Arizona citizen., 1875-07-24
UNFINISHED CRIMINALS.
What is tIle Use to Convict Men Ot
 High Crimes in Arizona?


 lowed, vet but one murderer has been hung in accordance with law. The
 people-good people, tOo-go in strong
 for conviction-sometimes for hanging
 before conviction; but almost imme-
 diately after legal conviction, beseech
 the Governor to commute the sentence
 or absolutely pardon tie criminals, There is hardly an exception to this
 rule X number of cases might be cit ed in Pima and other counties, but nearly all our readers will readily re- call them. As illustrative of what we say, we quote this fresh item from The Miner of the 18th instant:
 One week from today, at the court house in Prescott, Manuel Abiles, con vieted at the late term of the district court, of murder in the first degree, is to pay the penalty of his crime by be- ing hung by the neck until he is dead. We hear of no efforts being made to . In fact the people seem to think that the judgment of the court, severe as it is, is not more than commensurate with the crime committed, and would have been quite as well satisfied if the lOther Mexican and Malone, who were tried with him, had shared the same fate
 One would suppose the way that reads, that the people about Prescott wanted to see that murderer hung, but on Monday last, came a telegram to the Governor, as follows:
 We, the undersigned, respectfully ask that Manuel Abiles under sentence of death be reprieyed for two weeks, that petition fer communication of sen tence may reach you and be consider led. J.P. Hargrave, c. P. Head & Co.,, E.J. Cook, John G. Campbell, Daniel Hatz, w. J. Tompkins, Gal. Jackson, Ben. Baker and L. BashfOrd
 The names to that telegram are those of representative men and taxpayers of Yavapai county. They surely have no wish to encourage crime or disorder in community But man has been killed, and 8 jury of twelve men, hay ing heard the facts under oath, found Manuel Abiles guilty of murder there for in the first degree; the law says-he shall be hung, and the judge sentences him accordingly. The county has also been at considerable expense to pro cure the conviction. And yet the peo-I Iple-good, orderly people and heavy ItaX-payers-don't want the man hung as the law directs, nor any other way ! it would seem. Hardly any EXecutiveI would decline the reprieye requested by spch men. And so the case stands jreprieved as asked. Last year, we don't remember the eX-I act time, one John M Nelson attackedI NIr. Bryan while asleep in his bed at Wickenburg, and most brutally beat and cut him. For some time Bryan's life was desp2ired of The peopleI there would have almost surely hung Nelson without trial, if they had caught him at the time. The excite Iment was very great and the feeling linen of the people up to the hanging pitch. Well, time passes on and Nell son is convicted Of the assault, and sentenced to a term of Imprisonment. in the penitentiary. For q month orI more, the Governor has been implored l, by petition and letter to grant Nelson .an absolute pardon The cowardlyI and .unprovoked Gccd, with apparent mTderous intent, seems to be forgot ten along with Mr. Bryan's loss and suferings. The Governor having de- clined to pardon Nelson, the letters are again coming, insisting that the par don must be issued. We doubt If it will be.
 As before said, substantial and peace loving citizens act as stated, and to leave no doubt on this point in the minds of our readers, we give the names of those asking clemency for Abiles It might make matters worse if our criminal laws-especially those relating to the higher and more aggra- vated erimes-were annulled by legis- lative enactment; yet so far as their eX- ecution is concerned, they might al most as well be. The several counties would thus be spared by far the largest item of their expenses. Respect for law would not be in the least lowered. Is it not time the people should recon sider their course in behalf of the worst classes of criminals:
 THE recently formed telegraph con- pany in San Francisco, seems to mean business. This dispatch to The San Diego Union indicates it anyhow:
 SAN FRANCISCO, July 14-The Ma tional Telegraph Company has opened construction offices at the corner of California and Sansome streets Pres idnDt CohnD informs The Ita that thpI company will commence active work