Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1872-12-30
The Donovan Communication.

The following Is q copy OF the om-
cial Communication Of the sentence OF
william Donovan. 1t was the plain
est, fully proven, ~clsarsst kind OF .
case Of wilful, deliberate murder, and
what created such a division of public
opinion In favor Of Donovan as to set
aside the straightforward execution OF
the law In this instance, Is not by any
means clear, aud entirely unsatisfac-
tory. Governor Booth was right, but
yielded to the great pressure Of public
sentiment:
STATE orlCALIFoRNIA,
Executive DEPARTMENT,
SACRAMENTO, December Ely
WHEREAS, At the December term,
A. D. 1871, Of the District Court Of the
Fifteenth judicial District, held In and
for the city and county Of San Francis
CO. In said State, William Donovan
was tried and convicted Of the crime OF
murder In the first degree. and sen.
fenced to DO hung on the 18th day OF
December, 1872, and from which SEN
tence a reprieve was granted. staying
such execution until the 9th day OF
December, A. D. 1872, and
WHEREAS, On the night preceding
and on the morning OF the day liked
for the execution Of said defendant, l
have received numerous letters and
petitions from citizens asking for. q
Communication, among others q unani-
NOUS resolution Of the San Francisco
Stock and Exchange Board, and a
statement from a well-known citizen.
that q petition numbering several
thousand names had been left with
him asking for q communication that no
one refused to sign, and thousands
more could be procured II there was
time, also q petition BY telegraph,
signed by o. G.. Pratt. J. P. Jones, E.
F. Beale, J. B. Haggin, C.. T. Hooper,
Thomas Brown, Joseph A. Donohoe,
| George P. Ihrie. Alexander G.. Abel,
N. B. Stone, Charles N. FELTON,, a,
Austin, J. E.. Do Ia Montagnie, j. 2.
II. Wentworth, F. A. Sawyer, 81: T.
wakelee. George o. Whitney, Thos.
P. Madden, J. G. Pelton. John Hart,
G. Il. Lawson, J. G. Eastland. George
| d. Roberts, P. C. Lander, j. P. Dyer,
E. Eyre. o. Livermore, p. McShane,
| August Hemme, A. j. Bryant. John
w. Gashwiler, K. G. Page, Z. n. Ca.
sey, X. h. Lloyd. Henry F. Williams,
j. L. FRYE, C.. r. Greathouse, Owen
Thorne, e.. B. Hitchcock, A. G. Kin
sey, X. Swain, R. C.. Rogers, G.. L.
Sharp, J. C. McCony. T. j. Gallagher,
G. w. Casselli, 5. NJ. Taylor, George
W. Smiley, J. McGlynn, F. Franconi,
| d. Baker, c. NJ. Levy, w. Il. Moore,
J.. C. Stebbius, Lewis Cohen, Samuel
G.. Harding, G. G.. W. Hoge, ID. II.
Regensberger, S. J. Reynolds, P. w.
Van Wrinkle, Joseph Barrett, R. Good.
win, Joseph Austin, J. Hsmmlll, W.
F. Harrison, A. j. Ellis, David Ma
honey, Edward Cahlll and L. McCar-
thy ; and ,
WHEREAS, Such q manifestation Of
| public opinion at so critical a time
| seems to place me In a cruel position
| Of seeking the life Of a prisoner to
maintain my consistency,
Now, therefore, although after a
careful examination Of the evidence
In the case, I am Of opinion that the
prisoner had no legal defense to the
charge of which he was convicted, and
that the only circumstance which
should mitigate the penalty fixed by
law Is the possibility that ut the time
Of the commission Of the crime the
mind Of the prisoner may have been
In a state bordering on dellrium from
Incorporate drinking, yet In mercy to
myself, Out Of consideration to the
feelings Of the petitioners, In defer
ence to what / believe to be public
| opinion in this case. and out Of tell
derness for human life, and perhaps
from u lack Of moral courage which IL
| willing to divide the responsibility of
a most painful duty, even with those
who from the nature Of the case can
not have given the subject that anx-
ious examination which 7 have my
| self; now, therefore, by virtue of tho
authority in me vested by the Consti-
| tuition and laws of this State, l, New
ton Booth, Governor Of tho State OF
| California, do hereby commute the
sentence of tile said William Donovan
to imprisonment In the State Prison
for the term Of his natural life.
Witness my hand and the Great Seal
of State at the Executive Office, in the
r.., city of Sacramento, California,
lshAh'I this 9th day Of December, In
the year Of our Lord 1872.
NEWTON BOOTH. Governor.
Attest: DRURY MALONE,