New-York tribune., 1873-03-06

the following: The Hon. JOhn H. frllo"hi bhc hou'
Clifford A. Hand the Hon. Philo r. Rugglesi W K
Beebe, Esq: Thos. c. I. Buckley ESQ the Hon. hiram
Barney; Jas. W. Gerard, SRI
LETTERS FROM CITIZENS.
MEMORIAL FROM CITIZENS WHO TESTIFY FROM
PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE As TO THE PRE-
yIOUs CHARACTER OF FOSTER.
To His Ercelency JOHN A. DIX GorerHor Of NE State
Of Neo York.
The undersigned respectfully petition 70 your Excel
ency TO commute the OF death which has been
pronounced against william Foster % imprisonment for
life and represent that have each for the period set
opposite our names said Foster, his manner of
life habits and associations.
Foster il naturally Of an amable and noensiye TEN
ner; bas never been in the habit OF intoxicaton has
never been the associate ot ldle, disOrdeFiy OF
dsre ButaDle persons, has never before, as We
Dest infraction OF the law but on the contrary
from being, has been mstanngy represented, one oi
the violent or disOrdery class he has always been noted
for characteristics f0rDddng Mm 10 DC one o. Or 20 pos
Ne soemDIv declare cur belief that he never intended
or contemplated the death OF the stranger whom he
FOR the first tme as possible consequence oI
We do not extenuate his crime seek to avert It's
due punishment but as cltizeus interested IN tIe Just
enforcement OF the law, sincerely believe that, as
Foster did intend TO kill he ought not 70 suHer me
extreme penalty which Is reserved Tor Wiili designing
The Jury who convicted Foster virtually forbid,
den 10 lind verdict murder in the second degree, anu
given the verdcts OF simple mansanghter on Oi
murier i'm the rst degree They appear have united
IL, mar verdict relying ON an unanimous recommends
ton 10 mercy secure him the modified punishment
which they Thought appropriate " ns crule ana Jhis
after a disagreement OF "a hours
To that recommendation We appeal as your warrant
and justification for the exercise OF Executive ciemency
IS years CmRIsroPHER KEYEs builder, Los E. 7Othst.
II AMEs CUNNINGHAM, builder li6 Lex lave
~ .RoBr. CUNNINGHAM, builder, 746 Lexnaye
10 years.....WM. ODoSSELL, marble works. lSO9 B'way
10 lcArs..... ST. MAGRATH, builder "a Irylns-place
-......CL CLAUS WITscHEN 60 lrylng-paee'
% years......WM. G. OBRIEN, 455 2d-nVe.
"a years.. PETER GILLESPIE, 3l6 L. lltnst.
- JOSEPH PHLLAS' 6l HHon-plaee'
Z years ...... DANIEL WHALEN 50 W. l7Cn-st.
25 years...... MICHAEL SULLIVAN. 439 Il. l6th-st
THOMAS :. MORTON, Hampstead, L. l.
-......D ID. HEN6EssY. ~ f. l9thst.
20 years.. CHAs. ". WHITE, lsth-st, near Avenue d.
20 years......JOHS ID. OrTIwELL, 40 LaxIngtoG-aye.
h years......JOHN NEsBIr 451 At-lve.
"a or 15 yearsJOsEPH 2. QUIS, plumoer, W. ith-st
rs YEAR. -. FORBES HOLLAND, III l.. I5lh-st.
20 years LIONS j. BRADLEY, 40 W. 34th-st.
26 CAV, decorator, DIS Mercer-st.
p years s......JoHS MURPHY, 2J5 LexIngt0n-aye.
% years ...... CoRSELIUs CALLAHAN, 226 h. 7th-st
is years s...... THOMAS MORTON, 76 jth-ave
1l YEAR. s...... EDWARD j. SALOAOS, 33 b. I7thst.
20 years......WA LAIaBEER, 70 LexlngtOnaye.
Is years s.....WM y. LAniBEER, III L. 47Jn-sU
--......JAIEs WEBB. builder, 81 M0rJOn-st
10 20 70 years Lewis PERRY grocer c. lsthst stav
10 CHAs e. MORTON. engineer n Y. Gas Leo.
~ years.....JoHS NJ CARROLL builder, 800 f. sth-st.
LETTER FROM THE REV. DIR. TYING.
ST. GEORGES RECToRY, NEW YORK, Jan. %, 1873.
The Hon JOHN A. DIx-Ay Dear Sir: Though l write
upon a subject which Of necessity involves your olcl3
position and power do address you the form or
IN Official, but personal communication.
The papers have notified that the Court Appeals
have confirmed the Judgment passed upon William
Foster who was tried and sentenced near Two years
since FOR the crime OF murder This young man has
been familiar.y known 70 me from ns childhood He
grew up in the Sundayschoo ana congregation OF my
church nere OF which his family have made part since
hs birth. He always quiet orderly and good boy
he grew up an industrious and well-Oehaved young
mamie has never been bad man or drunkard
The whole circumstances OF this sad event which has
paced hlm In mis- present position, he has personally
lated very miuuJely "a me- Twice undcr sentence or
DEATH have visited hun regularly as MS pastor. He
mas presented himself % gentle, quiet peniteuC
young man, and have mad much encOuragemenJ IN
held my visits the legal pOstpo
further consideration OF the final proceedings his case
enee to the committed HIS statement has been
that had knowledge OF the person OF Mr.. Putnam,
whom ne mad never He had been with some com
panions on that evening and was drunk-Mr. Putnam
called him drunken loaer he also demanded his
nusOn from and in the impulse OF anger,
seized the car-hoOB, with which he was familiar, and
struck him the back or his mead He had no intention
of killing and supposltiOn at the time that he had
killed him At the trial for this crime, amidst AL the
iury WHO united with difficulty in their verdict, did
mite In recommending him TO mercy. That sovereign
mercy resides IN the Providence OF God, in your
am perfectly alive the necessity of some vlndica-
OF the law in the cases of violence ana murder which
are now crowding upon US with fearful increase.
Foster the least excuse himself from the
inst and endurance OF his sentence IL lt be the
will OF that be must meet it. have not yet
him present crisis OF his condition. shall do 50
"a soon as the judicial proceedings completed which
will finally assign IT,
But in the mean time, have assumed this responsi-
bity Of writing persoEaLy 70 yourself really think
the yonng man entitled a Communication or a sentence
FOR iIlf murder the rst degree 10 milder
of i'm prsonment for life. which suppose s the In
degree acted in blind haste with malicious in
tent and has groaned IN anguish over the remem-
Drauce His hOnOred parents and excellent
family young wife and little children his indus
rious life his really quiet and habitua department his
deep sorrow crime, and the total absence OF all
expressions OF hostility or selfdefense, unite To
present his To as one peculiarly appropriate for
Executive mercy. do not Know what efforts
others NAV make his behalf but the pastor his
familyand OF ali his early life, and now his CRATE
fully accepted pastor in the hour OF his sorrow-I feel
compelled mpore for hfn the mercy which alone
can exercise, in this Communication his sentence
death Imprisonment for life. confident the
memDranoe OF such exercise OF the supreme power
with which God has been pleased so honorably ana
Justly 10 cothe you, Will give you no otner FEELING than
thankfulness In time ~ Gomez and, at Feet this
high position. ask that which have already mplored
from Him whose boundess mercy In our only hope the
midst Of conspicuous unworthness. and which prompts
deal with others only sinners like ourselves.
we appear together before His throne. hope you will
tins entirely personal approach from minister
OF Christ the close of earthly life necessarily
am. with the most cordial respect and regard.
Your friend aud servant STEPHEN H. TYING.
FROM THE HON. ABRAHAM r. LAWRENCE.
NEw.YoRK. Feb. II, 1879
Hon. JOHN A. DIX. Governor. fe-Dcdr Sur 1 had at
formed the opinion. without having made any
particular examination OF the OF Foster, his
crime was enc IN which conviction OF murder In the
nrst degree proper.
From q subsequent careful investigation am how
ever satisfied that my frat impression was erroneous
there Is entire absence OF evidence OF
derous intent on the part OF Foster that there
design " effect Mr. Putnams death and that the
dict 20 conform 70 the evidence, should have been for
lesser degree OF crime.
The ends OF justice. In my opinion. would be fully at
tanned. the sentence should DO comMuted " iDprison