The New York herald., 1873-03-01
FOSTERS FATE.
The Doomed Man Await
ing His End.
Strong Hopes Of Communication Of His eentencs
to Imprisonment for Life by Governor Dix
The Petition at Albany-stokss in His
New Quarters-The Grand Jury
Think the Tombs is Clean, but
Damp and Unhealthy.

Damp and Unhealthy.
The city was filled with rumors yesterday that
Governor John A. Dix had manifested disposition
to grant cOmmutation OF the sentence of william
Fester, the Murderer OF Avery D. Putnam. Early
In the day the rumors seemed to have had some
foundation, and a great many people expected
that Governor Dix would commute the con-
demned mans sentence to imprisonment for
life. Thirty or forty Protestant clergymen
have visited the Governor during tho past
four weeks. and have besieged him night and day
with prayers for mercy; but as yet he has proved
obdurate. Foremost among the gentlemen who
have sought to mitigate Fosters sentence has been
the Rev. stephen H. Tying. Sr.. and every effort
has been made that was possible to secure that
end.
MRS. PUTNAM,
the bereaved widow OF the murdered man, at
the solicitation Of Mrs. Foster. wrote q
strong and feeling letter to Governor DIX, in
which she stated that the death OF Foster ON the
gallows would not In any way assuage the
sorrow which she felt for the loss OF her beloved
husband. Mrs. Putnam also added In her letter
that Fosters life might be spared to anord him
time for repentance. Owing to the statements that
have been made in the newspapers in regard to
the action OF evangelical clergymen who have been
reported to have asked for reprieve for the
condemned man, the Rev. Morgan Dix, an Episcopal
clergyman OF high standing in this city, and rector
OF Trinity church, has found 1t necessary to state
that he did not sign any petition to Governor Dix
for the Communication OF the sentence OF Foster.
SEVERAL DELEGATIONS OF CITIZENS
have called upon the Governor ana have urged
strenuOusly upon him the advisabllity Of granting
s they have
tain to do the State more service by laboring in
prison for twenty or thirty years than he could
possibly achieve by being hanged by the neck like
dog.
The news from Albany up to late hour last
ton IN regard to the condemned man. The mixed
delegations Of citizens and clergymen who had
visited the Governor were received very cour-
teously, but no positive hope had been afforded
them.
The Governor stated to them that the welfare of
the Commonwealth and necessity OF
THE RIGID ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW
demanded that Foster should die on the galOws In
punishment for his offence. He added that, while
having the greatest respect and consideration for
the views put forward by the clergymen and cti-
zens composing the delega tlons, he was frank to
say that he could not agree with them In their
A number Of the citizens and clergymen who had
affixed their names to the petitions became ex-.
panat0ry at this stage OF the proceedings, and
stated that they had signed their names simply
because they were opposed to capital punishment
FOSTER IN THE COMPANY OF HIS WIFE.
From an early hour OF yesterday morning Foster,
IN company with his wife, sat behind the big, red
hot boiler stove In the murderers' corridor of the
inner Tombs prison. During Thursday night he
had slept wel and yesterday he ate his meals regu.
him. The sherin keeps two deputies in charge OF
Foster all the time. These deputies are changed
every twelve hours-two for the night tour and
two for the day tour. Those In charge yesterday
until SIX O'Clock In the evening were Deputies
James Dunphy and DAILY: The Oflcers OF the
his Imprisonment, and every official in the Tombs,
with the exception OF one, has signed the petition
for the Communication OF his sentence.
MYSTERIOUS GOOD NEWS.
e SSepna @ Hng % r. the
very considerably. The effect OF this intslgcnoo,
whatever 1t may have been was visible on Fosters
face and In his actions during the day. Mrs. Foster,
who has been a very devoted and noble wife to her
husband during the darkest hours OF his fate,
seemed much more cheerful than usual after the
VISIT From THE SISTERS OF MERCY.
At halfpast two O'clock Yesterday afternoon two
and his wife for nearly an hour. Mrs. Foster sat
Foster has occupied since his sentence Foster sat
and facing the stove. The Sisters Of Mercy stood
in their power Foster talked to the Sisters Of
Keeper Matthew DAILY said to the HERALD re.
porter while the Sisters were In conversation with
the prisoner There never yer was Ths better behaved
~
A young fellow, confined for ten days, who was
chepping ice IN the yard Of the prison echoed the
DR.. Neais, the Tombs physician, said :-"I hope
he will get q eommutati0n; he didn't know what
he was doing when he killed Putnam"
WAITING FOR TID1NGs FROM ALBANY.
Up to seven O'Clock last evening no information
had been received from Albany that Governor Dix
probabilities very slight that he Will interfere
with the execution Of the law.
The HERALD reporter found Edward s. Stokes
walking in the yard Of the inner prison, and spoke
Sheriff erin Shields. Since the decision Of Judge Davis
has been made Stokes is allowed to walk In the
yard every day for exercise, and Is now occupying
nished with extreme neatness and cleanliness
but without any ossnation Of stokes a. hs..r Is IN
SsS Sso4e ss as he not
to be in good spirits, founded on the general be-
lief expressed by leading criminal lawyers OF this
city that the severe rulings OF Judge Boardman
against him will be overruled by the Court OF Ap
peas, and that that high tribunal viii grant him
new trial. When informed OF the rumors that there
was possibility Of Communication OF Fosters SEN
"Well, poor fellow, / hope he will get commuta-
tion. HIS fate Is very hard one."
THE GRAND JURY IN THE T0MBs.
The Grand Jury Yesterday made thorough Ia
bers of The Grand Jury, under their foreman, Mr.
Delavan, inspected all the cells and the
escorted u the the Rs:Sn jury Tarsn ssan
the gloomy precincts under his charge 1t would
be premature to state as yet what the decision OF
this august body will be, as they nave not yet come
to any official conclusion They found All the cells
verp damp and very unwh0iesome but very clean,
to the credit Of Warden Johnson and his subordi-
mates.
The Tombs, like Venice, Is built piles. and has
nve feet OF water floating around loosely In Its
foundations Naturally this creates malaria, and
the pad atmosphere produced by this dampness is
the cause Of sickness and disease among the pris-
oners. All the officials. from the warden down,
utI1 I'M IN n -
healthy location, and cannot be blamed for the
hygiene Of the Tombs, which Is not under their
control.
nAxanHsaAa aH 4 aaYS6 4 mIAM