, 1872-11-08
THE MURDEREFS.
How Rafferty, and Perfect Received the
News Of Th5n New Trial.
The Condemned Peri Terribly Enraged
Over tile Courts 's Partia1ity.''
Excerpt from the Opinion Filed
in the Rafferty, Case.

The news that the Supreme Court had given
to Messrs Rafferty, and Perfect 8 new trial for
their respective murders, was received by the
benefciaries and general public in al entirely
different spirit. The latter regretted that any
informally in the trial should have been deemed
sufficient ground for giving the convicts another
lease Of life. The public was prepared to have q
triple execution. It demanded that as little de-
lay as possible should ensue upon the conviction
Of the 1nurderera. It asked that speedy
justice DO meted out to the breakers
Of civil and moral Law. It urged that an exam
pie be made of the three convicted r1urderers
who had been sentenced to death, and that as
little encouragement be held out to their imita-
tcr5 as could be avoided. It was with sincere re-
gret, therefore, that it learned from the NOM
ing papers that new trial WAS to be afforded to
both these niscreants.
On the other hand. both these nisc-eants
learned of their virtual respite with uncon-
cealed delight. As the public fumed with
impatience and disappointment, they chuclled
with satisfaction. They made no effort to re-
strain their joy. but each expressed it, if not in
3 natural manner directly, by actions expected
Of them by those who knew their habits.
When told of bis reprieve, Rafferty, grinned
and prayed His grin Was long continued and
horrible. His prayers-we arc not acquainted
with their nature. A reporter paid visit to
him, yesterday morning, and conversed as freely
with him as the mans doggcd obstinacy would
permit Of. He arrived at conclusions reached BY
egasive replies from Mr. Rafferty,. When the
reporter Piled the inevitable question whether
he supposed he would get clear Of the charge,
Mr. Rafferty, looked stoId and stupid, end said,
II don't know" When the reporter guessed he
might. hH said again 1T don't know" When tho
reporter asked if the decision Of the Supreme
Court pleased him, he brole the monotony by
saying, "Guess So" Tho reporter taking
another track. guessed he had fair trial any
way. Mr. Rafferty, said he did not
know: The reporter supposed tho
result would be the same as before,
his vanity. What would he have asked for 3
new trial for i he had not some new testimony
to ;ntrodnce7 The reporter :: didn't know this
time. Mr: Rafferty, did, however. What vas il?
the reporter Tentured to inquire Don't
wouldn't tell if you did" eaid the reporter.
"Oh. don't know" said Mr.. Rafferty, "Why
not?" queried the itemizer. "Don't know"
retorted the murderer. Infinitely jubilant
at Lis success in extorting information from Mr..
Rafferty,. the reporter moved away to interview
Perfect, when Rafferty, fell upon his knees and
communicated intelligence OF tho Same refresh
ing nature to Lis Creator. The substance of
that interview, as before limited, tho reporter
t'don't know" except that he probably express
ed his thanks for the departure Of the man with
tile notebook.
Perteet's face was as radiant as newly-bIacked
boot. It shone sufficiently to discourage Z herd
Of boot-becEs. Excepting where bis mouth broke
the monotony it Tas mass Of shiny rigritude.
The reporter suggested that he looked h2ppy.
Perfect didn't wonder at it, seeing how la;l,y
he felt. How did he feel, the reporter asked
him, and was net with sach . eeraphic out
pouring that he regretted having given the roor
reporter gsksd if any one had been to sec him.
Oh, yes his daughter had been to seo him. His
daughter had ferGi7en hlm,-that is, she did not
object to him any longer. She came 10 see
be too highly commended under the c!rcun-
stences. Mr.. Perfect. By the way, is philos-
opher, and talked upon abstruse social topics in
an sbstruee but sociable manner. Capital pun
ishment he abhorred as relic of barbarisn.
The death-penalty was not becoming element
Of society On the contrary, it was den1ort.l-
izing, in his opinion. On tho Gunda7 Liquor
law he has decided convictions. We're the
saloons closed from Saturday night until
Monday morning, he had not tie least
doubt that the criminal docket would soon ex-
hibit symptoms Of attenuation. Whiskey and
the want of money were twin roots of evil, and
should be prohibited Perfect is of c religious ss
well as thoughtful and philosophical turn of
$ supersedeas or new trial, il apt to-blend hia
philosophy with his religion in an alarming
ner. It iB difficult to know at times, when he
becomes excited, whether certain phrases are
emed or the at first ' csuso ss;nfS and rhetIsz do
crime or religious tolerance should be sup
pressed. On politics he has also taken firm
stand. His remark, when reminded Of the rast
election, savored Of religious excitement rather
thai mere political exuberance. "Men," ho
c=ied aloud, "must die, but principles will live
forever" "Io1 are a philosopher, remarked
saving something. "oh, yes" said Per-
tS nd sb. die haT' pbjosepher heep Do eoa
expect to die in Joliet7" said the reporter.
Perfect yielded to 8 commonplace remark, and
said there was no telling. Perhaps he would de
before be got there. He did not much care. He
had made his peace with his Maker. Without
rema-king that lie might die violent death be-
fore reaching Joliet, the reporter left linn still
smiling as only an excited gentleman Of the col
o-ed persuasion, just rescued from the jaws Of
death, can smile.
The came despatch which brought disappcint--
ment to good citizens and JOY to Rafferty, aEd
Perfect, contained 8 paragraph calculated to
rufne the dropping feathers Of one Grcgo1io
Fen, who has been as Eear standing disconso-
late ct the entrance to Eden as most ablc-bodiod
men care to be. Peri's particular offence was o
double murder, and Peri's feelings on the sub
ject are naturally acute, especially as ho has
been condemned by jury Of his own choosing
20 expate his offenses at the
end OF 8 tough rope in the County Jail He had
all along expressed 3 decided disapproval Of cap
it1 punishment as applied to himself, and rest
ed secure in the belief that the Supreme Court
at Ottawa would share his views. He was not
aroused from this gentle illusion till yesterday
morning, when The TRIBUNE was brought to
him. and his fate read. Then, indeed, were
fragments Of Italian anathoma hurled
round the jail III an irresponsible way.
The English language has alwa;ys
been supposed to be Exceptionally opulent in
damnatory expressions, but to compete with
Peri's Italian e1pletives it must be put into en-
phatic hands. a chromatic streak of objulga-
Zion such as the spectrum could never equal,
WAS sworn by Mr: Peri. As for the huniliating
termination to his earthly career, he would have
none Of it. He tore his hair, spat. dashed him
self about his miserable cell. and blasphemed
his Maker in italian. interspersed With tho
choicer and more emphatic specimons Of Anglo
Saxon curses. It is true that he WAS drunk ar1ho
time and that his imagination was stimulated
to unusual richness of conception, but it does
not alter the fact that be objects to being made