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Story
June 27, 1891
The New Dominion
Morgantown, Monongalia County, West Virginia
What is this article about?
A white woman from Connecticut pleads with West Virginia Governor Fleming in Charleston to commute the death sentence of 'Sim' Johnson, a Black man convicted of a horrible crime, citing biblical mercy and divine responsibility, but the governor refuses and the execution proceeds.
Clipping
OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A SINGULAR REQUEST
From a Connecticut "White" Woman in Behalf of "Sim" Johnson.
CHARLESTON, W. VA., June 19.—
Governor Fleming had an unpleasant interview this morning with a white woman, a fanatic, who had come all the way from Connecticut to prevent the hanging of "that poor little boy," "Sim" Johnson. She got him cornered in the hotel office, and talked with and appealed to him as long as she could keep him. Her husband fought to free the negro and now one of them was about to be hung. She didn't think that was the way to treat them at all. She thought it was a sort of Southern outrage to hang a negro, and quoted the Bible to show that he should not be hung. The crime, she admitted was a horrible one, but the poor fellow, she thought, knew no better.
She plead for a commutation of his sentence, or at least time to prepare for death. She said the Governor should not send his poor guilty soul to hell, and told him the Lord would hold him alone responsible for it if he did not save him, and upon him would rest the stigma of sending to eternal punishment a soul he might have saved. The Governor treated her courteously, but had to refuse to interfere, and the law took its course.
From a Connecticut "White" Woman in Behalf of "Sim" Johnson.
CHARLESTON, W. VA., June 19.—
Governor Fleming had an unpleasant interview this morning with a white woman, a fanatic, who had come all the way from Connecticut to prevent the hanging of "that poor little boy," "Sim" Johnson. She got him cornered in the hotel office, and talked with and appealed to him as long as she could keep him. Her husband fought to free the negro and now one of them was about to be hung. She didn't think that was the way to treat them at all. She thought it was a sort of Southern outrage to hang a negro, and quoted the Bible to show that he should not be hung. The crime, she admitted was a horrible one, but the poor fellow, she thought, knew no better.
She plead for a commutation of his sentence, or at least time to prepare for death. She said the Governor should not send his poor guilty soul to hell, and told him the Lord would hold him alone responsible for it if he did not save him, and upon him would rest the stigma of sending to eternal punishment a soul he might have saved. The Governor treated her courteously, but had to refuse to interfere, and the law took its course.
What sub-type of article is it?
Curiosity
Crime Story
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Singular Request
Commutation Plea
Sim Johnson
Governor Fleming
Hanging Prevention
Biblical Mercy
What entities or persons were involved?
Governor Fleming
Connecticut Woman
Sim Johnson
Where did it happen?
Charleston, W. Va.
Story Details
Key Persons
Governor Fleming
Connecticut Woman
Sim Johnson
Location
Charleston, W. Va.
Event Date
June 19
Story Details
A Connecticut woman travels to plead with Governor Fleming to prevent the hanging of Sim Johnson for a horrible crime, arguing mercy via Bible and divine judgment, but the governor refuses and the execution occurs.