The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-22
An In 'crcStIng Casc-The Communication
of Staudermnnn's Death Sentence.

/ An In rc~tIng Casc-The Commute ion
of Stnude rmnun's Death Sentence.
GOV. TiLurN has commutcd The punish
mcnt of JACoB SrAUDERNA ~, conv cted
/ Of murder in the first degree, aud sen
/ tcrc # to death. to imprisonment for life.
A. THIS is what II was plainly the Cover
nor duty to de. we presume tlat hcactcd
on l.i~ own judgement ia tho prcmi r-, and
without referring thcmattpr toll Private
Secretary to decide whether the prisoner
should BE- PVT TO death OF be permitted To
| live.
The ease Of SrAt urHNtNN H. one Of I'M
common interest. lie shot a young z II
as she was stepping into a street ear. lie
was violently in love with her, ana had no
motive to kill her except because She re-
fused TO marry him; which, logically.
could hardly be con idercd motive, mas
much ms hc thus rendered it impossible for
her ever TO marry him. lie was poor and
fricndIcss, aud although formal defence
was made of him, his case was summary
disposed Of and there seemed TO exist a
general disposition TO "more than con
cur in the sentence pronounced against
h m.
After some time u brother turned up,
who had not heard Of the occ drrenco until
the trial was over. Then other connections
and relations were heard from; and II ap-
pearcd TO have been long understood in the
family that STAUDrRMANN was not fully
clothed in his right mind. He had received
when II child n hurt 10 his head, from the
effects Of which he had never entirely re-
covered. lie had been subject to cpl
lepsy, and nj times had appeared to he
crazy. Insanity was hereditary in his
family. Evidence was forthcoming from
the Tombs that during his imprisonment
his conduct had not been that of n sane
man-nor, on the other hand, did his i'll
sanity appear TO have been fclgncd.
\ commission was appointed to iuvesti-
gate his mental condition, and on the re-
port Of that commission the Governor has
now commuted the sentence
Tho history of this case is exceedingly
interesting, ~ showing that, in reality, and
contrary to the general belief. no prciu-
dice CRISIS. Ia, ne public miHd. against ne
plea Of htsditHH as a dtlc1cc 10 Il capital
charge, oicrc me plea is true.
Tue offence OF SrArprgNANS was par
ticularly shocking. Without the shadow
Of Justification or excuse, hs cruelty took
the life of an innocent, uuoGruding girl.
There was notl!ug about the man c4lcu-
lated to awaken sympathy for him The
question OF lis stuity came up to be- con-
sldcrcd just after the acquitted Of Sc,N-
NELL, which had bcch roccn 90 with one
general outhur-t of dcli-iun. And Vel,
public sentiment, So far IS we can
judge by its manifestations, has been all
one way IN reference to the culprit
STArDrRNANN. There has been no APP
pcarance OF desire on the par. of any one
that he should I've executed If he was in
sane; while the disposition has been appa-
rent on all sides 60 afford him the benefit
Of q fun and tlr Investigation and an I'M
partial and intelligent decision as TO his
mental state 1hc result H. that 10 the
horror Of Vouug ciH Shot 10 death with
out cause, There Is not TO be added the
! other horror of the execution Of "a lunntic.
1t l. gratifying to have tins proof that
no prejudice exists against Tho proper USE
OF the plea Of insanity. II only au honest
autipathy It's abuse. II is also gratifying
TO perceive, in this case, a just regard for
the right to life manifested ia person 10y a
Governor who has SO omlucutly dist IL
guishcd himself by his profound respect
for the rights of property.