I have been urgently requested by the father of Norman Lewis to write you in his behalf and ask a commutation of the death sentence to life imprisonment. Jim Lewis, the father, lives here and is a reputable colored man. He says that after the death of Norman's mother, he carried him then a small boy to his father's- John Lewis in Halifax County and the boy was raised by the grandmother and grandfather; that he had not seen him for more than 14 years until Monday when he went to Raleigh and discovered him under the death sentence; that from his name and the accounts of the crime as given in the newspapers he suspected it might be his son, so he, upon the chance, concluded he would go to Raleigh and make further enquiries. He has become convinced from conversation with Norman that he is his son. This was the name of his son. I told Jim I would first write you, as I knew nothing of the crime except as published in the papers and I apprehended that you would be slow to interfere. A life imprisonment, however, in my opinion is quite as much to be dreaded as electrocution, but many do not share this opinion. Is there any use to trouble you for a commutation?