New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-27
THE EXECUTION TO-DAY
A MURDERER TO BE HUNG
Petitions for CIemency

| We published recently the warrant OF thu
Governor, directed to the Sheriff, for th'
| execution Of John Bazaar for the murder o
Cobez, which was ordered to take place
| within the walls of the Parish Prison
at twelve O'Clock to-day. Governor War
moth informed US yesterday that the sen
tence will be executed.
The Times reporter. interviewed the con.
demned man few days ago, and gives this
as the result:
81 have acted in self.defense, "says Bszar.
"Never had any idea of killing or harming
Cobez. | me, him that Saturday morning
at six O'clock, when he asked me to loan
him ten dollars. | put my hand in my
pocket, but having only few dollars
offered him all | had, when he declined to
accept this, but urged me to go aud try to
obtain ten dollars for him, and bring it 10
the house of his step-daughter, Sarah
Deluxe, on Anthony street, but TO tell her
nothing about it. went to .grs. CGbsz
house on Craps street, where I boarded,
when she tod ne that her husband wanted
to see me on Anthony street. | went there
and found CobeZ standing near the gate.
He asked me at once for the ten dollars.
stated that | had not got that amount;
offered him what l had. He then com
menced to insult me. One word gave
another, until when l tried to get away from
him. Cobez drew his knife and stabbed me
in the left shoulder blade; my arm is not
we'll yet from the effects of that cut. l fell
down and received another cut in the neck.
Pratts came into the yard at that time and
separated US, when CoDeZ cut him in the
face. He then left Us alone. | bit CobeZ.
who attacked me again, in the right arm
above the wrist, to prevent him from using
the knife on me any more. He told me,
Let me go and finish you;' but l held
on with my teeth until got hold OF the
knife, when l cut and stabbed him with his
own knife. after having. received two
wounds, considering my life in imminent
danger, and merely acting to protect my
self and save my life. then left him lying
on the ground and crept away back to the
bed fainting and bleeding. The blood spots
found on the female clothing in that room
were made by me in attempting to go to
bed.
'Twould have given myselfup to the police
as soon as | felt strong enough. am TWEEN
ty years in this city; in the Third District;
known to good many men as hard.
working, peaceable man. | just left the
brig Hope, and was engaged TO go as cook
on the schooner Constance 20 Honduras on
the following Monday
The beams of the gallows, three in num-
ber will be fastened to window in the
third story, in the left wing of the prison.
The culprit will step from the end of the
gallery on the platform, where the execu.
iloner will await him This is the same gal.
lows on which, in 1865 or 1866, the negro,
Poiydor, was hung for rape.
The following petitions have been quite
numerously signed and presented to the
Governor, but up to the present time, with
out the effect of inducing him to commute
the sentence or reprieve the condemned
criminal. We give the petitions in their
order:
To His Excellency Henry c. Warmoth, Cover.
of The State of Louisiana:
The undersigned, citizens of the State of
Louisiana, respectfully invoke the c,emency
If the Executive of the State. in behalf OF
John Bazaar, who has been sentenced to
death by the First District Court for the
parish Of Orleans, and Il warrant Tor whose
execution on Friday, May q, 1870, has been
issued by the Executive. They respectfully
urge these reasons, among others why the
sentence should not be carried out:
l. That the tendency of pubic opinion
leans 10 the abolition of the
death penalty, which by many wise states
men and judlcous persons is held to be in
with the progress of civilization
and Christianity.
2. Tha. the abolition of capital punish
ment has been attended with the hsppiest
results in several of the States of this Union,
viz: Rhode Island, Mict igan, Wisconsin, for
which see Mr.. Martin II. Boyee's work, en-.
titled 'Christ and the G4llows,' where the
subject is discussed and the facts grouped
3. Your petitioner is persuaded that the
of the death penalty has not
the effect of deterring from the commission
Of crime.
4. The convict, Bazaar, is considered by us
TO be q fit subject for the exercise of the
Governors merciful prerogative, on account
Of his youth, his ignorance, and his want of
those advantages of education and associa-
atoms which keep others in the path Of rec
Litude. The facts of his ease. we are inform
I'd, also include some palliating features. It
is understood to have been quarrel about
! woman, in which Bazaar killed his rival
tor her affections. Bazaar is Malay. He
had an associate in the quarrel believed by
seme to have been equally guilty, but who
escaped conviction.
Your petitioners are aware that some of
shese reasons might be addressed more ap-
to the Legislative Department.
IF the government, and therefore pray that
you would be pleased to reprieve the con-
7ict for whom they appeal until the next
session of the Legislature, when a petition
will be presented to that body, asking for
communication of the punishment.
New ORLEANS, May 10, 1870.
To His Exceency FL O. Warmoth, Governor Of the
s. ate CT LouJsiana.
1 have stood charged with heinous
,rime. | have offended man and God.
lave been found guilty, and the hour OF
leath is about to strike for me. l have no
light to claim, 1t does not lie with you to say
hat the law under which ! was tried is just
II unjust.
But with your permission l can kneel at
'our feet, you the representative of the |
,ower on earth. I can claim that mercy
which many others have found at your |
lands; can tell you that l have done |
wrong; that am repentant. / can tell you
hat the people who have placed you in
uthority have invested you with the power |
# mitigating my sentence; that am not !
eady to appear before my maker, the Su- |
'reme Judge Of man; that by penance I |
must atone Tor my unfortunate past.
Let ne remind you that it is written in |
he Sacred Volume, in emphatic language, |
'inding on man and society, "Thou shalt |
ot kill.' Let me- in time warn you, that |
ny blood may not fall upon you and those |
earest to your heart. and beg, sir, that my |
entence be commuted from one of death to |
ne Of perpetual confinement.
Pardon me to that extent only, and God, |
he dispenser OF all good, will permit me.to |
edeem my past as far as possible, and will |
hover upon you and upon your people
ne of whom | was-his choicest blessings |
nd favors.' JOHN BAZAAR.
Judges Leaumont, Theard, Dibble, and |
ther influential citizens appended their |
ames to the petition signed by Bazaar.
A third petition addressed to the Governor |
eads as follows:
The undersigned citizens of Louisiana |