The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-08-03
JOHN REAL TO BE HANGED.
THE oOvERNOR's REASONS ron RE-
FUsING TO INTERFERE.

Ills ENcettencv Immovubtc-Tue Apptht
Of Judge Couitcr-Prcpartnr for Death.
Gov. Hoffman can proudly boast that he is
s.eel.proof against woman's tears. On Saturday
night two listers OF John Real, who is 10 nc hnneed
on Friday, arrived in Newport. and Wildly rushed
to the Ocean House, where the Governor was
boarding. They had travelled oil day, and were
much fatigued. Wren they reached the hotel they
we're announced to the Governor as tile sisters OF
Real, aud Ills Exccency said, "Let them come
in" In an instant they appeared before Gov Hon
man weeping. They asked him to save Their
brother from death-to sentence him TO any pun
ishmcnt except the gallows. The Governor pa
tiently heard their appeal unmovcd. He IAN his
fingers over his forehead ald lair, and then re-
rliei
"I will not interfere with the execution Of the
sentence"
TIE si. tor. again imu'orcd the Governor to com
mute the sentence; Int be positively destined TO
do 60.
"Cove nor" eaid young man who stood near
hin, "if the aOidlvi,s which have been presented
to you are true, John Real ought not to die. They
were excluded on technical grounds ut tire trial;
but they show the terrible provocation lie re-
ceivci"
81 cannot 20 beyond the evidence taken at the
trial. eoolly replied the Governor.
" but the Testimony Is shown TO be false" said
the young man.
II can't interfere II did should be asked to
do the same for Others. Mr.. Nathan has been muir
dcrcd lie was personal friend OF mine.
CRIME IN SEw YORK
is too ram-ant to permit me to commute tho pun
ishment Of Real"
"oh, lut If you read the ,nldayits you will he
couy4ccd Tia, Real ou.it rot to BE- hanged"
IL have read the evidence taGon at &c a. = ana
| u Is enough for me"
Reals sister. hero made their last appeal in tears;
! Tut II was frutlc--. snl they returned almost
| bro%cn-hcartcd to this city.
| A few minutes ancrward Judge Coulter appeared
before the Governor aud earnestly begged him to
| save Reals life.
"Iknow, Governor I'll about tic quarrel between
Peal and sredck know the facts better than
| even you can know ITEM by the evidence adduced
| at the irial ! an the man WHO had Smedick APP
pointed the police force, AMI know he was unht
| for the position. I know that Smclick prosecuted
Be1. and that il the reason why ask that bis sen
tcncc lie cnmnuied 10 mpfison neHt for life. lpok
at the afndavts. Governor and they must convince
MIR. Coulter spoke fpn halfhour, but in vain,
for the Governor repeated what maj said to Reals
sisters and the yOung tnan who had just spoken to
lin.
| young and tcautiiul woman, the sister OF one
Of the lelrg Catholic priests u the cast side OF the
city. next approached the Governor, and pleaded In
vain Tor John Reals life
Others followed. some dwelling on the fact that
| Smedick hnd repeatedly effected Reals discharge
rom employment, and Others on the severe club
bins lie mad given Real but all TO no purpose for
tie Governor told them there was no hops tor the
| prisoner.
REALS LAST DAYS on EARTH.
| tt preparations for the execution are TO be made
on Thursday. Jude Stuart visited Real yesterday,
and had brief irtervew vita him lie desires
now employ his Last hours in preparing f,r the
death scene Several Sisters OF Chart, entered his
| cell during the day and prayed with him. Fat er
Duranqnei subsequently, called ana conversei with
al I'll lffnh IN " an
pcarod, and his bro,hern law, and received IRON
him some parting instructions. They will call again
| GOVERNOR BorFxAS's LETTER.
NEWPORT, r. l., Monday Morning. Aug. 1, 1870
| My DEAR sIR; Since the hearing in Albany on
| Tuesday last have given much reflection TO the
| case o. Real. l have carefully rcc1amined the ev-
dence taken at the trial, and also al the adavits
| and other papers which you submitted to he on
| IcanGot consstently with my sense Of duty com.
| niue tie sentence The case upon the evidence is a
very plain one. smediek was a eocemsn. On the
through the street on duty Real stepped up TO him
| and. with revolver shot him twice-once through
srantiy. When oneer Nee attempted an arrest,
| Real threatened to sh, OF him. Nee tried to seize
almost hnmedia,ely afterwards, he said he had shot
| smedick. or, u ! rad not. tnat he had tried 10.
lie mace substantially the same remark to Police
| Sergeant Mcconnell the same evening at the station
house, aud in tic presence also, Of Anthony !. Al
Lire. He az not claim tnen what he has since
| Al him vita his club before he shot hin.
HE GAVE NO EIcUsE.
| lie ASSIGNED no reason Tor his crime.
II Is nov claimed by the prisoner that smedick
lad for lug time prosecuted and abused i'm, and
| had On more than one occasion beaten him with q
policem1n's club. In support OF this assertion you
smcdck is dead. lis mouth is closed, and tnerc Is
no one who feels 1t 6uiy to yindicale him against
ime charge; AssG m 4 to DO true Il does not
| q motive for his crime, and that he had reason
desire TO he reyenred tits not disputed that tue last
occasion upon Which II Il said Smeuick maltredted
Real ~as about three weeks before Real shot him :
time enough, surely, for the violence OF passion to
cool although II sec MS not enough Tor the spirit OF
revenge to disappear.
Itis now also claimed on behalf OF the prisoner
| end lie ASSERTED IL tie day after the muricr-that
smedIck came up TO him on the night in question
| and struck two blows at his head with a club.
MLelyupon ne saoi Dim The prisoner not only dii
| evidence IN the irial plaiuly contradics II.
You have submitted To me two or pdrfe afhdayits
| recently. TIE circumstances under which tNev ap
to S been male to and GS @ geI =. ~ey
| trial. compel me To reject ticn as
UNWORTHY OF CREDIT.
| You point to the recommendation OF mercy made
by the jury, when thew pronounced the verdict OF
| guilty. ! have duly weighed II. cannot, OF course
| say what led them TO make II. nor can find any.
thg In the evidence 10 justly II, or to warrant me
| In hootlng IT,
You present to me also, a petition for commu,n-
ton Of sentence, sigucd b, more than five thousand
| people, together with lote from many men, for
| whose opinions have great respect, al o W hIch
have been cOusidcrei by me. am We'll aware how
much sympathy Tor al now exists, The murdered
man sent out Of nc word without a moments
| warning, seems 10 be forgotten, There II
| one to speak Tor MIN, While thousands ask
| for mercy tor the who killed him. lar e
| portion Of the press join In the demand; clergy aud
o1icals, merchants and BANKERS, he'p to swell the
| list Oi petitioners. Aud yet, unless the prisoners
| own statements AGAINST every reliable witness on
| the trial are accepted Ms true, he
| wASToSLY, wICKEDLY, AND DELIBERATELY SHOT
| down In tie public streets pubic oni"fr.
| Those WHO ask for Communication for lin have
however, no Official resi- onsibity aud can plead for
mercy even against tie demands OF Justice. On the
other hand, my responsibility IL an a~inl one. They
cannot aprre late II. realize II solemnly aud iuly
| Tue lite of fellow man IL in my hands.
lneed not say To- you, whom rave known for so
many Years, how glany would heed the cry for
| mercy and snare lis life IL ! could My Judgment,
however, tells me that the prisoner wns justly con-
rctcd Of MURDER md that the interests Of the com
| InuuitY demand trat ne should suffer the penalty.
TIE DfSSeHs clear and disnnct Issue b6t,oeen
Idie and ilUiesmes. The lac must BE- rhdtcIfed.
| Tel Rea, therefore. ne must Gle on tue day ap-
| pointed for his execution.
| Very truly yours, JOHN /, HOFFMAN.
Hon. SYDNEY ii. STUART.