St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-03-21
Gov. Dix on the Foster Case.
SOME VERY HEALTHY DOCTRINE,

ter, under sentence of death Tor the
murder of Avery ID. Putnam, two years
ago, and stating the circumstances and
cOnsiderat ions on which the decision Is
founded. : !.Ige part of the letter Is
devoted to a review of the history OF
the murder. the trial, and the efforts
made to obtain from higher courts. in
GLIDING that OF the last resort, II rever-
sal of the decision of the lower court,
and then the governor says: The ques
ton presented to me is, whether | shall
interpose the executive authority of
the state. and commute the penalty of
death. which the law awards to murder,
for imprisonment for life. In support
of the application, it is urged that the
verdict was accompanied with recon-
mrndation to mercy, and that it is the
duty of the executive to consider the
one as Il part of the other. This YER
diet and the accompanying rccommen-
dation. together with the statements
and atiidavits of large majority of the
jurors. declaring that some of their
number did not believe Foster intend
ed to kill Putnam. that they thought
imprisonment tor life us great il punish
mCnt aS he deserves and that they
would not have agreed to render Il YER
diet of murder in The first degree If they
had not been assured by one of their as
Sorintes who protcs>cd to have Il knowl-
edge of the law. that the verdict, coup
led with Il recommendation, would in
sure communication of the sentence,-the
governor states. has been Il source of
great anxiety to him i'll coming to Il
right decision. But, he adds. the prec
cdent of admitting. after revelations of
the secret consultations of the jury
room. for the purpose ri annullIng YER
diets rendered It's true under the solem-
nifty of IN oath. would he pcrilOus in
any condition of society. and i'll the de
faint reign of crime. such Il precedent
,yould he fraught with infinite danger
to public order With "A firm convic
ton that there was no error in the rul-
ing of the judge at the trial, and that
the evidence fully warranted the jury
i'll rendering il verdict of guilty of muir
der in the first degree, there Is nothing
in the case which can justly recommend
the clemcucN of the executive, and he
cannut interp">c to mitigate the pun
ishment If he did disregard the evil
dence and the Judgment of the courts.
the inevitable effect would lie to impair
the force of judicial decisions. and
break down the barriers which law has
set up for the protection of human life.
50 far as it depends on me. the suprcm-
acy of the law will he intleXibly main
tanned. Every man who strikes muir
dcrouS blow at the life of his fellow
must he made to feel that his own is III
certain peril. five cannot. 10y tiImneSs
of purpose. effect this. we may soon he
forced to ;tckunWledg the disheartrn-
ing truth that there i nothing 81 cheap
or 81 Unprotected ;,S Il human life.
SINGILAE SuIT.-A singular suit for
damages has inst reached IA settlement
at Dover. y. ii. \ school hoy >cutlimg
with playmate. fourteen years ago,
hurled him against Il cl"thc>-hook Ill
the cutcrV 81 that the hook entered the
boys neck. and. breaking off. crippled
him for life. Nothing was done about
the matter until years ago. when. the
parties having grown to manhO"d. the
cripple being unable I" Labor. and the
one who pushed him being in paving
business. some humane parties took up
the case and GOT verdict of S'}O'O.
PAYMENT was refused. however. and
every evasion made. even t. an attrmp
IT taking the poor debtors oath. until
last week. when referees To whom the
case was given decided that payment
must Ice made ut once, or the drhn-
Iuent Jailed.
-,
SAD AND SUDDEN bEAlh.--l MS
morning Allen ;. nderw"od. supellh-
trndent "i H. VI. Cool y os luihhei
yard. left home apparently III g"ou
health and went I" ms once. After
being there short time he stepped "ut
for moment, and not returning :"
soon IL cNre"trd. tn" office hoy went
out ami found MN lNl ON MS p't'h
near tn" Office ana Gultc Hrad. lie was
~icims. VIII" pronounced the cause OF
ul> "'l'h 'l"li' =" i'' ~ - "''" "
=, - a,,I ,I,,,,,,I, .,,,,,.r u,.,,, rt fuIl
aol,it. his health was excellent and his
manner of living perfectly regular ana
temperate - -i'"'"S -''S''
.....
N''"'''>
I Patterson II he Won mart himself. ne
following i little too good t" keep.
T., :. fam, rim. i,,y,s
..,, ,.,,..,.., D.,
''' M''>;,'' ''''' IYI'. -, II
's'''' ''''''''f 80 I.r,. -,
Il'i ii""', sumo ''' Ii. III = ",,' -"
pei III H"'T >..' 'i,' WV 'i ''iI
- li'S iI"' l"'''.'>'.' "''r VII 49,
"''N' surprising !" ~ ~ NV i'', ' ,I.,
told the cause Of her hrreavcmcmt add
inr that ii WAS too bad. He WIS such