Rufus Burcham Owes Life to Governor's Wife

Article taken from The Mansfield News, December 28, 1911

Columbus - Rufus Burcham, a life convict in the Ohio penitentiary, owes his freedom to the wife of Governor Harmon. Before making the lea that induced Governor Harmon to give a Christmas pardon to Burcham Mrs. Harmon made the convict promise to abstain from strong drink and to lead an upright life. Burcham was convicted of complicity in the murder of a Portsmouth (O.) man, for which crime Mose Johnson, colored, was electrocuted in 1904. Before his death Johnson exonerated Burcham of the crime in a statement to Warden Hershey of present the facts to the governor he fell dead.