The Portland daily press., 1875-02-24
MATTERS In MAINE.
-H .-T
Mrs. Gordon P.eads for Her Son.
Failure to Obtain a Writ of Habeas Cor
,,- pus in favor of Wagner.
Another Attempt to Save the Con-
,.-ts 4tlf demned.
MATTERS In MAINE.
Preparations fer the Execution
(Special to the Press.)

Special to the Press)
AUGUSTA, Feb. 23.-Mrs. Gordon mother of
| the mau to be executed on Friday, was before
| the Governor and Council yesterday, to ask
| that her son may be pardoned, or, if that can
not be done, that his sentence be commuted to
| imprisonment for life. She said that she could
not believe that her son committed the crime
although she could not imagine who did it.
She said that another son of hers, now deceas-
ed, had fits of insanity in consequence of a
| blow received on the head, but that the son to
| be executed never exhibited any signs of insan-
| ity and that there never was any insanity in
| the family except this before named. She did
| not claim that any new evidence had been dis
covered in the case. The Council did not feel
| that they had any right to interfere to avert
| the penalty imposed by the court, especially
| since the legislature had refused to substitute
| imprisonment for life for the deathspenalty. AS
| the Governor cannot commute the sentence un-
| less so advised by the Council, there can be no
escape for Gordon.
Judge Tapley, counsellor Wagner, has re-
] turned from his visit to Bangor to see Judge
Peters, without any writ of habeas corpus or
writ of error, and it is understood that he sees
nothing more that can be done for Wagner. 1t
| is stated that the judges who have been con-
suited think there is nothing in the point made
| relative to the insufficency of the warrant for
execution. The Governor has indicated his
| readiness to postpone the execution if any
| Judge will issue writ of which he can take
| official notice. 1t is quite probable that if this
| should be done, both prisoners would be re-
prieved for thirty days. The present council
! as we'll as the old council, has refused to order
| the Communication of Wagner's sentence.
If nothing ssdone in this direction the exc
cution of the two men will take place in the
prison yard at Thomaston on Friday. between
| II and Il: 2:o'clock Sheriff Torrey has the a1-
rangements nearly perfected Wagn er still
| insists that he will not be hung. Gordon has
| become quite calm and resigned and talks free
| ly with his religious advisers Warden Rice
| thinks that neither prisoner will make a con-
| fession. ... ...-...... .... --t.-..
Judge Tapley expects to secure delay of the
execution of Wagner by instituting proceedings
! tomorrow for a writ of error, based on the
| ground, first that Wagner was not sentenced
| by the same Governor as found him guilty on
| review, and second that the law requiring the
UONerDOT 70 uA tue udto VI oAoCullOu Is uuCOu-
| sttutional This last ground will be raised of
Gordon by his counsel. Application will prob
ably be made to Judge Danforth for the neces-
sary writ. S,
[By Associated Press.l
Accident.
BIDDEFoRD, Feb. 23-Hosea Hazeltine, a
very old and respected .citizen, was knocked
down and seriously injured yesterday by a
horse and sleigh while turning aside for anath-
er to pass