The Lyman Burkhart Pardon

Te i Editor of Detroit Free Prese : Wili yon kiiully allow me epace in yiiiir vaina ble columns to say a íew words npon ïi subject in which I am deeply Intereeted. 'Your issue of Sunday, January 1, contains an item headed, "Lyman Jïurkhart Pardoned." whjch statcs iliat ov. AVinans on the mornlng of December 31 commuted to lucnty yeairé tbe fentence of Lyman liurkhart. wlni was convicted of the iiime o murder in tbe Waehtenaw ii( Court and sentenced mi September i'l, 1875, to li e Imprisonment, Vimr account sTatcs tliat the ancle hom Burkhart murdered -'waa an totem perate and brutal man. wlio per sistrntly beal aml abused young Burkhart in a Bbamefnl manner ;" that t was after "a parMcularly cruel and unproToUng aeeault" tliat the young man, "emartlng ander the Injustlee," commltted the crime. One of the reasons urged for his pardon is stand to be "t lie indijriiitips to wTlich he was rabjected hi Jiis boyliood." These statements wliicli I llave quotetl I nieto trom an Intímate persiinel acquaintance witta the nffair most emphatically to deny. The boy, ünrkhart. was ilie kou of dissipated parents, and WÏien quite yomog as sent wiflh his brother to tlie poorbonee. He was taken from there by Frederfck Staeblcr, a brother-in-law of LrUdWlg Miller, of Si.-in. the subject of the tragedy. After li remainiii with Stai-hliT fur about five ycars lic was laken into Mr. Miller'.s fainil.v and was brtmgbt np by them. They educated liini and raicd for him as they would tor a chlld of tlieir uwn, and a BtCOBg aifeetion grcw ïip between Mr. oud Mn. Mlller and tlvear adopted non. I luave before me as I write this, a copy of tlie Ann Arbor Penlasnla Courier of August 18, 187.", nivhiii a full desoription of the murder and i lie i oriior's inquest. In hi examinaUOO at the inquest Uurkliait Ktated scvcral times that lie and Mlller were good friends. He gave as liis reaaoo for the murder a wudden desire for reveng- revenge for a wblpplng such is any boy of 1-i is Uable t recelve, md for tlii.s wlllpplng lie stepped into Millcr's bedroom Jhile the latter was islcep and shot liiin dcad ! And from that Urne on be showed not the eiightesi ',-;■. i ■: regret for lis ;i ■ tion. I do not wNIi licfc to cal] irp agaln lie detalle of thai horrible tragedy, Hit I lo Na i o, (iii(ii'm ii moet emha-tioally the asperolone whlch havo teen oasi upon the eharacter of the nurcicrcii man - a man oi quiet dlsposdtlon, in the moei températe habite, undvereally respected and belovod by tlic cuiininrnity n which lie ',.'.!. Iiui'kiiart's extreme youth when irmcd and íi s behavlor in the priaon siuce tliat time, may ïurnisii ampie grouods tor the coramutation ol lus seutenee, bul tikoee who have furnlsh-cl as ;ih argument for commutation "the Indignlties to whlch lie (Burkharl I was siiljcrtcd in liis boyhood" HaVe niaiic statcnii'iits wiii.-ii they ca.n not sulistant iati1 and liavo pursiH'd a (Jliaiiicful and cowardly polIcy in eaeting asperslons' apon a man whiM-aiinot appear in his own detenae, una ujiiw' eharacter aoove suspiliim and reproacb. Arm Arlior. Jan. 1i. 1898. - Detroit Pree Press.