Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-26
O'ERIEN's COMMUTAFION.
Ohicial Papers Received M the Jail.
Reading Of the Presidents Warrant.
How the Prisoner Received the News.

To-day the Communication papers in the case
Of Charles II. o'Brien, Convicted sometime
since of the murder of Samuel III. Cunningham
at Green Springs pavilion, near Geor getown,
on the 18th of July last, and sentenced TO be
executed on the 2sth of February, the execution
of which sentence was by respite of the Presi-
dent postponed until Friday next, March 2sth,l
was received at the Jail. 1t has now been over
week since the prisoner was first apprized OF
the favorable action of the President, but so
long have the papers been hanging fire that the
prisoner at times became quite anxious, and
yesterday his relatives, too, were despondIng
Rev. Father Wigett called yesterday afternoon,
and assured him that the papers would be
forthcoming at the proper time, and this
assurance cheered him and his friends up for
time This morning, finding that the paper
cheerfulness, but Gen. Croker having learned
that during the course of the day they would
surely be on hand informed him, and his spirits
AT IL O'Clock Mr.. E. B. French, pardon
clerk, and Mr.. Williamson, of the Department
OF Justice, appeared at the Jail with the papers
In few minutes they, with General Croker
and Deputy Russ. went to O'Brens cell and
found him sitting down, quietly awaiting the
duced them, and Mr. French SAID: ..Mr. O'Brien
have brought the Presidents warrant com
muting ysur sentence" which he proceeded to
read, as follows:
THE PRESIDENTS WARRANT.
Ulysses s. Grant, President Of the United Stafes-
TO all uhOm these presents shah come greeting:
Whereas on the 18th day of November, 1872.
In the Supreme Court of the District of COlum
bia, one Charles II. O'Bren was convicted of
murder and was sentenced to suffer death by
hanging; and whereas a very large number of
citizens of the District of Columbia petition for
the communication of his sentence to imprison-
ment for life; and whereas ii is alleged that the
acto killing was committed in a sudden passion,
and not with generalization; and whereas doubts
seem to exist upon that subject;
Now, therefore, be it known that I, Ulysses
5. Grant, President of the United States of
America, in consideration of the premises and
divers other good and sufficient reasons M
thereunto moving do commute the sentence Of
said Charles IL. O'Brien to Imprisonment at
hard labor in the penitentiary at Albany, New
York, for the term of his natural life and direct
the execution thereof accordingly.
In testimony whereof have hereunto signed
my name, and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this twenty
fourth day Of March, in the year OF
,sr.1 ! our Lord one thousand eight hundred
ana seventy-three, and of the indepen-
dence of the United States the ninety
seventh. U. ). GRANT.
BY the President:
HAMILTON FISH, Secretary of State.
HOW THE PRISONER RECEIVED THE NEWS.
U'Brien stood quietly holding the gate while
the paper was being read, and at the close Mr..
French asked, do you accept the commute
tiOn?" O'Brien replied. Yes, sir, do" but
in rather low voice. The party then congrat-
ulated him and withdrew.
1t is probable that the prisoner will not be
sent to the Albany penitentiary until a batch
OF prisoners Is made MP for that destination,