The New York herald., 1872-07-11
LIBBIE GARRABRANT.
How She Received the News Of Her Escape from
the Gallows-Her Usual Indifference in the
Presence Of Reporter It Assumed for
Purpose or Is She Half-wittsd1

The Court OF Pardons Of New Jersey having conn.,
muted the sentence OF this youthful prisoner to i'm
prisonment for life much Joy created in Pater-
son among those who had taken an active part In
saving ner from the gallows on the 10th, while
others were open In their disapproval OF the action
OF the Court and declared that there no miti-
eating circumstances to justify the leniency ex-
tended to the girl.
With view Of seeing this notorious woman,
who has been glowingly pictured as q mere child,
beautiful In person and simple In her manner, re-
porter OF the HERALD visited Paterson yesterday
morning and called at the jail, In Main street,
where the girl and her partner in the killing OF
Burroughs (Bogert are confined. ring OF the
bell brought to the door the wife OF the Warden,
Goodridge, who was in sole charge Of the prison.
After waiting without the prison for nearly two
hours the reporter found the Warden and was ad
mitted to the interior.
At the time Of his visit Rev. Mr.. Clark, OF Pater
son, was administering the consolation Of religion
to the girl and the reporter waited In the ONCE his
departure. few minutes passed. and, the clergy
man leaving, the Warden led the way to the female
prison and pointed Libbies cell. An inspection
Of 1t showed 1t to be very clean and neat On the
wall hung few articles Of female apparel,
but Libbie was not In the cell. The Warden
led the way to the kitchen and there pointed
out the prisoner, who was engaged under
the direction OF Mrs. Goodridge, In the unpoetic
calling Of potato washing in q sink near the rear
door. glance at the giri dispened the Illusion
that the reporter had labored under from reading
the various descriptions Of the beautul posoner''
Of Passaic county. She was dressed IN o calico
dress, plaid apron, and wore her hair plated down
the back. Her arms were bare, but quite white.
her cheeks pale, eyes sunken; her general features
were anything but beautiful. and she appeared to
be fully twenty-five years OF age. The reporter
stepped up and pleasantly saluted her with
"How are you, LibbeS ! see the good news YOU
have received has not overcome you. Was 1t ex-
The girl turned her head. and, casting cunning
look at Mrs. Goodridge, smiled and replied =
a' Hse 'teS 10 aHe y my
~ hoped 1t would be- was the only response, as
she smiled again ana continued her work.
Of your sentence ~
The beautiful child's cunning eyes went in the al.
rectton OF the matron, and she again smiled aud re-
'Weli, don't know"
''Were you afraid Of being executed, Libbie ?.
'Oh, did not care much. any way.n Again she
laughed roguishly, and pushed the potatoes about
s In the water vat without moving her head. The re;
the singular mrth ulness that was manifested by
the prisoner. He cast o look of inquiry upon the
Lbbie to talk" Hestating for q question that
wo9id IDEAL call ont some emotion the reporter said
"LlODle, 0OeS your mOtner come TO see y0uYn
The same rOguish smile, and the remark
ayes, she was here last week."
She was questioned as to her family in the ex-
pectatlOn that reference to them and the con-
Germ they had felt for her fate would produce
nervousness on her part, but the contrary was the
result. She showed not the slightest emotion, but
still laughed as before
After conversing with her some minutes, and be-
ing unable to draw her out, the reporter gave her
up as incorrigible. When he referred to her re-
moval to State Prison, her separation from the
good friends who had stood by her in Paterson.
and the probability that II she conducted herself
properly at Trenton she might be pardoned in a
The reporter left her, satisfied that far from be-
ing the smpie.minded child who was easily
made the instrument OF Bogert, she is q
cunning woman, in whose apparent indifference
and unconcern for her future there Is method. His
opinion may be erroneous but it Is one entertained
by large portion Of the community, including Gov
ernOr Parker. The Warden reports that when in
formed Of her escape from the gaIlows the girl ex-
hbted not the least sign Of Joy ut her deiiverance.
It s certain that Libbie Garrabrant her escape
from death more to the abhorrence thc.pe0ple, and
especially the females, have OF woman hanging
than to any mitigating circumstances connected
with the murder or her apparent innocence of the
responsibility attaching to life-takng. The Sheriff
has not yet received orders for her removal to Tren
ton, and until the warrant arrives she will remain
In the Paterson tail.