Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-11-05

CHABLKs BARRErr's SENTENCE COMMITTED By
The President OF THE USIIED SrArks.-The
President, last evening, committed the sentence
OF death against Charles Barrett convicted Of the
murder Of Reeve Lewis, into Imprisonment for
life. The following Is a copy Of the reasons as
signed for the Communication:
Whereas the jury which convicted Charles
Barrett, now under sentence Of death for the
murder OF Reeve Lewis, have earnestly besought
me to commute his punishment 10 imprisonment
Tor the term OIL They represent that 'the said
Charles Barrett is a young man; that the evidence
crime with which he was charged was not CON-
mitted with generalization or deliberate design,
but, on the contrary, was the work of a moment
perpetrated under the maddenng effects OF intoxi-
eating liquor. Of which the unfortunate man had
freely Partaken the night Of the fatal deed that
there was no acquaintance or relation of hostility
between the the unfortunate man and the said dc.
ceased, and the occurrence was characterized nv
an entire absence Of the motives which usuaIly
impel to crimen
And whereas the acting District Attorney. who
prosecuted for the United State on the ial, f r
several reasons, since broug ht to his knowledge
has expressed a doubt whether Barrett actually
hred the shot which caused the death of Reeve
Lewis and AFTER a careful examination Of ali
the facts and circumstances, 1 myself entertain
serious doubt upon this subject And althouy b
according to the law Of this District, be would
stu be guilty Of murder, yet II bis associate fred
the shot which killed Lewis this is circuu-
stance which, in some degree, mitipates the
crime OF Barrett, especially as in the opinion of
the jury was not committed with premedita-
tatlon or deliberate design 20.
And whereas The one party was convicted onlv
OF the crime Of manslaug hter and for tbi. Of.
renee has been sentenced to eight years. conf
ment In the peniten,iaTy; and il would seem to
oe an unequal measure Of Justice to execute a
capital sentence upon the other And Although
IN clear case, this would not be sufficient ca1se
70 arrest the execution Of Barrett, yet under all
the circumstances or the present case this is a
deserves
And whereas divers hig bly, res pectable person,
have strongly urged me 70 commute the sentence
OF death against Charles Barrett into imprison-
ment for life, alleging that by this mode Of pun
isement, the ends Of public justice would be
sgoseFyed and society sufficiently protected :
Nov, therefore, &c, &c.
REPORT OF THE CH,EF or Po,rcr -Tb. 10,
lowing Is the monthly report Of the Chief Of Po-
lice:
WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 1858,
DEAR SIR In accordance with the 18th ruIs
IN relation to the duties of the Chief of Police,
Captain Of the Auxiliary Guard have Nh. honor
very respectfully, to state that the force under nv
charge have been vigilant in endeavorino 10 pie.
Nv peace ana order throug bout the city, aud
am happy In being able to saw with almost On.
tire success, believe the city has at no time been
more quiet than at present. Nearly all the dis
orders that have taken place in the city during
the month have been caused by intoxication
There have been arrested and brought To the
guard house during the month 253 persons
White, ls7 colored, So; males, ~, females, 81
Their places Of nativity, as far az ascertained
were District Of Columbia, 90; Ireland, SIS. Ma
ryiand, 81; Virginia, ~; Pennsylvania, Ia: Scot.
land, j Germany, s; England, z; New York, 3
Hayi = France, q Holland, l; New Hampshire
4 VSio, !; Maine, ]; New Jersey, I; Tennessee
Deiaware,l Wales, I; North Carolina, .
Russia, 1; Massachusetts, L; besides 2I9 ba v,
been accommodated with lodgings from IN,
suek King babe Of six months old TO the grsv
nesoeo OLD man Of seventy-hve. The amount O
judgments and costs obtained against ner,ons To-
violations Of the laws Of the Corporation during
lne month amounts to ~, 1880. The amount o
money collected amounts to 81 $50 IS
very respectfully, your obedient servant,
VI. GODDARD, Chief Of Police
10 James IT, Berret, Mayor Of Washington.
hInHS 81 hs SsvsTGI Police CoHSta6I,s for III.
Guy Of Washington made 10 J ~ GodJa,J
CHty @ Ponce for said city, on the frs, da,