New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-17
THE COMNUTATION OF THE SENTENCE
OF CAVANAGR

1t he's already been announced by telegraph thst
Gov. Clark had commuted the punishment OF Michsel
Csvsnsgh, convicted in Lewis county OF the murder
of j ames Cooper, 70 imprisonment for life. 1t was
subsequently stated that certain citizens of that
county had expressed their indignation of this elem
ency by burning the Governor in efigy-a very fool
ish proceeding at any time, whch can disgrace none
but those concerned in the burning. IL seems, how
ever that the act is Indignantly repudated by the
good citizens Of that section Of the State, who say
that ii was neither authorized counteuaucei in
respectable quarters. A military company had bsen
called on. by the Sheriff 70 attend Cavsusghs e1scu'
ton. and had N sde all their arrangements, when the
commu.ation rndered their services unnecessary. 1t
is charged that, apparently in consequence OF this
disappointment, some Hneoos-one OF them an officer
in the company-pssssd resolutions ia their lodge
strongly condemniDg the Governors act, aud that
few of the violent Of them got up and burnea the
efigy. Very few persons except the getters-up and
few boys knew anything about it. At the meeting
above referred to a committee was raised to call upon
the Governor or his reasons for committing Cavau-
sgh's sentence. To this call the Governor promptly
responded a. follows:
EXECUTIVE CHAMBrR, Albany, Nov. a. 1885.
To ?. II. CoSYLNG, esq, Secretary &c,
SIN have received from you tie proceedings Of m-eins
S. eG fsS.H on Fs.y Now iS5 with request ths
-Oue furnsh you With statement Of the Iesson Sneh 10
from Dc 9TH to imprisonment for life eheeru ~ comply WIN
Eshse Csvspash was convicted Of the murder OF James
Cooper special Court Of Oyer and reminsr Of Lewis Coun
y August last and seneHeed TO be eIsented on me 81. Of
October edDg and subsequently resped Until the h Of
the present N nth
Soon after hi. conviction several petition, from the hasn,
Of evils County sent to sknt for Communication Of
bis sentence One of these petitions ngned by justice OF
he PreS.nt and several Trustees OF the VILLAGE Of
Lowyie the President and Vice President OF The bsnf
BIZ the pastors Of the Methodist and PRESBYTERIAN churches
and many other respectable persons most OF whom As ha
Letters were received from Judge who .ed the prisoner
from the sheriff several Of the jurors and from bis e9Gn,
the TESTIMONY and liz letter approving OF the yer
dict OF the Jury says Of Cay.nssh h1tus pe'nos ap
tsd for the fame osrse when the Jury failed to convict hun
Of hi. ssoutt. enc OF whom under OF Oct IA writes
follow: " have not chaned my mind IS regards tue vn
"of evidence to Identify Csvsnssh the man VINO COMMITTED
The foreman Of the jury the second trial. letter before
not properly md verdict Of msn.sai5eT any the ds
gees though ey could hare been glad 70 do 90 .hal re
81 Srs the other Jurors would also
One OF the Jury who hsNd al the te.mCey and
facts md crcsmst.nOe. whch before the snd
to .h0. that hae cV.Dssh vas not The ms. a. who
"ki him bu that Ruedse did have the boots that Rat
.ss. wore The 1s ne murder s sI ,es.s So The
beuse and fence where the body ws, outd DO not tnh
that MIKE (Ceyanagt shouo 90 unprnsned ou tna 20
uts his 70 Imprisonment would be better justice
sr6 confident that sueh tbs opinion Of ns9,lf o.
The coror ers jury and nearly al the people OF Lyons ALA
The Sheriff by affidavit, states nlnnoer OF
fsos brought out the ti explaining some OF e ar
sssnst the prisoner and tending % o>n %
doubt over bi, quilt he further FROM bis avs
nssh appearance and conduct, Impossible 70 detect
" protects 10 The tiisl OF Sra Lotus -
seeessory Of edge principal throw xnt ooon
the Csvsnssh and cordially unite IN the spphesoo
10 ecmmste his Punishment" ,,,
rept .etiy. ispds and says. Scarcely anything done
fo has defence except he e ecud do in the very sho1
time allowed between the Coarts.'
The teyruory the tris which familiar 20 you sppeer
too and coasctory wsrran; n- tnnieon Of
.m,d.be perav The der Of the prscner with tbs nsn
vho the murder 10 BY means clearly proven u
est. entirely on the testimony Of the witnesses Who saw bin
throuse window by moonlight If considerable Distance and
also on the color Of his trevaher be nsd on
two shirts or whether req OF not and vne1n1
tbe White or red shirt outside the other
Si@c,lty rs making dsne under the great
.,ri,.nrn al the oeoasn and in the nighttime are too sp
,,,.rt o rad sy In the chain Of ercu
Inn, ave v.ptips 70 remove al doubts Of his rult
th. Csvsnssh killed Cooper the encounter m ut
have eu scnsshss unsxpeoted and 1nprenedHsf. vne
With In ey3sntly unpeps-ed. chance weapon eed %
raw. hen u.>d afrsy the theory thai the
nav have been ghtsr, and not deeersa nerie
IN. murder Csvusuh At hore ans IN bed. Thee VT
re.ss .-e SID 70 fAs-ly. Probably Aef I'D ~
n 10 not cone usvey shown IL the inmates ths rh oe'5s
m IN, tAeir tesfiDosy unworthy Of attescsc va he
Oh hard do sPpeas 10 hsvs bssa shs
the rxht n quesios waus sevsrA OF ass wss tsshsa
ar pst the prssssr fssseAY Ftssuv 90
ssvs shs .srass Of csss b csssa'ss " sss"s M