His neighbors, who were kindly disposed to the erring man, at once put in circulation a petition to the Governor praying for a commutation of sentence to life imprisonment. His wife signed a remonstrance against granting the petition of her husband’s friends. However, the governor, in order to enable the condemned man’s friends to present the petition to the advisory board of pardons for their consideration, granted him a respite until April 13. Upon his arrival in the penitentiary he was permitted to see his wayward boy, and the scene between father and son was truly pathetic. HUMOROUS. _Serial No. 3715_—An illiterate white boy from Calhoun County, to serve two years for grand larceny for stealing a heifer, sensibly availed himself of the privilege afforded by the warden to attend the night school. He made remarkable progress in his studies, so that he could read and write a legible hand. He was so elated with his success that he stated before his release that he was glad he was sent to the penitentiary for stealing the heifer to procure money to take his girl to the county fair, for now he had a fair education and could get on better in the world. MEN EXECUTED FOR MURDER. The West Virginia Legislature passed an act February, 1899, viz.: “The sentence of death shall in every case be executed by hanging within the walls of the penitentiary and not elsewhere. The officers of the court imposing sentence may be present, and twelve respectable citizens, a physician and surgeon, and such representatives of the press as the warden may desire; and the condemned may by request have his counsel, ministers of the gospel, and such relatives as the warden may deem prudent.” _Serial No. 3745_—Colored, of middle age, who had served a term in the penitentiary for stealing, was brought to the prison in 1899, from McDowell County, to suffer the penalty of death Oct. 10, 1899, for the unprovoked murder of a “scarlet” negro woman. Upon his entrance into the prison he asked for and was given a Bible, which he constantly read during the time he awaited to be executed by mandate of the law. Ministers of his race paid him frequent visits, anxious to aid him in spiritual and temporal affairs. He professed sincere religious belief and that upon confession of faith he would be saved, yet he did not seem to accept with good grace the assistance offered him by the negroes.