Is A Model Prisoner Since December 1897
Conviction Was A Miscarriage Of Justice
She Was Betrayed And Abused By Jerome Kern In Her Youth
Human Life Is Sacred But Other Things Are More Sacred Which She Was Robbed Of