Town to pardon the Man in Black 40 years after arrest

MORE than 40 years after singer Johnny Cash, who died in 2003, was arrested in Starkville, residents of the US town plan a festival in his honour that will include a ceremonial pardoning for the “Man in Black”.

The Johnny Cash Flower Pickin’ Festival is scheduled for November 2-4 with some events on the campus of Mississippi State University, said Robbie Ward, executive director of the festival.

Mr Ward started talking to residents two years ago about a festival — and a pardon for Cash. He gathered 500 signatures on a petition.